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she grew up, Gray went from Chatfield High School in Littleton, Colo., to Marquette Senior High School in Marquette, Mich., back to Colorado to graduate from Bear Creek High School in Lakewood, just outside of Denver. Wrestling has also taken the 20-year-
old to China, Russia, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Belarus, Bulgaria and Turkey. Several food allergies weren’t the only
afflictions Gray had to deal with growing up.
In fact, she’s been battling another medical issue since she was eight months old. “I’ve had about 15 ear surgeries in my
life,” said Gray. “I have dysfunctional Eustachian tubes and have had six sets of tubes put in my ears.” This explains the large collection of stocking caps and hats Gray is often seen wearing. “I don’t like anything to touch my ears
or to bother them,” she said. “I don’t like the wind. I wear hats everywhere when I’m outside. I don’t swim or do anything that will go in my ear. “The constant ear infections, it’s just
one of those things,” she said. “I’d make an appointment to go to the doctor and as we were leaving, we’d make another appointment, as if I’d already gotten sick. It was rough, but not the worst thing any- one has to deal with. I became disci- plined at an early age that I have to suck it up. That’s when it translates to wrestling from time to time.” In Colorado Springs, Gray and her roommate, 2010 World Team member Kelsey Campbell, have an interesting relationship. It often centers around com- munity service, and of course, food. “I just went back to the allergist and
I’ve grown out of my allergy and now I eat!” joked Gray. “I just ate cheese for the first time here in Mongolia,” she explained, referring to a mini package of Blue Bell “cow” cheese she’d eaten at breakfast. “Kelsey doesn’t like to eat leftovers and
she hates not being able to share food with me, because before I didn’t eat any- thing, and now we can go out for pizza all the time. It’s made our relationship so much better since we can share food,” said Gray. Gray and other resident-athletes are
active with Habitat for Humanity, a volun- teer group which builds homes for low- income families. She also reads to children at a local
hospital. “I really enjoy it,” said Gray. “It’s awe- some being able to tell my story about
8 USA Wrestler
Adeline Gray placed fifth at the 2009 World Championships before being side- lined last season with an injury. Larry Slater photo.
“The success is just part of my personality. I’m a very determined person. I like just being able to put a task in front of me.” - Adeline Gray
being a kid and wrestling to be able to travel the World and understand what the Olympics is all about. I feel like I’m help- ing. Getting the kids out of their rooms for a little bit and we read to them. “I don’t feel much attachment to the
Springs, I feel like it’s distance, but I think mostly that I have a story to tell and I can share it with people who are in need and hopefully get them a dream to focus on,” she said. Gray’s punishing style on the mat
includes what many view as the basics. Wrist and halfs, wrists and bars, hammer- locks and a deadly bar series which she runs overtop, creating painful pinning sit- uations. “From day one, my dad said wrestling
is wrestling,” said Gray. “It’s so true. If you go out and handfight out there and there’s some tweaking so you don’t expose, but my moves haven’t changed much because it’s freestyle.
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