November 10, 2026 — It began at a typical Open House at South Cobb High School. Tables and banners promoted each opportunity that enabled students to find their place. There were special interest groups, club teams, and varsity athletics represented. For Avery Joseph, a student looking to get involved, his choice was clear.

“I want wrestling,” he told his mother, Alethia Avery-Joseph. 

While wrestling had never been previously considered, she wasn’t about to discourage her son from trying something new.

Avery and his mom met South Cobb wrestling coach Obinna Uchime that day, discussed Avery’s challenges, and a decision was made. This began a new chapter for Avery full of new challenges, added friendships, and, maybe more importantly, a connection with a coach who viewed him as more than an athlete learning a new sport.

Now in his second season with the program, Avery is a familiar face in the South Cobb wrestling room. He has built relationships with teammates, learned new skills on the mat, and found a place to belong. 

For Coach Uchime, though, Avery’s growth has never been merely about what happens in competition.

AVERY’S UNIQUE JOURNEY

Avery was born with Trisomy 21, more commonly known as Down syndrome. Additionally, he has been diagnosed with Hypothyroidism and Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), a form of blood cell cancer. Although these conditions present various challenges, Avery was also born with a determination that most would find remarkable. 

“I taught him since he was young that he may be unique and different,” Alethia said, “but he’s also the same in a lot of ways. I’ve always told him, ‘Don’t limit yourself. Never give up. Do your best. And never let anyone tell you that you’re so different that you can’t work and play with others.”

When Avery first joined the wrestling team, Coach Uchime quickly recognized his new grappler’s enthusiasm for the sport. 

“When Avery first started, you could tell he liked it,” Uchime noted. “He liked it a lot. But we did have to go over a lot of the moves multiple times.”

The coach soon realized that wrestling could mean more than an athletic pursuit for Avery. It could help him grow socially and emotionally because wrestling requires communication, interaction, and cooperation. Coach Uchime began to intentionally incorporate these elements into Avery’s training. 

"The goal is just to get him to be more interactive with his peers," Uchime said. "So, oftentimes I have him work with multiple partners at practice. One drill he might work with ‘John.’ The next moment he's working with ‘Jimmy.’ It’s just to make sure he's communicating and talking, because there's a lot of communication in wrestling."

As Avery’s first season in the sport progressed, the coach noticed a difference in Avery. The wrestler began interacting with teammates, participating in games played around practice, and becoming increasingly comfortable within the group. 

“He started to bond with the team,” Uchime emphasized. “They drill with him, and he has this playful rivalry with another wrestler, and they always play jokes on each other. So, he's part of the team. Just like anybody else on the team, he’s part of the team.”

Avery’s mom, Alethia, has noticed those connections building as well.

“I love the fact that he's developing relationships or friendships with some of the other guys,” she said with a smile. “I was so happy last year when he first started, when I saw one of the guys give him a high five when Avery finished a match, and he hooked him. He's created some different relationships with his team members, which allow him to socialize and feel included. That's what I love about this.”

COACHING CONNECTION

Now in his second year in the program, Avery is more comfortable with his place on the team. Still, though, there are challenges. Avery gets frustrated with his stutter, new wrestling techniques sometimes take him longer to master, and conditioning tests his endurance. Coach U, as Avery calls him, has learned that patience and encouragement are essential for coaching Avery.

“He may not get a move the first time or the second time,” the third-year South Cobb coach explained. “So, you have to be patient. But eventually he learns it. He just learns it at his own pace. And sometimes he wants to give up during conditioning because he’s kind of gassing out. But I just talk to him and say, 'You have to do this, Avery. You're part of the team.' And he'll turn on his jets, and he'll take off.”

In this way, Avery has helped Coach Uchime grow as well. Patience isn’t always a virtue coaches possess. The ‘win now’ mindset afflicts sports in that way. For Coach U, though, developing that patience has influenced how he coaches all his athletes now. Understanding that athletes don’t all learn in the same way has reinforced the importance of meeting individuals where they are and giving them the opportunity to develop.

SUCCESS ON THE MAT

Avery’s development continues. In his junior year, he will take the mat in competition under the watchful eye of Coach Uchime, who praises his wrestler’s commitment and willingness to learn. 

“He's a highly dedicated individual,” Uchime praised. “He shows persistence. He doesn't quit. He might take a long time to do it, but he doesn't quit.”

Sometimes his teammates and unknowing opponents are surprised by what Avery can do, which has produced a few memorable moments on the mat, including a single-leg takedown that Coach U gets excited describing. Avery’s technique was so well-executed that the team watched the video repeatedly during film time. 

"We played it back on video, like, 30 times,” the coach reported, with a chuckle. “It was like, ‘Oh, my gosh!’ We use it in film time, like, ‘This is how you take a shot.’ It was beautiful. It was textbook, something we would teach at the club level."

Avery smiles, too, at the memory. In fact, he smiles a lot when sharing his favorite parts about being on the wrestling team.

When asked about Coach Uchime, his answer was simple.

"He's the best."

What makes him the best?

"The skills," Avery said.

And when asked what makes him happiest about being on the team, he didn't hesitate.

"My teammates make me laugh."

WHAT MAT-TERS MOST

Alethia sees the joy her son has in wrestling. She has witnessed his growth socially and emotionally. Much of that she credits to Coach Uchime and the way he has poured into her son. It’s been an especially rewarding part of Avery’s wrestling experience. 

As Avery continues his wrestling journey, Uchime hopes to see him build on the skills he's learned and accomplish new things in competition. The coach understands, though, the importance of what Avery has already gained. He recognizes Avery’s newfound confidence, meaningful friendships, and a stronger connection to the school community.

For Avery, wrestling has provided a sense of belonging. He is part of the team, and he has a coach who treats him that way. The impact that makes on Avery is perhaps best summed up in what he says he would want his coach to know.

"You're the best coach."

It's a simple expression of appreciation, but one that says plenty about the relationship they've built and the lessons each of them has learned. These are wins that reach well beyond the mat.

h/t non-branded photo provided by South Cobb Athletics