Jackson woman to make debut

Julia McCoy's introduction into the professional wrestling ring tonight will hardly be the kind of flamboyant stuff you see on television.

First of all, instead of a mysterious hometown like "Parts Unknown" or the "Isle of Fiji," McCoy hails from Jackson.

And instead of the typical nickname with wonderful alliteration liked "Masked Marvel," McCoy will be introduced as "Trainee 14."

Then again, that kind of name brings its own intrigue.

McCoy, 26, a working mother, makes her ring debut tonight in a Gateway Championship wrestling card at the A.C. Brase Arena in Cape Girardeau. The doors open at 7 and the wrestling begins at 8 p.m.

"I have lots of fears," McCoy said. "I was not really a performance person. My big fear is that I will get up there and fall flat on my face."

McCoy, 5-foot-5 and 150 pounds, grew up in Jackson and played soccer. Her interested in wrestling is attributed to her husband, Paul, who does some work, including announcing, for Gateway Wrestling. McCoy herself also did some work for Gateway as a photographer.

"I've been interested in wrestling for about two years," she said. "Gateway has a training center where I've been able to get actual training. For six months, I drove to St. Louis two or three times a week to train."

McCoy will wrestle a woman from St. Louis in her debut.

She said the Gateway program will be suitable for a family audience. Her own 8-year-old son has attended many wrestling matches.

"We are very family oriented," she said. "I took my son to every show. He is ecstatic about me getting in the ring. That's all he talks about."