In the past two months, Dakota Shrader has had two storms sweep through his life.
On April 11, Dakota’s home was destroyed by a tornado that rolled through the area leaving him with next to nothing. The storm on Tuesday was a dream come true.
"Cowboy" James Storm, a wrestler for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling and one of Dakota’s favorites, made an appearance at Richland Elementary School after learning of the tragedy that hit Dakota and his family.
Dakota is a huge wrestling fan and goes to events in Pulaski on Saturday nights, his teacher Lori Perkins said. When Perkins heard one of her students knew Storm, she thought it’d be a great opportunity to impact Dakota’s life.
“This is a unique event and an awesome experience,” she said. “It’s good to see him this excited and have his mind taken off the tragedy that hit him and his family.”
Before Storm’s appearance, Dakota, his dad Paul, and fellow Richland third grade students waited outside the gymnasium for the wrestler to show. Dakota even practiced a “firm handshake” with Mrs. Perkins just to be ready for his role model. As Storm’s white limousine pulled up to the school drawing oohs and aahs rang out from the third grade bunch.
“I was just hoping I could brighten his day,” Storm said.
When the limo came to a stop, Dakota approached with caution and opened the door.
“Are you Dakota Shrader?” Storm asked.
Dakota nodded his head and was promptly given a James Storm figurine.
Storm, Dakota and the third-graders went into the gymnasium where Storm talked to the students about wrestling, fielded questions from students and showed off some of his moves.
“Is wrestling fake?” one student asked.
“No, it hurts a lot,” Storm replied.
The wrestler showed students how he performs a lock and slap maneuver, a headlock and leg-drop. After the stunts, Storm cautioned the students to never try them.
“Do not try this at home,” he said. “I don’t want you breaking an arm or a neck.”
After the assembly, the students dispersed onto the playground, and Storm signed autographs. Storm has been wrestling professionally for 11 years and is originally from Leipers Fork. He now resides in Spring Hill. When he heard about what happened to Dakota and his family, he knew he had to do something.
“I have a two-year-old at home, and if something happened to her I don’t know what I would do,” Storm said after the assembly. “It’s important to give back, and I just wanted to help him get his mind off the things going on around him.”
Paul Shrader said it was great to see his son so happy.
“It’s really unbelievable to see Dakota’s idol standing right in front of me,” he said.
He said the family is living in a rental home and hopes to start rebuilding their house in the next month.
Dakota was almost at a loss for words after the day’s events.
“I’m just really excited,” he said with a huge smile on his face. “This is something I’ve never experienced.”
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