Read Part 2: https://chikinmelele.com/a-family-of-wrestlers-from-chuuk-making-waves-in-texas-part-2/
Wrestling for their island of Chuuk, this family of wrestlers aims to eventually represent their young nation of Federated States of Micronesia in the Olympics. The only non-wrestler in the family is the mother, Joann Irons. All of her four kids — even little 3-year-old Railan Kendrick prepped by his No.2 brother to take his place on the team when the time comes — are hard-working wrestlers. Devin Kendrick, their dad, was a former high school wrestler and their head coach on the team.
POV: You’ve been a sideline sibling all your life and you finally get a turn at practice
For now, Irons said, they’ll need to improve and work hard to get the experience and, inevitably, the trophies and medals to add to their already many awards under their belts. Irons said Chuuk former head coach, Clark Graham, has contacted them and already passed their names onto his son, Curtis Graham, who is coaching the Chuuk team—both men’s and women’s.
Up next for the entire family, however, is football for the boys, and cheering for the girls. And, “in between football and wrestling practices,” they are always doing something with their group of islanders… this summer, maybe fishing or something else.
“My children truly enjoyed themselves, they had fun (wrestling) last season,” Irons, their self-appointed team manager, said. “Even the little one (their fifth child) will be a wrestler. He had fun cheering for his siblings and bonding on road trips on weekends.”
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Devin ‘DJ’ Kendrick Jr., 8, is the star among Kendrick Sr and Irons’ scholar-athlete children. He closed out the season representing the state of Texas in a regional tournament competition called, “Heartland USA Elementary, Middle School & Girls National Folk Style Duals 2025,” on March 28th, 29th and 30th of 2025 at the Mid America Center, Council Bluffs, Iowa. According to the regional tournament official website, Heartland USA Elementary, Middle School & Girls National Folk Style Duals 2025 was an official USA event. And you must have had a USA wrestling card to get in.
“The Heartland USA Elementary, Middle School, & Girls National Folk Style Duals are returning to the Mid-America Center!” boasted the website. “We are excited to welcome enthusiastic youth wrestlers of all genders. We are expecting about 100 plus teams this year. Each team is limited to 20 wrestlers per team, and must be listed on your roster. All wrestlers on a team must be from the same state. Grade verification (report card or official letter from an elementary school authority) will be required for all wrestlers. This event is for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th graders.”
This was a dual competition, Irons explained. And, it’s a little different from their usual competition. Teams wrestled against each other; they had no individual medals, just the distinction of being winners. Whichever team had more wins after all the weight classes have wrestled each other—that team becomes the winner of the tournament.
“DJ represented the 50lbs weight class for Texas,” Irons said proudly. “He won 2 and lost 2 matches. This is the highest level of competition as each state came with their best athletes.”
Irons, product of Xavier high school in Chuuk, was always so proud of her children. She couldn’t be asking for a more hard working bunch.
All of her children worked so hard during the school year, recording crazy hours of homework before training. During wrestling season, they continued to rack up their trophies and medals… all finished the school year with A’s and B’s.
Now, as islanders in Texas, DJ and his siblings just formed their own team, with many more island friends and non-island buddies joining their team.
