Middle school mat squads continue to pin down wins

By Staff

Photo by: Bryan GessMedomak's Duncan Widdecombe, top, against Oceanside's Alex Fogarty during a March 7 Pine Tree Wrestling League middle school meet in Waldoboro.

The Pine Tree Wrestling League middle school mat season continued to move along at a rapid pace with squads in action on Saturday, March 7.

The Eastern regional competition is set for Saturday, March 21 at Oceanside High School West in Thomaston, while the league championship meet will be Saturday, March 28 at Cony High School in Augusta.

Youth wrestling behind strong EHS program March 4, 2015 by Taylor Vortherms on Sports, Wrestling

by Taylor Vortherms 

Ellsworth pee wee coach Adam Atherton teaches Brendan Hamby a move at Sunday’s home tournament at Ellsworth High School.PHOTO BY TAYLOR VORTHERMS

ELLSWORTH — Beneath any successful high school program lies a foundation on which it was built. For the Ellsworth wrestling team, that groundwork begins at the pee wee level.

On Sunday, nearly 250 tiny wrestlers in grades 3 and 4 took turns dancing around the mats in the high school gymnasium for the Ellsworth program’s only home tournament of the season. With many clad in loose-fitting singlets and oversized headgear, matches sometimes involved giggling but more often concluded with tears.

There to restore confidence in Ellsworth’s youngest wrestlers after a tough loss were coaches Travis Hardison and Adam Atherton.

The pair has been coaching Ellsworth’s pee wee program for more than a decade, but the EHS team has only recently developed into one of the state’s best.

What has made the difference, EHS coach J.F. Burns said, is the addition of Logan Walsh’s club — Wrestlers Way.

“The key has been the youth work and the year-round instruction Logan supplies,” Burns said. “He focuses on wrestling 24-7, 365 days of the year.”

Two years ago, Walsh transformed a 40-by-50-square-foot garage on Whitmore Way near Graham Lake into his gymnasium. The Madison native offers year-round clinics to all wrestlers from peewee to high school level.

Prior to that, Walsh graduated from the University of Maine in 2008 with a master’s degree in exercise physiology. He then created the club in Belfast, where fewer than 10 wrestlers trained with him on a regular basis over those few years. Since relocating to Ellsworth, that number has increased to almost 50.

“Wrestling is a family,” Walsh said. “It’s a big community that requires more than just a couple coaches.”

Some of the wrestlers who have been with Walsh since the beginning of his coaching career happen to be four of Ellsworth’s state champions: freshman Peyton Cole (132), junior Dagan Berenyi (145), junior Connor Petros (152) and sophomore Trent Goodman (160).

Logan Walsh, owner of the Ellsworth wrestling club called Wrestlers Way, instructs an Ellsworth pee wee wrestler, Kobe Swett, during a match at Sunday’s home tournament at Ellsworth High School.

To Atherton, who also is an assistant coach for EHS, those athletes’ success and their shared background with Walsh’s club is no coincidental link.

“Wrestling in this area has come leaps and bounds,” Atherton said. “When you have a good staple in the community like Logan, who is really pushing the sport, it is constantly escalating the quality of wrestlers.”

This season, the EHS team notched both Class B Eastern Maine and state championships. The program had never before edged fellow Penobscot Valley Conference rival Foxcroft Academy for the regional title, and the Eagles hadn’t won States since 1982.

Atherton said he has noticed the skill level in his wrestlers improve over the last several years, with more of an emphasis on technique rather than muscle.

“These kids are becoming so technically sound, they take strength right out of the equation,” he said. “They learn how to use every part of their body.”

Atherton described what it’s like watching Goodman wrestle when he and an opponent are locked up on the mat.

“He’s got a hand here, a foot there…” Atherton began. “The other kid is just swimming across the mat because he can’t grab onto anything.”

More Ellsworth wrestlers — from elementary to high school age — have joined Walsh’s club over the past two years. While coaches affiliated with the school like Hardison, Atherton and Burns are not allowed by the Maine Principals Association to train their athletes in the offseason, Walsh has full access to those wrestlers.

