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Woodward News 4/6/2000
Two Woodward wrestlers have enjoyed some success in national com- petitions the past few weeks.
In the first Rocky Mountain Nationals held in Denver, Jamie Johnson placed second in the 18-under age gioup at 140 pounds. Joey Miller was fifth at 64 pounds in the 12-under age group. Over 1,700 wrestlers took part in the tournament.Miller also competed in the United States Girls Wrestling Association National Tournament held at Lake Orian, Michigan. Miller placed first in
the 12-under age group at 61.9 pounds. Their were over 400 girls at the tournament.
There were 2 girls from Oklahoma that competed and they both placed first.
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Getting a Grip;Young wrestlers tackle sport
THE FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM
April 2, 2000
With the popularity of high school wrestling increasing
steadily in Arlington, coaches at area high schools are
looking for ways to develop some kind of feeder program.
Roy Shultz at Sam Houston High School has started a camp for ages
5-19 to teach the sport and improve the skills of those already
involved, while Arlington High's Henry Harmoney said he is planning
on a similar camp in the summer.
"I have been in summer wrestling as a coach these past eight
years and it just turns out better wrestlers in the fall," Shultz
said.
"You've got to have kids wrestle during the summer to get
programs to a certain level of success."
Shultz's camp works with ages 5-11 on Mondays and ages 12-19 on
Tuesdays and Thursdays. All sessions begin at 7 p.m.
Shultz said he will have his wrestlers at Sam Houston, such as
two-time 128-pound state champion Brenda Malott and 1999 165-pound
state champion Brandy Killingsworth, teach the younger wrestlers.
The Texans won the girls state championship in 1999 and were state
runners-up this year.
Shultz also plans to bring in Olympic champion Kendall Cross,
among other special guests.
"We're going to make it fun," Shultz said.
"It's not going to be anything real intense or heavy. It's just
going to be a chance for kids to learn and for those who already
compete to get better while enjoying themselves."
As much as wrestling has grabbed attention at the high school
level, no junior high program exists in Arlington.
Still, coaches such as Harmoney and Martin's Tony Warren talk of
students showing interest even before they get to high school, both
saying they've had as many as 30 students sign up for wrestling at
recent orientations.
"We need something to help these young people advance their
skills and learn more about wrestling at an earlier age," said
Harmoney, who led Arlington to a seventh-place finish at the boys
state tournament this year. "There is definitely an interest at the
younger ages.
"It'd be great if they knew more when they get to high school and
this is a way to make sure that happens."
Warren said so much time is spent in high school working with
freshmen who often don't have much experience, some who go on to
great success. Lamar senior Josh Troegle struggled as a freshman,
but won a state championship at 152 pounds this year.
"In Oklahoma, they have a good junior high and youth program and
you can see what a difference it makes when the kids get to high
school," Warren said.
"I know, I wrestled there."
Warren and Shultz are both from Oklahoma. Harmoney is from
Nebraska, another state rich in youth wrestling tradition.
Shultz said his camp will feature both Greco Roman and freestyle
wrestling. With Greco, he said, wrestlers will learn the proper way
to throw an opponent and how to get thrown.
Freestyle will teach them how to react better to certain other
take down moves.
"Freestyle is more like high school and college and Greco is all
throws," Shultz said.
The cost to participate in Shultz's camp is $30 and the camp,
which began March 16, will continue until mid-June. The fee covers
the cost of a USA Wrestling card and will help pay for a club
charter.
A name for the club will be decided upon soon, Shultz said.
"We're just trying to build up a program," Shultz said. "This
will help."
F.Y.I.
What: Wrestling Camp
Where: Sam Houston High School wrestling building, next to
football stadium
When: Now through mid-June, Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, 7 p.m.
Cost: $30 per participant, which covers cost of a USA Wrestling
card and will help pay for a club charter.
Contact: Roy Shultz, (817) 469-6297.
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