“Gays were afraid that this film may set back gay men who take wrestling seriously,” he says. Those same issues – boys’ shame about their bodies, and homophobia – ultimately prevent more kids from getting into wrestling.”Īs he traveled the country filming interviews, Rook felt pressure from two sides. Rook says that USAW did not want to be associated with lightning-rod issues. It was removed on the grounds of “solicitation.” However, a similar request for a fictional film was allowed to remain. He posted a request for interviews on the Web site of USA Wrestling, the umbrella organization for high school and college grappling. He also wanted to include every form of wrestling: amateur, professional, submission and “horseplay.” He wanted to address sensitive subjects like wrestling homoeroticism, but in a way that straight and gay men could both respect.
Through conversations with thousands of men – gay and straight, single and married – he realized his attraction to wrestling was far from unique. Since 1998 has been his main source of income. But in the late 1990s he realized two ambitions: He made a nature documentary for PBS, and he started wrestling.Īfter a wrestling cartoon he drew earned attention, he quit his job. He earned a degree in mechanical engineering from Michigan State, then worked as a technical writer for years. “I thought you had to be a short, thick-necked Italian,” he laughs. Growing up near Buffalo, Rook did not wrestle. Now – thanks to Rook’s film, an accompanying book and his Web site – wrestling fans are coming out of the closet. As kids, they cut photos out of library wrestling books as adults, they believe they must hide their interest. Here are others: Vast numbers of men are sexually attracted to wrestling. And it’s just one of many controversial, often-ignored topics addressed by Victor Rook in his insightful new documentary, “Stronghold: In the Grip of Wrestling.” It defines them as a strong figure ready to make changes.That straightforward fact is the elephant in the wrestling room. Their orientation doesn't make any them any less of a power athlete. Only in the last few years have professional athletes like Michael Sam and Gus Kenworthy spoken publicly about their sexualities, proving that gays can compete, kick ass and still make out with other dudes. Geick's confidence in and out of his high school gym is something that should be admired.Ĭoming out is no easy feat (I would know), especially when you're part of a macho-centered community, primarily run by straight men. "I blew that kid out when we got on the mat," he told Outsports. While he hasn't heard any negative comments from the close people around him, that didn't stop a rival wrestler from leaving a negative remark about being gay on Geick's Instagram.Īnd what did Geick do in response to that comment? “It just so happened that all of those kids, even those who maybe had a homophobic view before, were able to see past that and are still my friends, and we are much closer even now,” Geick told his school newspaper, The Statesman. Their community values are also what inspired Geick to take the leap and come out in the first place, something other closeted LGBT members may struggle with doing because they're afraid of rejection. Those words couldn't have rung more true, as both his teammates and the coaching staff didn't let Geick's sexual orientation change how they felt about him or his position on the team. "The motto for the Stevenson High School wrestling team is 'always together,'" Geick previously told the Chicago Tribune.
Even wrestlers in different districts outside of Chicago became aware Geick was, in fact, gay.Īs it turns out, his surprise news garnered the exact praise and approval any young, gay man hopes to receive after coming out to the public. Like any gossip does, word of Geick's sexual orientation spread like wildfire through various texts and word-of-mouth. And if he lost his "star" wrestling title because of it, so be it. Geick was also in a new relationship with another man and wanted to enjoy it like any teenage high schooler should, so about a year ago, he came out to his friends at his lunch table.
As an elite wrestler, whose strength and perseverance earned him a season record of 42-3, Geick has been "the face of the program” at his Illinois high school for the last few years.Īccording to Outsports, he plans to ship off to New York next year to join Columbia University's top tier Division I wrestling program.ĭespite competing in a sport that prides itself on masculinity, using brute force and lots of guy-on-guy touching (not to mention tight, spandex uniforms), Geick found no real reason to continue hiding deep in the closet.