Grapevine High School wrestling team hosted its 6th annual 9/11 Tribute Climb

The Grapevine High School wrestling team hosted its 6th annual 9/11 Tribute Climb at Mustang-Panther Stadium earlier this month.

Former wrestling coach Matthew Criner started the tradition in 2019 and initiated it in a meeting with the Grapevine High School Booster Club. It was initially a challenge to the parents and that September, the first 9/11 Tribute Climb was held.

The event honored the 412 emergency responders who died on 9/11, 343 firefighters and 71 police officers — part of more than 2,700 who were killed at the World Trade Center site in New York City.

Starting in 2020, more people joined the parents and wrestlers in the climb up and down the stairs.

“The growth of the event primarily has been more people within our community participating or supporting what we are doing in various ways,” Mustangs coach Scott Tischer said. “Every year, we get more and more officers or firefighters participating or donating to the event.  Bottled waters, Gatorade, breakfast/snacks for the event and coffee have been what we have been privileged to receive.”

Tischer is in his third year at the helm but has learned what the event has meant over the years, coaching alongside Ryan Martin. Criner has since moved on to a new position working as a therapeutic recreation supervisor for the City of Grapevine.

Veterans and first responders from Grapevine, Colleyville and Euless were all there this year on Sept. 11 to climb 1,989 inclined steps, replicating the 110 flights of stairs in the Twin Towers.

The Grapevine Fire Department had firefighters at two different events this year. Other firefighters were at the Day of Remembrance Ceremony at the 9/11 Flight Crew Memorial, to honor the 33 airline employees killed on 9/11. Portions of Grapevine are located inside Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and American Airlines is based there. One American Airlines plane hit the north tower in New York City, while another American Airlines plane hit the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.

In addition to climbing bleacher stairs, first responders and many members of the GHS wrestling team also carried weighted vests or backpacks to simulate the weight carried by 9/11 first responders.

“It was a somber event to remember what took place on 9/11 and allow for our kids to realize the sacrifices others make and are willing to make to ensure the safety of others,” Tischer said. “People who are willing to lay down their lives for others that they do not even know. Having the students seeing and understanding the importance of this day and what it means to the community to honor it, as well, is important. The small thing these wrestlers do by completing the 1,980 steps gives them the actual action of what these first responders felt prior to losing their lives.”

Photo by Heather McCullough/Community Impact