When every seat in the Brownstown Central High School gymnasium is filled, it’s likely that there’s a game against Seymour or it’s graduation day.
Come Saturday, there’s potential for every seat in that gymnasium to be filled with people watching professional wrestling for a good cause.
The Arc of Jackson County is hosting Arc-A-Mania in partnership with Madison-based pro wrestling company Supreme Wrestling.
Melanie O’Neal, executive director of The Arc, said the organization’s mission is to advocate for people in Jackson County with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
“We’re their voice,” she said. “We find resources for them and their families and try to connect them to resources. That’s the big picture.”
The Arc also serves Jennings and Scott counties, she said.
O’Neal said the idea of doing a wrestling show for a fundraiser was floated by Jim Shepherd, former president of the board of The Arc of Jackson County, before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Once COVID struck, the idea was shelved until the event could properly be put on.
Stefani Wetzel, a board member of The Arc, and her son, Jackson Legg, who is an advocate with The Arc, were credited by O’Neal for getting the ball rolling for Arc-A-Mania.
Both are wrestling fans, have been to shows and are familiar with Supreme Wrestling.
Wetzel played a major role gathering silent auction items for the show.
She said once she started asking people for donations through Facebook, they were overwhelmed and currently have more than 200 items for the silent auction.
“I was like, ‘OK, if we get 20, we’re good,’” she said.
Some items include poems, handmade items and sketches created by advocates of The Arc. Artwork from John and Speck Mellencamp also are in the silent auction.
A ticket for the wrestling show is not required for the silent auction, and it will be open to the public in the auxiliary gymnasium at Brownstown Central High School.
Local businesses and organizations could support Arc-A-Mania by donating an item, sponsoring the event or being a member of The Arc.
After asking about for support for Arc-A-Mania, O’Neal said their number of members increased.
Supreme Wrestling manager Mortimer Blankenship, formerly known around Jackson County as Matthew Robinson, eventually talked to the board about having a wrestling night as a fundraiser.
He described the wrestling shows as “a family-friendly exhibit athletic exhibition” and said the company always likes doing shows in Jackson County.
Blankenship said he has a lot on his mind going into Arc-A-Mania.
For one, he said he’s not going to be in the ring. Since parting ways with a Russian tag team due to recent world events, they won the title belt.
Blankenship said he isn’t managing anyone right now and instead is focusing on his pro wrestling podcast “Developmentally Speaking.” He said he’s strictly going to be staying at his podcast’s booth at Arc-A-Mania.
The most recognizable wrestler on the show’s poster is Shark Boy, who used to be in wrestling promotions World Championship Wrestling and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.
Blankenship said he has met him before and doesn’t know what his deal is. He said when he talks to him, he thinks he’s wrestling legend “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, but he’s clearly dressed like a shark.
Another couple of Jackson County wrestlers Blankenship said he noticed on the poster are Johnny Justice, who he said must be coming out of retirement since his final match in July 2021, and Andrew Mason.
Tickets are $12 and will be available at the door. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the first bell is at 7:30 p.m.
To get in contact with The Arc of Jackson County, call 812-521-8651 or visit arcjacksoncounty.org.