Wrestling: More Than A Sport

By Emily Andrews 

Building a family within his sports team motivated Blake McNall through his undergraduate experience and now, his master’s degree.

Sports can be a gateway for community, and for Blake McNall ’20, the EOU men’s wrestling team offered a sense of structure and fueled his dedication for his undergraduate degree. 

”Wrestling has provided me with a family while I’ve been at EOU. Our team is really close and I feel like I can count on these guys for anything,” McNall said. “If I need anything they are always there, and Coach Azure has done so much for me as a wrestler and as a person. I owe him a lot. I am very thankful for EOU wrestling being a part of my life.” 

Originally from Gladstone, Oregon, McNall decided to attend EOU when he was offered a wrestling scholarship. While at EOU, he was the 2018 133-pound Cascade Collegiate Conference Champion and a three-time NAIA National Tournament Qualifier. His coach Dustyn Azure was named the 2020-21 Cascade Collegiate Conference Men’s Wrestling Coach of the Year.

While completing his undergraduate degree, he majored in History and Anthropology/Sociology with an emphasis in social welfare. Following his graduation in 2020, McNall was unsure what path his degree would lead him down. He reflected on his wrestling career for inspiration on what would come next. 

 “I didn’t know what I wanted to do with those degrees…[But I knew] I really enjoyed working with kids. I’ve volunteered at schools, and the wrestling team had read books to kids before. We would have youth wrestling practices, and I just really enjoyed working with kids.”

McNall enrolled in EOU’s Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program in fall 2020 to become a teacher. The program allows individuals from any field to apply their subject expertise in elementary or secondary classrooms with effective teaching techniques. 

McNall’s wrestling experience led to a graduate assistant position with the team, providing financial support while keeping him connected to a sport he loves. He said it has given him an opportunity to focus on school and becoming a better wrestling coach. 

McNall began student-teaching face-to-face in Union, Oregon. He said he has learned a lot already about lesson planning and loves the hands-on aspects of being in the classroom. Even though his schedule is very busy, he is excited for his future and working with high school students. 

Finding wrestling at EOU opened many doors for McNall and allowed him to have a family within his teammates.