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Local wrestling club teaches skill set, self-confidence
By Ryan Boldrey
The Lewis-Palmer Wrestling Club is in its fourth year of grooming kids between the ages of 4 and 14-years-old for the mat. A member of the Pikes Peak Wrestling League, the group is a competitive folk-style wrestling club that helps teach the basics of the sport and prepare kids for the rigors of high school wrestling.
Competing under the nickname of “The Maulers,” the kids from the Monument area compete in seven or eight tournaments a year between the months of October and March, including a series of challenge tournaments named after famous amateur wrestler and former Olympic gold medal winner, Dan Gable.
Similar to any other form of competitive wrestling, the Maulers wrestle against people close to them in weight and age. However, according to head coach Sean Strickenberger, weight cutting is not only discouraged but not allowed in the club.
“We have what is known as scratch weights,” Strickenberger said. “Sometimes a kid will have to wrestle someone who is a few pounds heavier than he is because we wrestle [within] a range of weights. Weight cutting is not allowed at the club level.”
Aside from teaching the young wrestlers the importance of health, club vice president Sean Hartling believes strongly that the kids walk away with a greater sense of self-confidence as well as an understanding of what it means to be a good sport.
“The club gives the basics, teaches what the kids need to learn that will help them become better once they hit high school,” Hartling said. “It also helps them to be more positive about themselves and to become tougher. It’s not an easy sport, it’s a tough sport and kids come out and work hard. It’s not playtime in the club… We do moves and do a lot of mat time.”
Lewis-Palmer varsity head coach Nick Baker helps to promote the club on the Rangers’ Web site and is appreciative of what the club does in terms of being a feeder program for LPHS wrestling.
“They are doing whatever they can to help me out and I’m doing the same for them,” Baker said. “It’s a good thing for the future. I know Sean [Hartling] is working with me as far as terminology and getting them ready for the system they will see at the high school level. By the time the kids start seeing me on a regular basis they will already know the basics of what they’ll see in the program.”
Another thing Baker pointed out is that like any other sport, if you want to truly be competitive you need to put in the extra time. And according to him, club wrestling does just that for those involved.
“If you want to be competitive at the state level in high school then you would probably want to get involved with the youth club,” Baker said.
Alec Oberndorfer, 12, is already seeing the benefits of the club at the middle school level. Oberndorfer, who was a champion wrestler in the Dan Gable series last year for his weight and age, went 12-1 for Creekside Middle School this year, winning both tournaments the Cougars participated in while going 6-1 in duals.
“I think it’s good because it gives the kids mat time before they get to [higher] levels, and it helps them compete better,” Oberndorfer said. “Middle school wrestling alone is not going to do as much to get you ready for high school wrestling.”
For those looking to get involved, the club meets on Monday and Thursday nights from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the LPHS wrestling loft at the high school. All those who are interested are encouraged to stop by and see what it is all about.
For more information people are also encouraged to check out the league Web site at www.pikespeakwrestling.com or to contact one of the club officers via email. President Sarah Oberndorfer can be reached at coberndorf@msn.com. Hartling may be reached at offroadsean@yahoo.com and Tina Reynolds, the club secretary may be reached at rogandtina@aol.com.
Competing under the nickname of “The Maulers,” the kids from the Monument area compete in seven or eight tournaments a year between the months of October and March, including a series of challenge tournaments named after famous amateur wrestler and former Olympic gold medal winner, Dan Gable.
Similar to any other form of competitive wrestling, the Maulers wrestle against people close to them in weight and age. However, according to head coach Sean Strickenberger, weight cutting is not only discouraged but not allowed in the club.
“We have what is known as scratch weights,” Strickenberger said. “Sometimes a kid will have to wrestle someone who is a few pounds heavier than he is because we wrestle [within] a range of weights. Weight cutting is not allowed at the club level.”
Aside from teaching the young wrestlers the importance of health, club vice president Sean Hartling believes strongly that the kids walk away with a greater sense of self-confidence as well as an understanding of what it means to be a good sport.
“The club gives the basics, teaches what the kids need to learn that will help them become better once they hit high school,” Hartling said. “It also helps them to be more positive about themselves and to become tougher. It’s not an easy sport, it’s a tough sport and kids come out and work hard. It’s not playtime in the club… We do moves and do a lot of mat time.”
Lewis-Palmer varsity head coach Nick Baker helps to promote the club on the Rangers’ Web site and is appreciative of what the club does in terms of being a feeder program for LPHS wrestling.
“They are doing whatever they can to help me out and I’m doing the same for them,” Baker said. “It’s a good thing for the future. I know Sean [Hartling] is working with me as far as terminology and getting them ready for the system they will see at the high school level. By the time the kids start seeing me on a regular basis they will already know the basics of what they’ll see in the program.”
Another thing Baker pointed out is that like any other sport, if you want to truly be competitive you need to put in the extra time. And according to him, club wrestling does just that for those involved.
“If you want to be competitive at the state level in high school then you would probably want to get involved with the youth club,” Baker said.
Alec Oberndorfer, 12, is already seeing the benefits of the club at the middle school level. Oberndorfer, who was a champion wrestler in the Dan Gable series last year for his weight and age, went 12-1 for Creekside Middle School this year, winning both tournaments the Cougars participated in while going 6-1 in duals.
“I think it’s good because it gives the kids mat time before they get to [higher] levels, and it helps them compete better,” Oberndorfer said. “Middle school wrestling alone is not going to do as much to get you ready for high school wrestling.”
For those looking to get involved, the club meets on Monday and Thursday nights from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the LPHS wrestling loft at the high school. All those who are interested are encouraged to stop by and see what it is all about.
For more information people are also encouraged to check out the league Web site at www.pikespeakwrestling.com or to contact one of the club officers via email. President Sarah Oberndorfer can be reached at coberndorf@msn.com. Hartling may be reached at offroadsean@yahoo.com and Tina Reynolds, the club secretary may be reached at rogandtina@aol.com.
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