There is a lot of hard work and dedication that is required for an athlete to be successful. While showing up and competing hard on game day is important, Joey Bish says there is so much more to it than that.
“For me to be successful, it has taken a lot of practice and determination,” Bish said. “You also have to stay motivated. My biggest motivation in wrestling is trying to place for state this year and for the rest of the team to be successful.”

Joey is a sophomore at Mannford High School, where he is a member of the wrestling and track teams.
When he puts on the Mannford uniform, it is more than just some clothing that he wears. It is important for him to give his school a good name.

“It means a lot to me to be able to represent my school and community,” he said. “I especially
enjoy competing in front of my school because they do a great job of supporting us.”

Ottawa Cochran is the head wrestling coach at Mannford and he says that he looks for Joey to build off of the success he had last season.

“Joey qualified for the state tournament in 2023 as a freshman,” coach Cochran said. “He was one match away from earning a state medal and has big expectations entering his sophomore year.”

Bish has had a few role models to look up to during his lifetime and he says that they have helped him get to where he is today.

“The biggest influence in my life is my dad,” he said. “He is very good
at everything. Another person that has had an impact on me is coach Furr. He is my coach and has had a great influence on me.”

Another group that has played a role in Joey’s success are his teammates. He says that more
than just encouraging, they also help him improve his skills.

“Some of the guys I like to work against the most are Ty Clark, Easton Kiser, and Tucker Clark,” he said. “They push me hard in practice.”