Elite Frye wins first-ever career wrestling match at Halls tournament
By Ken Lay
Elite Frye had a big day on the wrestling mat recently. For a few brief moments, he was a star.
It was a day of firsts for Frye, an 8-year-old athlete who hails from an athletic family. On Saturday, Feb. 1, Frye wrestled his first match as he grappled in an exhibition match against his cousin, Boone Humphrey.
Frye and Humphrey battled to open an AAU meet at Halls High School with Frye scoring a pin in the waning moments of the match.
Frye, who has Down syndrome, began wrestling to follow in the footsteps of his older brothers.
“All his brothers and cousins wrestle,” his mother Elisha Humphrey Frye said. “He wants to do everything his older brothers do.
“He always goes to practice with me when I take his brothers. Some days, he goes through the drills and on some days, he plays.”
Elite has two brothers, Eason and Cael, and a younger sister Envyee. He began following in his brothers’ footsteps in 2020 when he played tee ball.
Athletics, particularly wrestling, is big in his family. Elite’s uncle, Cody Humphrey, wrestled at Halls and now coaches the community’s youth team. His other uncle, Shannon Sayne, had a stellar high school career with the Red Devils and was a state champion. He’s now Halls High’s head coach.
Elisha and her sister, Stephanie Humphrey Sayne, were softball stars at Halls and went on to play at the University of Tennessee. Elisha also had a tenure as the Lady Devils’ head coach after serving as an assistant under legendary Gibbs coach Carol Mitchell. Stephanie is also a former director of softball operations for the Lady Vols.
Elite’s match was intended to raise awareness for Down syndrome but it was also a big moment for Halls wrestling and for the Humphrey Family.
“It was a special moment for us,” Cody Humphrey said. “He’s grown up in the (wrestling) room.
“We’ll work with him just like we will any wrestler and I’m excited to watch him wrestle more.”
Elite pinned his younger cousin after taking a 17-4 lead in the exhibition bout and had his hand traditionally raised by the referee in front of the packed gym at Halls. He also received a medal commemorating the first of what his family hopes is many more victories on the mats wearing the Red Devils’ colors.