“They stay well versed rather than just shelving it and then relearning it in the fall,” Atherton said. “They’re staying current, and they’re improving.”

Walsh also trains wrestlers on the Bucksport and Mount Desert Island high school teams, which he said is strengthening the quality of wrestling in Hancock County.

“It makes every kid push that much harder,” Walsh said. “They should feel lucky to have kids close enough who can challenge them.”

And as is often the case, a good team attracts better talent.

Burns said three of his top wrestlers who did not live in Ellsworth — Cole, Berenyi and Goodman — chose to attend EHS partly because of its improving wrestling team.

“Once you attract one, it’s like a magnet,” Burns said. “That’s how you form a great program.”

The annual Ellsworth pee wee tournament has more than doubled in sized since it was first organized three years ago, when 103 kids competed in the event.

On Sunday, Hardison and Atherton were not easy to spot in the crowded gymnasium, with the pair falling somewhere on the relaxed end of the coaching style spectrum.

Walsh, on the other hand, is a self-described “intensity.” From the corner of the mat on his hands and knees, he shouted out specific instructions to an Ellsworth wrestler until his own face turned pink.

But once the match ended, Walsh scooped up the crying child, who was crushed by his defeat, and carried him off the mat while offering words of encouragement.

“We’re all different — that’s why we work well together,” Walsh said. “When you have all these coaches coming together, it creates one big core group.

“That’s just what these kids need.”

Marshwood’s 2015 New England Youth Wrestling Invitational Classic

CLICK HERE FOR TEAM REGISTRATION PDF FORM [REQUIRED]

Coaches Must Read

1. The registration will close when the tournament is full. Please return completed registration along with check ASAP. Every year we are full so there will be some teams who receive an invitation but will not be able to enter their team. You may reserve your spot by sending in a check for the number of wrestlers who will be attending at any time prior to roster information deadline.

2. MARCH 19th IS THE ROSTER INFORMATION DEADLINE. This means that we must receive wrestler information BY this DATE or roster spots will be forfeited. Typically all spots are filled well before this date, so you won’t want to wait.

3. Coaches are required to have a USA coaches card or pay the admission price. 

4. We have also decided to have the schoolboy division use weight classes as follows: 70,75,80,85,90,95,100,105,110,115,120,125,130,

135,140,150,160,170,185,200,220,285. With awards for the top 6 in this division. There will be NO Grand champion matches this year.

Cumberland County Civic Center

Portland, ME

Saturday April 4th, 2015

This is an invitational tournament; you must have an invitation to Register. This is a double elimination, folkstyle tournament. As in previous years, there will be four divisions for elementary and junior high wrestlers-Bantam (Grades k through 2), Midget (Grades 3 & 4), Novice (Grades 5 & 6), and Schoolboy (Grades 7 & 8). Weight Classes will be determined after weigh-in.

Bantam, Midget, Novice divisions will compete in 8-person brackets when possible with awards given to the top 4 places. Schoolboy division will compete in 16 man brackets with the top 6 awards given. Team Scores will be kept and awards given for the first place and runner-up teams on each division. The brackets of 5 or less will be run as round robin.

Teams will be limited to 25 wrestlers. Each team may designate up to 12 wrestlers Per Division as “scoring wrestlers” for the purpose of earning Team Points. All additional wrestlers will be considered “non-scoring”. Non-scoring wrestlers will not earn Team Points, but will be eligible for all individual awards. No ALL STAR Teams or CLUB Teams.

Bantam and Midget Divisions will wrestle on Saturday, starting at 8:30 am. All matches will be 3 one minute rounds (1-1-1).

Novice and Schoolboy Divisions will wrestle on Saturday afternoon at 11:00. All matches will be 3 one minute rounds (1-1-1), except for the championship and consolation finals, which will be (1-2-2). Time permitting.

Registration is $30 per person and is non-refundable. Make checks payable to “E.S.B.W.” This tournament is limited to 400 wrestlers in the Bantam and Midget Divisions and 600 wrestlers in the Novice and Schoolboy Divisions and, based on the last ten years, it WILL be full. Registration is first-come first-served based on receipt of the Completed Team Registration Form and Registration Fees. 

