Donnie Yerkie 2001 Started wrestling as a todler for Art Blake in the Kent County Mat Monster's program coached by Art Blake. In high school he wrestled for National Wrestling Hall of Fame Coach Dan Zottarelli. While wrestling at Kent County HS he became Kent County HS Most Technical wrestler, boasting a three year record of 125-6. He won his first state title as a sophomore at 119 lbs. That summer he was selected to wrestle for Team Maryland in the National Freestyle & Greco Championship, Fargo, North Dakota. Later that year in October over Halloween weekend while wrestling in a pre season tournament at Rising Sun HS, he shot in for a takedown and pulled the opponents knee into his stomach and which ended in a ruptured kidney as immediately transported to the emergency room. The doctors then performed an emergency operation on his left kidney requiring fifty- eight staples. Doctor's declared that Donnie would never wrestle again. Donnie had a different opinion about when his carrier was going to end. Miracously after intense rehab for three month and a prolonged hospital stay Donnie stepped back on mat the second week in December in the Kent Holiday Wrestling tournament. He wore a protective pad over his left kidney using a velcro strip to hold it in place. Not only did he win the tournament not allowing a offensive point be scored against him. He then went onto to defend his District, Region and State Title.