It has been a good month for former standout athletes from McCluer High School.
At the beginning of the month, former McCluer track and field star Gwen Berry qualified for the upcoming Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janiero Brazil in the hammer throw. The opening ceremonies will be held on Friday, August 5.
At the end of July, it was another former Comet star who provided some big-time fireworks. Tyron Woodley, a former star wrestler at McCluer, rose to the top of his profession in mixed martial arts by becoming the UFC World Welterweight champion.
Woodley won his first world title in spectacular fashion with a first-round knockout of defending champion Robby Lawler in the main event of UFC 201 last Saturday in Atlanta.
Known for his terrific punching power, Woodley caught Lawler with an overhead right hand which dropped the former champion. Woodley quickly pounced on Lawler and landed five more punches before the bout was stopped at the 2:12 mark of the first round.
What makes Woodley’s victory even more impressive is that it was his first bout in 18 months. Woodley’s professional record now stands at 16-3.
Woodley was a former state championship wrestler at McCluer, where he compiled a 48-0 record as a senior in 2000. He went on to wrestle collegiately at the University of Missouri where he was a two-time All-American for the Tigers.