You can ensure your spots ahead of time by sending in the registration fees and number of wrestlers desired in each Division early. Final Rosters must still be provided by March 19th or spots with no wrestler information will be forfeited. No spots will be held without prior payment. No refunds will be made for Forfeited spots. There will be NO Additions after March 19th. There will be No Tournament Day Additions. No-Shows are already taken into account, there for No replacements are accepted after March 19th. 

Guaranteed entry to first 1,000 entries (correctly filled out and with payment). Additional open entries will be at discretion of tournament committee. 

All wrestlers must weigh-in in wrestling uniform (singlet or shirt/shorts) and submit to a skin check at weigh-in. A doctor’s note for any current skin conditions must be provided; however, tournament staff will have the finale decision regarding skin checks.

This is a qualifier for the 2014-2015 TOC as well as the 2015 Fall TOC. The top three finishers in each weight class will qualify. For more information about the Ohio Tournament you can call Bart Freidenberg at (216)236-1011.

Coaches Passes

In an effort to keep the mats clear and the tournament moving we WILL limit the number of people on the floor. Only people with coach’s passes will be allowed on the mats. Understanding that in special Circum stances parents may need to be at the mats with young wrestlers they will have to borrow a pass form one of their team coaches. We will send passes to each team by mail or give them out at registration. If you need additional passes it will be at the discretion of the tournament committee. Please contact Pete Eastman with any questions.

Others may also reference this web site for Hotels, Directions and other details. www.MarshwoodWrestling.com. To reach Tournament Director by email at MarshwoodNEClassic@gmail.com.

Weigh-In Times

Mandatory Friday Weigh-Ins for Pre-K – 8th 

Friday, April 3rd 

Bantam – Schoolboy Marshwood Great Works School 5-7:30 pm

Grades (Pre-K – 8) Best Western Merry Manor Inn 5:00-8:00 pm

Wrestlers may only weigh in ONCE

NO SATURDAY WEIGH-INS

Directions to the Best Western Merry Manor Inn

From the North & South using the Main Turnpike

Take the Main Turnpike North or South to Exit 45. Take Exit 45 and go straight past the old tollbooth for 1.5 miles. You will come to a stop light on US Route #1. Go through the stop light into the parking lot of the Best Western Merry Manor Inn. The registration desk is located through the entrance under the carport.

From the North Using Route 295

Follow Route 295 South through Portland until you come to Exit #4. Take Exit 4, this will put you on US Route #1 South. Stay on US Route 1 South for 2 miles. The Best Western Merry Manor Inn will be on the left hand side of the road. The Registration desk is through the entrance under the carport.

Directions to the Cumberland County Civic Center

From the Best Western Merry Manor Inn

Go straight through the stop light in front of the Best Western. This puts you on the connector Road that runs between US Route 1 and the Maine Turnpike. Take your first right onto Intersection 295 North. Stay on Intersection 295 North until you come to Exit #7. Take Exit 7 onto the Franklin Arterial. Proceed to the 4th traffic light located at the corner of Middle Street and Franklin Arterial. Take right onto Middle Street. Follow Middle Street (The name changes to Spring Street just before Civic Center) to the Cumberland County Civic Center, which is located on your right. There is a parking garage attached to the Civic Center or you can park in one of the lots near facility.

Directions to the Cumberland County Civic Center

From Interstate 95 take I-295 to Portland. Take Exit #7, onto Franklin Street. Go through 4 sets of light. Turn right at the 5th light onto Middle Street. The Civic Center is 3 traffic lights ahead on the right. There is a parking garage adjacent to the Civic Center.

Hotels with Rooms Blocked For Wrestlers

For Special Rates let the Hotels Know that you are with the 

Marshwood Wrestling New England Tournament

Merry Manor Inn: Location: 700 Main Street, South Portland, Maine

Reservations-(207)774-6151 www.bestwestern.com

Directions- from Interstate 95 take Exit 45 (South Portland), to Us Route 1, From Interstate 295; take Exit 2 to US Route 1, Main Street.

