My First Youth Wrestling Highlight Video

YouTube ^ | 30 December 2012 | Square Pants

[SquarePants]

In a world where boys are feminized by their schools and popular culture, I think wrestling is a great way to teach kids the old-fashioned values of personal accountability, winning and losing with honor, and the value of work ethic.

My son started wrestling at 5, but he just got serious about it this past year. Since April he's been practicing with clubs and his personal coach 5-6 days a week, and sometimes for 4 hours a day. It's been paying off, as this formerly meek and unathletic kid started winning travel tournaments, and placing in major events (2nd at the Big Red NE Championships). So far this season, we've been to Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Massachusetts for tournaments. Which is another great thing about youth wrestling - it creates a lot of amazing family time.

I thought I'd try to put together a highlight film from our trip last week to Pennsylvania, for the annual Pottsgrove Holiday Tournament. One of these days I imagine I'll be sending them off to college coaches. Happy New Year, and if you have sons - get them wrestling!

[sl-17b]

I agree completely. My son started wrestling as an overweight Freshman in high school. He wrestled and played football all four years. The wrestling helped him shed the excess weight and become stronger physically and mentally.
He also saw the differences in the coaches very quickly. The football coach wanted him to pack on some unhealthy weight every season and actually told the team they needed to be willing to get hurt for the team. This after several players had torn ACL’s and separated shoulders.
The wrestling coach on the other hand wanted the kids to develop into better people and athletes.