Team Wilson arrives in Beijing

After almost 90 days since seeing Aarik Wilson win the triple jump in the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon, the Wilson family left Thursday for China. During that time, the Wilsons have raised more than $5,000 to help send Aarik’s coach, Wayne Pate, to the Summer Games. Kirsten Wilson, Aarik’s mother, said Wednesday that they had enough money to accommodate the track coach’s airfare, lodging and food, as well as creating a track and field scholarship for the upcoming sports season.
“We’ve had a great response. We’ve had some random acts of kindness,” Kirsten Wilson said. “It’s going to be over $5,000 for sure, and there’s definitely going to be an Aarik Wilson track and field scholarship.”
Along with Kirsten, Aarik’s grandparents Grant and Nisha Kremers and sister Tia will be in China to watch the competition. Tony Guillen and his son Ethan and Ethan’s friend Luke are also with the Wilsons.
Kirsten Wilson said that letters were sent to various businesses and casinos this week in addition to receiving $800 in donations. The Bonzana casino, Charlie Frey and a Las Vegas dentist each donated to the fund along with the Fallon Shoshone Tribe. The Tribe bought the rest of the “Go For the Gold Aarik Wilson” T-shirts this week, but Wilson said more will be ordered when they return from China in two weeks.
“We just wanted to raise as much as we can,” Wilson said. “It’s been a grass-roots effort where everyone’s pitching in. There’s even been people, family and friends from other states sending in checks.”
Since the T-shirts arrived two weeks ago, Wilson said more than 300 were sold but more will be on the way, especially when Aarik Wilson returns to Fallon to thank his supporters.
“I thought we were going to be leaving 18 or 20 behind. The next run of shirts will be when Aarik comes back,” Kirsten Wilson said, also pointing out that the new shirts will have a designated area for her son’s autograph.
But the main cause for the fundraising was Pate. Since he wasn’t an official Olympic coach, Pate would not be accommodated and needed to come up with his own funds for the trip.
“We sent him a check to reimburse his Visa,” Wilson said. “He sent me a text saying ‘I’m there (China) and thank you and thank Fallon.’”
Pate said he wants to pay back everyone in Fallon for helping him to the Olympics.
“Aarik’s mom, grandmother and everybody have been unbelievable,” said Pate, who is in China for his first-ever Olympics. “I’m truly grateful for what she’s done and what Aarik’s done. When my house sells and I get up and moved, I would very well like to pay everyone back who’s been able to get me to do this. This has been Aarik’s and my dream to go to the Olympics and win a medal.”
Readers can visit the Wilson’s family blog at www.aarikwilsonfans.blogspot.com and leave comments. Aarik Wilson’s blog can be viewed on the LVN Web site as he prepares for his first Olympic jump on Monday at 10 a.m. in Bejing (Sunday at 7 p.m. PDT).