Howard Johnson: Location: 675 Main Street, South Portland, Maine

Reservations-(207)775-5343 www.howardjohnson.com

Directions- from Interstate 95, Get onto I-295 Take Exit 1 South Portland Merge onto Maine Turnpike Authority Approach Rd. Then turn left onto US-1 Main Street.

Hampton Inn: Location: 171 Philbrook Ave So. Portland Maine

Reservations: (207)773 4400 Group Code YWT

Directions- I-95 Exit 45,Follow signs for Maine Mall,Take Right on Philbrook Ave

Hotel will be on Right

Scoring Table Help

This has become increasingly popular over the last couple of years. 

Any team wishing to manage a scoring table, please contact us as soon as possible.

Responsibility includes providing scorers,taggers,& timers for the duration of the time you commited to(All day or half day). Consideration will be given to teams in the order in which they have responded. Thank You

CLICK HERE FOR TEAM REGISTRATION PDF FORM [REQUIRED]

2015 Skowhegan Youth Wrestling Tournament

Sunday March 15th  2015

@ Skowhegan Area High School

Pre-K – 8^th Grade Tournament

4 man round robins

pre-K-2nd grade weigh in 7:15-8:15

^{3rd-4th grade close 9:15}

^{5th-8th close 11:00am}

^{***************************************************************}

Concessions Available All day

$15 pre-registration / $20 walk-ins

Email pre-registration info with

 name, age, grade, weight and exp (1^st year =0 exp)

To: djrjbell@beeline-online.net

Pre-registration must be in by Wednesday March 11th. 

Like us on Facebook – Skowhegan Youth Wrestling

Physical effects wrestling has on children

Sports offer opportunities for children to improve their strength, flexibility and coordination, while having fun. Most sports activities rely more on some muscle groups and less on others. For example, most sports focus primarily on pushing motions (leg/arm extension) such as throwing, hitting, kicking, jumping and running.

Experts believe that unilateral (equal emphasis on all muscle groups) physical development is especially important in young athletes. Isolated development at an early age, over a long period, increases the risk of injury and limits long-term foundational growth. Swimming, gymnastics and wrestling are among the few sports that engage both pulling and pushing muscle groups.

Of all the sports choices a parent and child can make, wrestling is perhaps the best sport for overall physical development because it involves all muscle groups, and requires the greatest balance of athletic skill. In other words, wrestling does more to improve basic things such as strength, balance, speed, agility and intensity, and is not as specialized as most other common sports.

Wrestling effect on character development

Success factors in sports, or anything for that matter, are part God-given (i.e. height and size) and part acquired (i.e. endurance). Success in wrestling depends most on acquired factors, and unlike most other sports, wrestling does not favor athletes of any particular height, size, weight, muscle type, race or social class, and does not rely on superior vision or hearing.

Wrestlers learn, by the nature of the sport, that long-term success has much more to do with the investment made than the "natural" gifts one is given. Wrestlers learn the value of preparation and hard work, and the role it plays in achieving one's goals. Wrestling provides real-life experiences that build and strengthen the following character traits:

• Self Reliance
• Mental Toughness
• Work Ethic
• Competitive Spirit
• Responsibility
• Self Discipline
• Goal Orientation
• Confidence

In order to keep this in perspective, one must realize that character development is a slow process, driven by a variety of positive and negative influences with varying degrees of impact. Sports can play a significant role in character development, but other influences may have an even greater impact. Wrestling, in itself, is not a character development solution, but years of participation can provide positive influences. A person's overall character includes many other dimensions, such as integrity and compassion, which may have little if anything to do with sports.

Kennebunk Youth Wrestling program is in building mode

Kennebunk Youth Wrestling offers children a chance to

learn, and compete at own pace

By Alex Acquisto

Staff Writer

KENNEBUNK — For its second season independent of the Recreation Department, Kennebunk Youth Wrestling has opened its enrollment.

While both Middle School of the Kennebunks and Kennebunk High School have formal wrestling teams, Kennebunk Youth Wrestling caters to children who don’t yet qualify, in age or stature, for that level of competition.

Kennebunk Youth Wrestling invites children in kindergarten through sixth grade to participate.

