Volume 3, Issue 2 August 20, 2008
SUMMER WRESTLING
Special points of interest:
• Summer Wrestling • Rocket Cam • Golf Outing • New Wrestler Orientation
• Coaches Corner • Conditioning • Pot Luck • Booster Club
Inside this issue: Summer Wrestling
1
Rocket Camp
2
Coaches Corner
3
Wrestling for Dummies
4
Booster Club
4
New Wrestler Orientation
4
Conditioning
4
Golf Outing
4
Pot Luck
4
With the start of the 2008-09 school year approaching, it is noteworthy that the wrestling team had record participation in off-season, or “summer wrestling” as some call it. Even though many wrestlers were involved in other programs such as track, baseball and soccer, as well as driver’s education etc., they still found time to attend wrestling venues. Open gym nights were held on Mondays and some Thursdays; they competed in the Milan Duals in June and July; they attended the Michigan Team Competition Camp at the end of June; they competed in the Lowell Grand River Rumble team tournament in August; and they went to various Border Wars, MYWAY and AAU Individual events throughout which included the AAU World Championships in Detroit, MYWAY State Championships in East Lansing, Border Wars at Mason, Freemont, Chippewa Valley, Lowell, and maybe some others of which we are unaware or missed. And, finally, most of the team came the last week in July to the annual Rocket Camp which this year featured several clinicians from the University of Michigan. Yet, Coach Polk was still somehow able to attend summer college classes and play in his softball league. The point is that everyone did other things, but still gave some time to wrestling. John Glenn’s wrestling team has had a history under Coach Polk’s reign of committing to improvement in the off-season, but this year’s group may have outdone any previous teams as far as participation. The team knows, however, that other programs take advantage of the same opportunities. Michigan wrestling as a whole seems to be getting stronger. With the new league starting this year, it will not be easy to dominate their division as they have done in the past. For now, we want to encourage everyone to support the fall sports teams of John Glenn. We have numerous wrestlers who are part of the football, soccer, and cross country teams. We wish them and the other teams “great success” throughout the coming months. Justin wrestles at “Milan Duals”
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Wrestlers listen attentively to the instructions during one of the sessions.
U of M Wrestler, Anthony Biondo, instructs how to execute a move. Clinicians at Rocket Camp are some of the best in the area.
Wrestlers, parents and alumni enjoy food and friendship at the annual “End of Camp” picnic.
Coach Polk looks on as wrestlers practice the techniques being taught.
3
COACHES CORNER With the ongoing Olympics, I am reminded of an experience I had back in 1984. At that time, I was president of the Michigan
By
Wrestling Club and one of our members was former University of
Coach
Michigan standout, Steve Fraser. The Olympic Trials were held in
John Wood
June and were hosted in Michigan at Grand Valley State College. So, I was able to attend without a great deal of travel and expense. As an officer of the club, I was given a pass to be on the floor and was fortunate enough to be in Steve’s corner when he won his final match to gain a berth on the US team. Steve subsequently went to Los Angeles later in the summer and won the first ever gold medal in Greco-Roman wrestling for the U.S.A. After the Olympics were over, we had a big party for Steve at the Washtenaw Country Club and, of course, Steve brought his medal. I will tell you, that was something to see! Of course, wrestlers at that level are not motivated to win just for that award alone. While the medal was no cheap piece of metal, what it represents is what the athletes strive for. When young kids start out in this sport, winning a medal is a big deal. As the wrestler matures and is exposed to more intense competition, the value of his victories becomes a more intrinsic thing. In fact, after a tough loss, it is not unusual for an older wrestler to leave the tournament without his award if it’s not for first place. I don’t agree with that display of sportsmanship (or lack of), but I understand it. As coaches, we want to see a fire in our guys and an intense desire not to be beat. Certainly, we don’t care for flagrant acts of childishness, but we also don’t care for docile, shoulder shrugging, acceptance of getting pinned. The “Oh, well.” attitudes towards losing are bothersome to coaches who put a lot of time into trying to help their guys progress. Even in the off-season events that we participate in, we want to win. True, they’re not as meaningful as the regular season, but we feel a losing attitude can be contagious and can easily carry over to a time when it counts. Steve Fraser was as nice a guy as I’ve known in wrestling, but on the mat, he just would not be denied. I used to watch him train up at U of M and he absolutely hated to be beaten even in practice. That’s why he was a state champion in high school (Hazel Park), an NCAA All-American, and an Olympic Champion.
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GOLF OUTING Glenn Wrestling will host their 11th Annual Golf Outing. This fundraiser has been a huge success in past years and we are looking forward to another successful endeavor. If you would like to golf in the outing or are interested in making a donation, please contact us at and we will provide further information.
GLENN WRESTLING 11th ANNUAL GOLF OUTING WARREN VALLEY GOLF COURSE 26116 WARREN ROAD DEARBORN HEIGHTS
Technical Violations There are seven major technical violations, including incorrect starting position/false start (warning given), intentionally going out of bounds, grasping an opponent’s clothing or equipment, interlocking/overlapping hands, leaving wrestling area without referee’s permission, improper/illegal equipment, or applying a figure 4 (type of hold) from the neutral position.
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 20, 2008
Next Booster Club Meeting Wednesday, September 17, 2008 6:30 p.m. Qdoba Mexican Grill (Warren & Central City) For questions, please contact Judy Lawrence at
[email protected] NEW WRESTLER ORIENTATION For Wrestler and Parents!
CONDITONING STARTS
This is a great opportunity to meet the Coaches, and get answers to questions, about practices, meets, tournaments, and the expectations of Glenn Wrestlers.
MONDAY OCTOBER 27, 2008 2:30 P.M.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008 7:00 p.m. Cafeteria
Come prepared with workout clothes and running shoes. Be ready to work!
SEASON KICK-OFF POT LUCK TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2008 6:30 P.M. CAFETERIA All Wrestlers and Parents are Welcome and Encouraged to Attend
GLENN Wrestling
For further information about the Glenn Wrestling Program contact Coach Polk at
[email protected]