An uncle and a nephew – both from Smyth County – will be honored in Richmond this April.
While Marion’s Johnny Blevins is named to the Virginia Wrestling Hall of Fame, paying tribute to his decades of service as a referee, Rural Retreat senior Ely Blevins was named 1A/2A Wrestler of the Year.
Johnny Blevins, a state champ himself, was born and raised in Marion. He attended Wytheville Community College and earned a bachelor’s degree at Emory & Henry College, graduating in 1973. He earned a master of education in middle school education at Radford University in 1987.
For years, in addition to serving as a stalwart referee across the region, Johnny Blevins ran his own business, serving as an independent insurance agent for Travelers.
Johnny Blevins married his wife, Debbie, in 1973 and is the father of Jessica and Brett.
Like so many, though, Johnny Blevins couldn’t leave the mat behind. After serving as a brief stint as assistant coach at Chilhowie High School, he picked up a whistle and through the decades as refereed thousands of bouts.
Travis Fiser of Grundy Wrestling Club, probably the most successful coach in the region, finds him to be “pleasant and even-tempered… humble and fair”. Hall of Famer Tass Robertson concludes that with Johnny in charge, “we know things will run smoothly and the wrestlers will decide the match.”
Reflecting his interest in middle school education, Johnny goes out of his way to promote middle school wrestling. For 30 years, he has made his way to Dobyns-Bennett High School in Tennessee to officiate at the The National Middle School Duals.
His undimmed love of our sport and its youth shines through in his comment on those duals: “Each year of working this tournament, I become more amazed at the skill level of these young wrestlers, which I feel adds to the skill levels of middle school, high school and the NCAA.”
Ely Blevins has notched three state titles, the first one at 126 as a sophomore and the final two at 132 pounds and this year served as co-captain of an Indian team that boasted four state champs. He was a finalist as a freshman.
His 112-10 four-year record includes a 38-0 run this, his senior season.
Ely was well-prepared to have a glittering high school career. A wrestler since age 5, he emerged strongly in middle school, earning a VAWA (Virginia Wrestling Association) freestyle championship, a Greco state title, and a position on Team VA.
A complete athlete, he enjoys football and baseball in other seasons. He is generous with his time, volunteering to coach kids and contributing to Future Farmers of America and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
College plans are uncertain at present, but he knows he will wrestle.
