Foundation Honoring Late Madison Graduate Hosting Tournament For Mental Health

FAIRFAX, VA — The Eric Monday Foundation continues to honor its namesake, the late James Madison High School graduate Eric Monday, with mental health awareness events. On Saturday, the foundation will host its top summer event, the Melee ’til Midnight wrestling tournament with a mental health focus.

Melee ’til Midnight will be a late-night wrestling tournament for youth, middle school, high school, and open-level wrestlers from across the country. Wrestlers will also seek to share a message of "Take Down the Stigma" regarding mental health and athletes. Last year's event included participation from wrestlers in 20 states.

"We created Melee ’til Midnight not only to offer a one-of-a-kind wrestling experience, but also to give athletes space to talk about the hard stuff—like stress, pressure, anxiety, and mental health," said Brian Monday, president of the Eric Monday Foundation. "We want athletes and all competitors to know it’s strong to speak up."

The event will be held at the George Mason University Field House, 4501 University Dr., Fairfax, VA on Saturday. Wrestling begins at 6:10 p.m., and matches run through midnight. Admission is $5 per person, or a $15 maximum per family and $4 for military personnel. Registration and a live stream is provided at melee-til-midnight.com.

The Eric Monday Foundation was created to honor Eric Monday, a graduate of James Madison High School and college wrestler who died in 2009. According to the foundation, Monday battled depression amidst his wrestling accomplishments, and he spent time uplifting other athletes. The foundation is focused on eliminating stigma around mental health for athletes and provides outreach, education and training.