Sullivan South’s Overbay twins to help start a new wrestling program at Lincoln Memorial
KINGSPORT, Tenn. (BVM) — With the consolidation of three nearby schools — Sullivan South, Sullivan Central and Sullivan North — into West Ridge High School prepared to start in the fall, the South Rebels wrestling team took time to enjoy its final season as a program. At the heart of this team were two senior twin brothers, Alex and Andrew Overbay, who over the years have become some of the best wrestlers in the program’s history. The end of the season marked a bittersweet moment for the twins.
However, the two wrestlers will soon have the opportunity to help jump-start another program as the two committed to and signed on with the Lincoln Memorial University wrestling team. The LMU Railsplitter men’s wrestling program will begin its first campaign during 2021-22 under new director of wrestling Andy Bricker and will compete in the NCAA Division II South Atlantic Carolinas Conference during the inaugural season.
The two brothers have seen their fair share of successes during their time at South. Alex, who first joined the team as a freshman, has been to the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association state tournament each year and had his best finish as a junior when he placed fourth in the 145-pound weight class. He was later recognized by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association as a member of the 2019-20 Class AA-A all-state team.
I can officially say I’ve qualified for state all four years of highschool after I placed 2nd today at regionals @LmuWrestling @SulSouthHS @SullCoAthletics pic.twitter.com/U3XztDowOi
— Alex Overbay (@overbay_alex) February 14, 2021
Andrew didn’t join the Rebels’ wrestling program until his sophomore year after his brother finally convinced him to come out. Andrew’s future goal wasn’t in wrestling, but rather the military as he was already enrolled in the school’s ROTC program. However, after three years of grappling with his brother, Andrew got the wrestling bug and really found a passion for it.
Won 5 out of 5 matches today at Greenville high school, Sullivan south high school wrestling also great job @overbay_alex pic.twitter.com/tcEwNHviMS
— Andrew Overbay (@andrew_overbay) January 17, 2021
The Overbays’ future coach, Bricker, found a lot of similarities between not only the twins, but the twins and his own story. As a twin himself, Bricker also attended college to wrestle with his twin brother at Campbell University and feels that the family bond is something good in collegiate wrestling programs.
“The whole twins thing and brothers stuff is a big thing when it comes to college wrestling, when it comes to family and getting more people involved,” Bricker said. “The whole family thing works unbelievably. Having twins there being able to push each other, motivate each other and showing a family atmosphere within this program is a big gateway for the university when it comes to sports.”
Bricker sees the two as perfect cornerstones for him to build the foundation of his team on.
“I see what these two young men have to offer me and I know what I can give them,” Bricker said. “There’s something I can build on. They’ve got some raw talent, they put in the work. They have so much to learn and so much to develop and that’s what I’m looking for. If I’m building the foundation of a program, I want to build an athlete too.”
For Bricker, he also saw the leadership the two brothers had in their program and the passion they have for the team that will now go defunct and felt that energy is what he looked for in his new program.
“They’re going to be sort of like the older brothers to freshmen coming in,” Bricker said. “They are going to show them what we expect and what we’re doing. With a new team, they’re part of the young men that in this first year will set the guidelines, set the rules, what we want when we start traditions and everything else. … They’re going to do a great job in that position.”
Nothing stronger then family. That is what LMU wrestling is Building. Twins Andrew and Alex Overbay are bring their family to ours. pic.twitter.com/M1ZDte2E9P
— LMU_Wrestling (@LmuWrestling) May 7, 2021
As the saying goes, ‘As one door closes, another opens’ and for the Overbay brothers the idea is quite literal. As they leave their program at Sullivan South, which will soon end its existence as the school joins West Ridge, the twins will be able to start their wrestling journey anew with a program in its infancy. Though they will come in as freshmen, the two will be looked at once again for leadership from fellow Railsplitters this year and beyond. While that responsibility may be seen as arduous for some, for the Overbays the opportunity cannot be matched.
