Community

In the making Wrestlers

A new club gives students in middle and elementary schools a chance to try a different sporting experience.

By MIKE CAMUNAS, Times Staff Writer
Published January 11, 2008

Coach Jason Lane instructs Brandon White, 12, who is pinning A. J. Smoak, 11, during practice. "Schools get club wrestling to develop their high school wrestlers," said Lane, who started the club about six months ago.
	[Photo by Mike Camunas]

NEW PORT RICHEY

There is no middle school wrestling. It doesn't exist.

That's why there are programs such as the World Class Wrestling Club. For those kids who want to wrestle, don't want to play football or soccer, and don't want to wait until high school.

"Schools get club wrestling to develop their high school wrestlers," club coach Jason Lane said. "If you're a high school coach, you want to have this club, that way you have wrestlers who are prepared when they get there."

Lane, who started the club a little more than six months ago, was a two-time state qualifier in high school and once coached at Ridgewood.

His club members must be either 14 years old or younger and not enrolled in a high school. They compete in competition affiliated with USA Wrestling year-round.

"I have to believe these kids will be successful in high school," Lane said, "but I want them to be successful in college and hopefully thereafter."

Though this club can be touted as another extracurricular activity, kids who only want to wrestle have become devoted to it.

"It's just the only extracurricular sport I could get into," said Dakota Robbins, 15. "I tried tae kwon do, football, a bunch others - nothing ever compared to this. ... Sure, there are some kids out there that think it's on the strange side, but when you're actually wrestling, it's not.

Because it's really a load of fun."

There are also some kids who are so active that wrestling is just another sport for them.

"Sometimes you get bruises and sometime you get hurt, but then sometimes (you) don't," said Desiree Marcum, 11, who also plays football and hockey. "But it's fun because you can learn a lot of different moves and anyone can support you."

There are also those kids who are working the family trade.

"Wrestling is fun, but I (joined) so could get better," said Lane's son Zach, 7, who has been wrestling competitively since he was 4. "It was my dad's dream to see me wrestle, and I think I'm doing pretty good so far."

Pretty good for Zach is more than 105 career wins, but Jason Lane realizes most kids aren't thinking about traditional wrestling withthis club.

"It's hard to find any media coverage of wrestling - at any level," Lane said. "Zach, he'll tell his friends he wrestles, and they think WWF or whatever the heck it is."

Lane adds that "most people aren't educated on the sport," and the common thought is that wrestling in high school is the peak.

But Lane wants to change that thought with World Class, that way kids have the option of wrestling.

"They don't understand (that) to get to those levels beyond high school, those kids are very rare," Lane said. "Even if you win a state title in high school, (it) is no guarantee."

"Is (wrestling) small here in Pasco County? Yeah. Is it small if Florida? Oh yeah. We're improving, but is it small everywhere else? No. We're way behind."

World ClassWrestling Club

Where: River Ridge High, 11646 Town Center Road, New Port Richey

What: Open to all elementary school- and middle school-age kids

When: Practices are Tuesday and Thursday from 4:15 to 5:30 p.m.

Cost: Registration is a one-time fee of $100, which includes a USA Wrestling membership card, club T-shirt and wrestling shoes.

Information: Call Jason Lane at (727) 277-8953 or Jesse White at (727) 247-4000.

[Last modified January 10, 2008, 21:23:13]