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REMEMBERING ALEX 'LARRY SWEENEY' WHYBROW

Alex Whybrow and I attended Oberlin College together. I've known Alex - on and off, you might say - since our first year of college at Oberlin together, in 1999. And bothAlex's problems with bipolar disorder and his creativity and passion for professional wrestling were evident from that first year.

Alex was intelligent and charming, sensitive and kind; while capable of a certain creative violence within the confines of wrestling, outside of wrestling, he was a gentle, caring, person.

I can explain by telling you how we met. There was one all-male dorm at Oberlin, and of course, it was the place to watch wrestling. But it was the like the worst parody of a frat house. I was thrown in the industrial size garbage can as an initiation and, being as short as I am, Alex had to help me out. After that, we found our own place to watch wrestling.

I remember the night I learned about Alex's battle with bipolar disorder. I remember his tears. He took some time away from Oberlin and had his first experience with wrestling. I remember the next time I saw him, how happy he was. He spoke excitedly about Windy City Wrestling and being in a battle royal with Christopher Daniels.

Alex's life short life, remarkable as it was, need not have been so short. But the mental health system - and the insurance system necessary to support it - doesn't just have tiny cracks. It's barely there at all. If the suicide of Alex Whybrow moves you at all, I ask you to think about that.

I'm sorry Alex. Goodbye.

Your friend,

Mark Engleson