Help Us Build Champions On and Off the Mat – Tennyson Wrestling (Hayward, CA)

My name is Bill Nguyen, and I am the head coach of the Tennyson High School Wrestling Program in Hayward, California. This season marks a huge milestone for us—our program is officially entering its 5th year, and for the first time ever, we are launching a brand-new girls wrestling team. This means more opportunities, more representation, and more lives being changed through this sport.

Over the past five years, I’ve seen wrestling completely transform students who once struggled with confidence, direction, and stability. Many of our athletes come from difficult circumstances, but when they step into the wrestling room, they become disciplined, focused, and empowered. They learn how to fight for themselves in healthy ways—through hard work, accountability, and perseverance.

Hayward is a hardworking, working-class community, but it also faces real challenges. About 1 in 10 residents lives below the federal poverty line, and median household income here is significantly lower than neighboring cities like Fremont and Union City—while families still face the same extreme Bay Area cost of living. Our city also experiences higher crime rates than most communities in California, and local safety plans recognize the need for gang prevention and youth intervention programs.

These realities affect our students every day. Many of them are navigating family financial stress, unsafe neighborhoods, and constant pressure to go down the wrong path.

Wrestling gives them something powerful in return:

A safe place to be after school

Positive mentors who care about their grades, behavior, and mental health

A team that becomes their family

And a belief that their future is built through effort, not circumstance

This fundraiser exists for one simple but crucial reason:

So that money is NEVER the reason a kid can’t wrestle.

Your donation helps directly cover:

Tournament & competition entry fees

Travel & transportation costs

Uniforms, shoes, and training gear

Equipment for both boys and our brand-new girls team

Every single dollar goes straight into supporting student-athletes.

When you donate to Tennyson Wrestling, you are not just funding a sport.

You are helping a teenager:

Stay off the streets

Stay focused in school

Build confidence

Learn discipline

And believe in their own future

We are not asking for handouts—we’re asking for help building these young men and women into strong, accountable, resilient adults.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for supporting our program, our athletes, and the future of Hayward.

Bill Nguyen

Head Coach – Tennyson Wrestling

Hayward, California