09/11/2026
25 years later, we remember.
We remember the lives that were taken far too soon.
We remember the families whose worlds changed forever.
We remember the first responders who ran toward danger when every instinct said to run away.
And we remember ordinary people who, in the most unimaginable moments, became extraordinary.
People like Welles Crowther — the man in the red bandana — who could have found his own way out, but instead kept going back. Back into the smoke. Back into the chaos. Back for people who needed him.
His story is a reminder that courage is not always loud. Sometimes it looks like extending a hand. Turning around when you could keep walking. Choosing service over self. Choosing to help someone else, even when it costs you something.
At Central Athletics, we believe the lessons our athletes learn should extend far beyond the mat. We want to raise strong athletes, but even more importantly, strong people — young people who are brave enough to stand up, compassionate enough to reach back, and willing to serve others when they are needed most.
Because championships, skills, and accomplishments will come and go. The kind of person you choose to become is what lasts.
Today, as a Central Athletics family, we remember the heroes we knew by name and the thousands whose stories deserve to be told.
September 11, 2001. 🇺🇸
25 years later, we will never forget.
