Derek Ballard

Derek Ballard has been a warrior since childhood. He was born on January 30th, 1974 in Hershey, Pennsylvania to a 13-year-old girl, who was seduced by an older teen. Both parents were heavily into the drug culture and as a result Derek was born prematurely, weighing less than two pounds. So his fight for life began, without the parental nurturing and bonding so important to the healing and maturing of a child. His early struggle for life resulted in him remaining in the hospital for the entire first year of his life.

After a year, Derek's maternal grandmother took him home to raise along with her five children. His grandmother was an alcoholic and very strict. They lived in a low-cost housing project, and his grandmother worked two jobs to provide them with only the bare necessities. But Derek knew that his grandmother loved him. Under these circumstances, many turn into angry, delinquent children. But Derek thrived on the love he was given, and developed early on, into a child who cared about others.

Despite the odds against him, Derek also managed to do well in school. In high school Derek became a wrestler. During Derek's freshman year he lost all but two of his varsity wrestling matches that's when the fight in him took over. Few could ever imagine that in Derek's senior year he would capture the York County Wrestling Championship with a record of 20-0 and become the only undefeated wrestler in the County. His exceptional wrestling skill won him recognition through out the State.

Additionally Derek attended Coppin State College with all intentions on furthering his wrestling career. While in High School Derek became reunited with his father. They formed such a close relationship, that Derek left his grandmother and moved in with his Dad. They become inseparable and seemed to form the perfect Father and Son relationship. When Derek started college at Coppin State he was feeling on top of the world, and truly wanted to reach back to help other teens experiencing his same struggles. So, with the support of his father, he organized and funded a youth club in York, Pennsylvania.