>> HAVING AN IMPACT ON A YOUNG CHILD’S LIFE GOES A LONG WAY. AND ONE LOCAL TRAINER IS PROVING THAT THROUGH WRESTLING CLASSES. GULF COAST SPORTS REPORTER BRADLEY SCHIMMEL WAS AT THE IRONS ELITE WRESTLING CLUB TO SEE IT FOR HIMSELF. >> AND IT WAS THE BODY I STARTED OUT WRESTLING IN HIGH SCHOOL BECAUSE I THAT I GOT HURT FOOTBALL. DIDN’T KNOW HOW MUCH I LOVE THE SPORT, BUT IT WAS A GREAT OUTLET EMOTIONALLY, PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY. IT TURNS OUT JABARI WAS PRETTY GOOD AT THIS WRESTLING THING. HE EARNED A SCHOLARSHIP TO FGCU. >> WE TOOK HOME A COLLEGIATE NATIONAL TITLE AND HE ALSO ENDED UP WITH A 3RD PLACE FINISH IN THE WORLD WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIP. BUT SOMETHING SIGNIFICANT HAPPENED IN BETWEEN. THERE WAS AN ALTERCATION. I WENT TO >> PULL MY TEAMMATE BACK IN TO TRY TO DE-ESCALATE THE SITUATION AND THE SHOOTING OCCURRED. I ENDED UP GETTING HIT A COUPLE OF TIMES AS WELL AS HIM. UNFORTUNATELY, HE DIDN’T MAKE IT. WE DON’T KNOW THE NUMBER OF OUR DAYS. SO WE HAVE TO BE THANKFUL TO BE HERE. GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. I FEEL LIKE MY SOLE MISSION ON THIS IS TO HELP THE OTHERS AROUND ME. HOPE EVERYBODY BEST THAT THEY CAN BE DANGEROUS. AND SO. >> THE ISLANDS IN WRESTLING CLUB WAS ESTABLISHED FOR THE PAST 6 YEARS. JAMARI HAS HELPED ATHLETES EARNING COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS. >> BUT HIS IMPACT GOES DEEPER THAN THAT. I COACHED AT THE LITTLE KIDS. I COACH UP MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLERS HELPING FIGURE OUT WHO THEY WANT TO BE, WHAT THEY’RE CAPABLE OF. MY YOUTH PASTORS AND MY COACHES. >> WERE THERE FOR ME. SO I TOOK WHAT THEY DID FOR ME. AND I TRY TO GET RIGHT BACK KIDS SOUTHWEST THE NEXT GENERATION OF WRESTLERS ARE GOOD OF RG CAPE CORAL.
Former national champion wrestler inspires youth through Cape Coral wrestling program
Updated: 11:42 PM EST Jan 15, 2026
Having an impact on a young child’s life goes a long way, and one wrestling instructor in Cape Coral is proving that every day at Irons Elite Wrestling Club.Jabari Irons said, “I started out wrestling in high school because I got hurt from football. I didn’t know how much I loved the sport, but it was a great outlet emotionally, physically and mentally.”It turns out, he was pretty good at wrestling.Irons earned a scholarship to FGCU, where he took home a collegiate national title and ended up with a third place finish in the World Wrestling Championship, but something significant happened in between.Irons said, “There was an altercation. I went to pull my teammate back and try to de-escalate the situation and a shooting occurred. I ended up getting hit a couple of times as well as him. Unfortunately, he didn’t make it. We don’t know the number of our days, so we have to be thankful to be here, grateful for the opportunity. I feel like my soul mission on this Earth is to help the others around me, help everybody be the best that they can be daily.”With that goal in mind, the Irons Elite Wrestling Club was established.For the past six years, Irons has helped athletes earn college scholarships, but his impact goes deeper than that.Irons said, “I coach up the little kids, I coach up the middle and high schoolers. I help them figure out who they want to be, what they’re capable of. My youth pastors and my coaches were there for me, so I took what they did for me, and I try to give it right back to the kids of Southwest Florida.”The next generation of wrestlers is in good hands thanks to Irons.DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
CAPE CORAL, Fla. —
Having an impact on a young child’s life goes a long way, and one wrestling instructor in Cape Coral is proving that every day at Irons Elite Wrestling Club.
Jabari Irons said, “I started out wrestling in high school because I got hurt from football. I didn’t know how much I loved the sport, but it was a great outlet emotionally, physically and mentally.”
It turns out, he was pretty good at wrestling.
Irons earned a scholarship to FGCU, where he took home a collegiate national title and ended up with a third place finish in the World Wrestling Championship, but something significant happened in between.
Irons said, “There was an altercation. I went to pull my teammate back and try to de-escalate the situation and a shooting occurred. I ended up getting hit a couple of times as well as him. Unfortunately, he didn’t make it. We don’t know the number of our days, so we have to be thankful to be here, grateful for the opportunity. I feel like my soul mission on this Earth is to help the others around me, help everybody be the best that they can be daily.”
With that goal in mind, the Irons Elite Wrestling Club was established.
For the past six years, Irons has helped athletes earn college scholarships, but his impact goes deeper than that.
Irons said, “I coach up the little kids, I coach up the middle and high schoolers. I help them figure out who they want to be, what they’re capable of. My youth pastors and my coaches were there for me, so I took what they did for me, and I try to give it right back to the kids of Southwest Florida.”
The next generation of wrestlers is in good hands thanks to Irons.
DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.