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Iraq war refugee finds home at Belmont High

Wrestling helps his transition to U.S. culture

Nimr Ibrahim lost his leg after an explosion during the war in his home country of Iraq. His agility as a former soccer player and his upper body strength should help make him a contender in the lower weight classes at many meets, according to his coach.

Staff photo by Chris Stewart Nimr Ibrahim lost his leg after an explosion during the war in his home country of Iraq. His agility as a former soccer player and his upper body strength should help make him a contender in the lower weight classes at many meets, according to his coach.

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By Greg Billing, Staff Writer Updated 12:54 AM Friday, December 11, 2009

DAYTON — Like most kids his age, 16-year-old Nimr Ibrahim can’t wait to get his driver’s license. He also enjoys holiday decorations and loves to watch television.

What makes these experiences more fulfilling is what Ibrahim has had to endure. Four years ago, a stray rocket exploded next to his home in Iraq. He was seriously wounded and lost a leg.

Ibrahim’s family fled its homeland and lived in Syria for three years before Catholic Social Services facilitated a 6,200-mile journey to Dayton. The war refugees set foot in their new city Dec. 3, 2008.

“In Syria, they say do not go to the United States,” Nimr said. “My father say do not worry. Better than Syria and Iraq. ... My friend (in Dayton) say you have house, you have own car, your father have car in one year. That’s good.”

Ibrahim, his three brothers and two sisters are among 400 students from 19 different countries in Dayton Public Schools’ English Learners program. There are 65 students at Belmont, the DPS high school that hosts the English as a Second Language program.

As Ibrahim makes the transition to American culture, he keeps finding new things to enjoy — like wrestling.

“I didn’t have a 103-pounder, so I asked him, ‘How do you move without the crutches?’ ” Belmont wrestling coach Kipp Grubauch said. “He dropped his crutches and he had pretty decent balance. I said, ‘How’s your strength?’ He jumps up on the pull-up bar and he does 20 pull-ups in a row.

“I almost fell over, my assistant coach was drooling and my other assistant was saying, ‘Sign him up!’ ”

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2400, ext. 6991, or gbilling@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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