Wrestling: Tyrone S. Woods

Wrestling: Tyrone S. Woods

Along with many of the Oregon/Washington region’s top wrestling programs, Lincoln High School attends the annual December wrestling tournament held at Oregon City High School. The Tournament is named in honor of the local hero of foreign wars, Tyrone Snowden Woods. The early-season Woods Tournament is for all comers. And it welcomes wrestlers of all talent levels to participate in up to 5 matches in a single day. It is a great day to start or polish your wrestling record.

The Woods Story

Tyrone Woods was born in Portland, Oregon, in 1971, and graduated from Oregon City High School in 1989. His interest in wrestling began in elementary school, continued through high school, and was his sport of choice. It provided the means for him to express his determination, grit, athletic strength and loyalty to a teammates. It was also an influence academically, keeping him focused on the goal of graduating. He was passionate about the sport of wrestling and completely immersed himself in it. In 1988 as a junior, he placed third in the Three Rivers District League, and in 1989, as a senior, he stood on the podium in 5th place as an OSAA state champion, having lost two of his matches by only one point.

Upon graduating from high school, he had received a partial wrestling scholarship to attend Clackamas Community College. But Tyrone’s adventurous nature led him down a different path. Instead of pursuing higher education, he chose to spend time as a ski lift operator at Mt. Hood Meadows. Then, at the strong urging of his mother, in April of 1990 he enlisted in the Navy. As a Special Operation Combat Medic, he served on SEAL Teams 1, 3, and 5 and also spent two years on the Navy’s Leap Frog team.

In the latter years of his 20 year service, Woods was a BUD/s instructor training future SEALs and also became a certified registered nurse in California. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, he earned the Bronze Star, as well as many other awards and medals, and retired in April, 2010, after 20 years of valiant and honorable service. Although retired for typical military service, he stayed active for special forces around the world.

Those who have followed foreign wars, there has always been strange stories around the attack of the US CIA Annex in Benghazi, Libya. The incident of question was on September 11, 2012. That single event was a dagger in the foreign affairs of Hillary Clinton, who was Sec. of State at the time of the botched rescue. Many voters failed to believe Clinton, when she ran for President in the aftermath of that North African chaos. Tyrone Woods’ assignment in the conflict was to find and retrieve US Ambassador J. Chris Stevens. Libyan militants ambushed the diplomatic site and Woods lost his life in the encounter. The story is graphically told in the movie: Thirteen Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, where Woods is played by James Badge Dale.

In April, 2013, at its annual banquet, the Oregon Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame awarded Woods the posthumous Medal of Courage. The award recognized Woods for his heroic efforts in saving American lives in Benghazi, Libya. He is currently in contention for the Outstanding American award and induction into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Tyrone found success on the mat because of his winning attitude to never give up – which he carried with him during his long career as a US Navy SEAL. TSWWF seeks to emphasize the characteristics that he exhibited, all which helped him personally and professionally during his life’s journey. By shining a light on building good character and academic accomplishments as well as a healthy competitive spirit, TSWWF seeks to inspire these young athletes to achieve success in their own lives.

Why a Wrestling Tribute?

In 2009 Tyrone Woods returned to his high school and delivered a speech that his high school wrestling coach, Roger Rolan, said was an amazing, inspirational message. Two classes of Oregon City High School students heard the passion from this young man. He did not brag about being in the Navy or about becoming a Navy Seal, instead he focused on the influence that high school education and his wrestling team had on making him the man he eventually became. He spoke movingly and urgently about students “finding a passion,” “pursuing it,” and then “getting to it.” At that moment, Coach Rolan decided it was time to start a wrestling foundation so that others could improve their lives the way that Tyrone Woods had.

A Board of Directors of the Tyrone S. Woods Wrestling Foundation (TSWWF) was formed to carry on the Woods legacy and to shine a light on his “never quit” spirit. Woods had a personal philosophy of becoming “a warrior in life,” which emphasized the values of hard work and dedication to achieve personal success in life, on and off the wrestling mat. Since 2015, the TSWWF has make grants that total more than $100,000 and counting. The grants have gone to scholarships, tournament sponsorships, middle school and high school programs. And now there is a Tyrone S. Woods Memorial Park, which set aside 9 acres of undeveloped land in Oregon City.