History of the FCA Wrestler of the Year Award

History of the FCA Wrestler of the Year Awards

Funded by the Mike Knox Memorial Fund

Effective February 2013, Fellowship of Christian Athletes Wrestling Georgia has annually designated a Georgia high school senior, “FCA Wrestler of the Year.” The honor will be accompanied by a college scholarship grant. The children of Michael E. Knox have established an endowed fund memorializing their late father, an active advocate of the sport of amateur wrestling and supporter of FCA. They have designated FCA Wrestling Georgia as recipient of fund proceeds each year for furthering a deserving wrestler’s education.

Mike’s children Niki, Will, and Joey Knox have each participated in the development of wrestling in the southeast. Will and Joey were high school and college wrestlers; Joey is a high school wrestling coach. Niki is a ready volunteer at tournaments. The Knox family is recognized for their active support of the growth of amateur wrestling in Georgia, particularly in colleges. Niki said, “Our dad felt close to both FCA and the sport of amateur wrestling. We are glad to remember him this way.”

Wrestling coaches from Georgia high schools will nominate the candidates for the award in the fall of the year. FCA Wrestling Georgia and FCA Girls Wrestling will announce the inaugural scholarship recipients at the Annual FCA Breakfast, at the GA State Championship finals.

FCA Wrestling and FCA Girls Wrestling is sport-specific ministries of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, headquartered in Kansas City (see fca.org). Georgia is home of the first FCA Wrestling organizations, with notably successful camps, clinics, and father-son retreats.

The Knox endowment is administered by Georgia Baptist Foundation.