Approximately 25 children from Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, Arundel and Biddeford have signed up for the program and are members of Kennebunk Youth Wrestling. In order to join, one must pay a $45 membership fee as well as purchase a USA Wrestling membership for approximately $35.

Even though Kennebunk Youth Wrestling has been operating for five years, many people still don’t know it exists.

“There’s this whole sports entity out there that I didn’t know anything about,” said Kennebunk resident Bob Madore. “I have four kids and do Parks and Recreation and a lot of activities and this was right off the radar,” Madore said of the youth wrestling league, still in its nascent stages.

Madore’s 8-year-old son, Max, began participating last year.

“It was a bit of trial and error,” Madore said.

The youth wrestling group holds practices twice a week; however, those who practice are not required to compete.

“Competitions are if you want to do them, but it isn’t a necessity as a group,” Madore said.

“Bit by bit we’re figuring things out, said Tami York, secretary for the newly formed Kennebunk Youth Wrestling Board of Directors and mother of two young wrestlers, ages 13 and 9.

“It seems to work much better because we can kind of control our own destiny. Last year was our toe in the water. This year things have definitely gotten more involved; we’re like a real group,” York said. “He wanted to make it more than it ever could have been under the umbrella of parks and recreation,” York said of head coach Steve Young.

“One of the reasons we took it from out of parks and rec was because we got a lot of support from parents who wanted to be doing more than they could do through parks and rec,” said Young. “We decided to push things forward as far as what parents could do for fundraising. We have such good support from them,” Young said.

Young, 30, and assistant coach, Mike Dumas, 28, wrestled in college together at the University of Southern Maine.

This is Young’s first year as head coach for Kennebunk High School. Dumas and Young also coach wrestling at Middle School of the Kennebunks.

Young, who has been wrestling since the eighth grade, said he and Dumas understand the importance of having a pee-wee wrestling program in addition to the school wrestling teams.

“I come from a pretty good (youth wrestling) program in upstate New York; I know the importance of having a youth program,” Young said.

Young said he and Dumas wanted to help the pee-wee program grow, and took the opportunity to coach together as soon as the opportunity became available.

One of the philosophies they share, as coaches, Young said, is to keep the stress level low, to prevent participants from becoming burned out.

“We’ve seen a lot of people burn out because it is such a tough sport,” Young said. “One thing we try to do is make it fun for the kids so they want to come and be a part of it. We don’t want to lose them because they get scared at a competition. We try to keep it as stress-free and easy for them so they’ll stay involved,” Young said.

Kids who become comfortable with wrestling when they’re young, said Young, learn a lot more than what’s taught on the mat.

“There’s a responsibility that comes with it. It helps them build stronger confidence in themselves and it just makes daily things that they face seem easier,” Young said. “I just think it’s a great thing to be a part of.”

York echoed the sentiment: “Kids in all sports benefit from wrestling. The kids are so incredibly in shape. Even for those kids who never want to wrestle in a tournament, practice is great for just a workout and toning body control. I can only say that wrestling has done nothing but be of benefit to my boys in terms of crossing into other sports.”

“Wrestling is a weird sport, I’ll be the first one to admit it,” York said. “To an outsider, wrestling can seem incredibly brutal, almost barbaric. That’s what people might see with an uneducated eye,” York said. ”These little kids work so incredibly hard. There are so many rules and regulations that go into every match. These little boys have to be mindful of the time, have to listen to their coaches, have to be aware of their coaches, they have to figure out how they can score a point in tense situation they’re in, and all of this happens within seconds of each other.”

“Steve and Mike know these kids and have a real investment in them,” York said. “My youngest started in kindergarten, and my oldest started in third grade. When they start they’re rolling around on the mat, giggling. By the time they are in high school they know what they’re doing,” York said. “It benefits them in the long run because they will have a core group of kids who know what they’re doing.”

Practices are Tuesday and Thursday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in gym C at Kennebunk High School.

For more information about Kennebunk Youth Wrestling visit www.kennebunkyouthwrestling.com or visit the Kennebunk Youth Wrestling Facebook page.