Kelani's Journey to Olympic Gold

Aloha family and friends!

My name is Kelani Corbett and I was born in Monongahela, Pennsylvania.  I have lived in Hawaii since I was 3 years old. My sister was 15 and my older brothers were 13 & 7 years old. My brothers had already been active in the sport of wrestling since their toddler years. Kevin, our father, was unaware that wrestling for girls even existed when we moved to Hawai’i.  I had always wanted to wrestle, even at 3 years old but the opportunity just wasn’t there. By the time I was 5 years old we had learned that GIRLS DO WRESTLE! By the time I was 6 years old I was wrestling boys and girls, and winning!  Once I tried to power drive a boy and had to be stopped!  From that point on there was no stopping me! During my middle school years, because of my age and size, I didn’t have anyone to wrestle, but I continued to practice year round alongside my brothers, with my dad as my coach. During my freshman year at Leilehua High School I was blessed and started on  the Varsity Wrestling Team. Low and behold I defeated the top seeded wrestler and surprised EVERYONE and walked away from the Hawaii High School Athletic Association (HHSAA) State Wrestling Competition for 2016 with FIRST PLACE!  That summer I took FIRST PLACE in Folkstyle at USA Wrestling Western Regionals in Pocatello, Idaho. I also earned an ALL AMERICAN title, which is the top 8 in the nation, at the ASICS/Vaughan Cadet/Junior National Wrestling Championships in Fargo, North Dakota.   On Saturday February 18, 2017 I won my 2nd HHSAA STATE CHAMPION TITLE consecutively with an undefeated record of 31-0.  This was all a blessing made possible by only God.

I also study hard and maintain a GPA of 3.6 while taking AP classes with math and health/physical education being my favorite courses.  I also make it a priority to serve others in and out of my church.  I serve on the Creative Arts Dance Ministry at New Hope Leeward.  In addition, I “give back” by volunteering with the communities’ youth wrestling teams throughout Hawaii as a coach and a referee.

Through the years, I have disciplined and dedicated myself to endless hours of training, education and sacrifice in order that I can strive for excellence of my character and in the sport.

I have been blessed to earn a spot on the USA Wrestling UWW Cadet National Team at 70 kg.  I am currently ranked #1 in my weight category in the United States of America! With God, I achieved this status at the UWW Cadet World Team Trials in May 2017.  I am now qualified to be a part of USA Wrestling’s Olympic Development Program.  I have an opportunity to attend the National Team Training Camps as well as compete internationally.  The UWW Cadet Championship Program takes place over the summer and serves as a preparation system for the World and Pan Am Teams through a series of training camps and competitions. I will compete again in Pocatello, Idaho—June 18-24, 2017, then in Fargo, North Dakota—July 14-22, 2017 and from there I will go onto Athens, Greece to compete in the World Championships on September 1-10, 2017.   In order to compete at Worlds, my Olympic level coaches and mentors REQUIRE me to attend 2 Training camps, each lasting 10 days @ $70/day at SPIRE Institute, Geneva, Ohio – June 26-July 6, 2017 and The US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO –July 23 – August 3, 2017.

My father will be accompanying me as my chaperone and coach; unfortunately I will have to leave my mother at home to work as she will be the only income my family will have.  I am 15 years old and I will be entering my junior year of high school in August.  My goal is to maintain my current GPA or strive for a higher GPA.  My goal is also to attend college and major in the health/sciences or law fields while continuing to wrestle.  I hope that you can understand and support the importance of the Olympic Development Program and my dream of Olympic Gold.

My family and I are asking you to pray, meditate and think deeply about donating, gifting or sponsoring. If you are unable to give monetarily, we ask that you simply pray for our family, our spirit, our health, our coaches, our opponents, our safety and our travels.  

Unfortunately funds are needed to make all this happen.  Each camp has a minimum fee of $700.  We will be driving and flying to and from our destinations in CONUS.  My family and I are praying for a sum of $10,000+ to support my training and me and my father’s travel expenses this year.  Travel will start on June 13, 2017 and end on August 6, 2017.  I will be attending Leilehua High School upon my return. From September 1-12, 2017 I will be competing in Athens, Greece.   I realize this is a short notice; however I just earned my spot of the USA Wrestling UWW Cadet National Team on May 20, 2017 and I didn’t even know if this would actually happen.  The funds will be needed as soon as they are available and will be used throughout the summer for camp and competition fees, training, uniforms, gear, air and ground transportation, meals, and room and board.  

If you choose to give here are several options:

You can be a sponsor on my T-shirt/hoodie sweatshirt for $200+.  Your company’s name and logo will appear on my shirt/hoodie sweatshirt and will be an excellent advertisement and everyone will know that you are supporting me, while I represent Hawaii and the USA!!  Shirts/Hoodies will be available to my supporters for purchase as well.   The first shirt and design will be printed by July 1, 2017. If you would like your company to be a part of this, please reply as soon as possible. A design will be created and the product will be ordered for processing and purchasing soon thereafter.

We also have another Page on Facebook that will lead you to other ways to donate. 

Or you can just donate here at GoFundMe. 

If you know nothing about wrestling, have a friend or a family member who wrestles, or know everything about wrestling, please take a few minutes to watch the match that won me this opportunity and the short interview with USA Wrestling announcers after my match here:

https://youtu.be/fIS7EqVzBII  

Interview: “Kelani Corbett wins 2017 Cadet World Team spot at 70 kg”

https://youtu.be/zywfIpjhmEU

Thank you for your time and consideration.  If you have any questions please feel free to comment and ask questions. 

Respectfully In the Olympic Spirit,

Kelani S. T. Corbett

6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV)