The high school excellence award is named in honor of the late Olympic and world champion Dave Schultz. Each award recipient is evaluated on excellence in wrestling, scholastic achievement, citizenship and community service.

A graduate of Palo Alto High School in California and the University of Oklahoma, Dave Schultz was regarded as a tireless competitor and a supreme technician on the mat. He was beloved throughout the world of amateur wrestling for his friendliness and his eagerness to lend help or advice to teammates and opponents alike. Schultz was tragically murdered in 1996. He was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member in 1997.

“Dave Schultz was one of the most respected wrestlers the United States has ever had as a high school, collegiate, world and Olympic champion ,” said Lee Roy Smith, Executive Director of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Since the Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award’s inception in 1996, the National Wrestling Hall of Fame has recognized 726 student-wrestlers. The national award winner will be chosen from the regional winners and announced on April 30. The winner will attend the annual hall of fame induction ceremony on June 1 and 2 to accept the award.

“These student-wrestlers are role models who influence young people in a very meaningful way,” said Smith. “Statistics show that both male and female students are more likely to stay in school, graduate and become more productive citizens when they participate in extra-curricular activities and after school programs like wrestling.”

The five regional winners are:

Central Region: Kyle Crutchmer is a two-time Oklahoma High School State Champion with a career record of 155-19 with 78 career pins at Tulsa Union High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He claimed four USA Wrestling Junior National Freestyle All-American honors and a 2011 National Jr. Freestyle title. He also earned two FILA Cadet All-American honors. He was selected to the 2012 Dapper Dan USA Team and is a member of the Tulsa Union High School Leadership Program and Redskin Aid Opportunity Team. He maintains a 3.3 GPA and will be attending Oklahoma State University this coming fall as a projected 165-184 pounder.

Midwest Region: Taylor Massa is a four- time Michigan High School State Champion with a record of 231-0 at St. John’s High School in St. John’s, Michigan. He is a two-time USAW Junior FILA National Champion and a 2011 FILA Junior Freestyle World Team member. He claimed four Cadet National titles and was an Asics first team All-American. He is also a member of the St. John’s High School Renaissance Club, multiple trimester Honor Roll member, and Catholic Confirmation Cadet Sponsor. He maintains 3.67 GPA and will attend the University of Michigan this coming fall as a projected 165-174 pounder.

Northeast Region: Jimmy Gulibon is a four-time Pennsylvania High School State Champion with a career record of 137-4 at Derry High School in Derry, Pennsylvania. He claimed an individual title at the 2011 Ironman Championships and was selected for the 2012 Dapper Dan Pennsylvania Team and USA Dream Team Classic. He is a member of the Derry High School Honor Roll and spearheaded a fundraising effort for pediatric cancer patients this past wrestling season in Derry. He volunteers his services with local youth at the Young Guns Wrestling Club. He maintains a 3.5 GPA and will be attending Penn State University this coming fall as a projected 125-133 pounder.

Southeast Region: Rossi Bruno is a five-time Florida High School State Champion with a career record of 248-3 at Brandon High School in Brandon, Florida. He was selected for the 2012 USA Dream Team Classic. He was a 2011 and 2010 USAW Junior Greco-Roman National Champion and a 2011 Junior Freestyle All-American. Bruno is a certified USA Wrestling Official and has officiated for the Florida Armature Wrestling Association in State Tournaments. He is a member of Brandon High School National Honor Society and maintains a 4.3 weighted GPA. He will be attending the University of Michigan this coming fall as a projected 125-133 pounder.

West Region: Jordan Rogers is a three-time Washington High School State Champion at Meade High School in Spokane, Washington. He was selected to the 2012 USA Dapper Dan and USA Dream Team Classic. He’s earned USAW Junior and Cadet Freestyle and Greco-Roman All-American honors and claimed a Silver Medal at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in freestyle. He’s a member and leader of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Meade H.S. and is an Athlete Representative for USA Wrestling Washington, Volunteer Coach for the Big Cat Youth Wrestling Club, and Associated Student Body Member at Meade High School. He maintains a 4.0 GPA and will attend Oklahoma State University this coming fall as a projected 184 pounder.

The 2012 Winners by State, Name and School:
Alabama, Dillon Campbell, Oak Grove High School
Alaska, Jared Miller, Dillingham High School
Arizona, Trey Andrews, Safford High School
Arkansas, O’Dell Lee, Bryant High School
California, Alex Cisneros, Selma High School
Colorado, Dwight Howes, Arvada High School
Connecticut, R.J. LaBeef, Pomfret School
Delaware, Kaleb LeMaire, Cesar Rodney High School
Florida, Rossi Bruno, Brandon High School
Georgia, Dalvin Tomlinson, Henry County High School
Hawaii, Cassidy Oshiro, Maryknoll School
Idaho, Raymond Evans, New Plymouth High School
Illinois, Zane Richards, Carbondale Community High School
Indiana, Jason Tsirtsis, Crown Point High School
Iowa, John Meeks, Roosevelt High School
Kansas, Matthew Reed, Wichita Heights High School
Kentucky, John Fahy, Trinity High School
Louisiana, Scott Gibbons, Archbishop Rummel High School
Maine, Ethan Gilman, Massabesic High School
Maryland, Nathan Kraisser, Centenial High School
Massachusetts, Jeffery Ott, Belmont Hill School
Michigan, Taylor Massa, St. Johns High School
Minnesota, Brandon Kingsley, Apple Valley High School
Missouri, Austin Roper, Kirksville High School
Montana, Ben Stroh, Chinook High School
Nebraska, Thomas Gilman, Skutt Catholic High School
Nevada, Jace Billingsley, Lowry High School
New Hampshire, Zack Bridson, Timberlane High School
New Jersey, Mark Grey, Blair Academy
New Mexico, Eric Montoya, Volcono Vista High School
New York, Brian Realbuto, Somers High School
North Carolina, Tony DeAngelo, Southern Alamance High School
North Dakota, Jared Reis, Napoleon High School
Ohio, Nick Tavanello, Wadsworth High School
Oklahoma, Kyle Crutchmer, Tulsa Union High School
Oregon, Zack Brunson, Churchill High School
Pennsylvania, Jimmy Gulibon, Derry High School
Rhode Island, Stephen Jarrell, East Greewich High School
South Carolina, Jordon Wigger, Summerville High School
South Dakota, Alex Kocer, Wagner High School
Tennessee, Zach Watson, Baylor School
Texas, Nicholas Herrmann, Tascosa High School
Utah, Brandon McBride, Olympus High School
Vermont, Zak Hale, Mt Anthony Union High School
Virginia, Brooks Martino, Robinson Secondary School
Washington, Jordon Rogers, Mead High School
West Virginia, Dylan Cottrell, Roane County High School
Wisconsin, Jarod Donar, Cuba City High School
Wyoming, Jordon Hanson, Lander Valley High School

Led by analyst Josh Lowe, Intermat provides the top high school wrestling coverage in the sport. That’s why this year’s Intermat High School All-American team is one of the most accurate all-american teams published.

Who made the list? Find out here:

Intermat 2012 High School All-American Team

LITTLE HAMMERS WRESTLING TOURNAMENT

JUNE 23, 2012

“WIN THE HAMMER”

BLOOMSBURG UNIVERSITY, PA

REGISTRATION:  $25.00 per wrestler.  All entries must be received by June 16, 2012 No Walk-Ins/No refunds. Make checks payable to “MR Tactical Security”. Mail to Bill Miner 311B Bear Gap Road Elysburg, PA. 17824. A percentage of proceeds will be donated to the Wounded Warrior Project.

WEIGHT CHANGES:  Any weight changes 48 hours prior to the tournament will cost an additional registration fee of $25.00

MULTIPLE DIVISIONS:  Are allowed there is an additional charge of $12.50 per extra division entered.

AWARDS:  1^st place receives a sledge hammer champion trophy.  Medals for 2^nd and 3^rd.

LOCATION AND DATE: Bloomsburg University – June 23, 2012 (RAIN OR SHINE)

Directions

Coming from…

East: Use I-80 west to Exit 236A. Merge right onto 487

south.

West: Use I-80 east to Exit 236. Turn left at end of ramp.

South: (Harrisburg area) Take Routes 11 and 15 north to

487 north.

Southeast Pennsylvania: take Northeast Extension of the

Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-476) to I-80 west (Pocono Exit)

to Exit 236A. Merge right onto 487 south.

North of Bloomsburg: From the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre

area, take I-81 south to I-80 west to Exit 236A.

The Williamsport area: take I-180 south to

I-80 east to Exit 236. Turn left at the end of the ramp.

From Exit 236, take Route 487 south approximately one

mile. Turn right at the traffic light onto Country Club

Road.

*For GPS directions, use Country Club Road

WEIGH-INS: SATURDAY JUNE 23, 2012 7:00-8:00am. Wrestling starts at 9:00am. NO WEIGHT ALLOWANCE- OUT DOOR WEIGH-INS MUST WEAR SINGLET OR SHORTS.  WEIGH-INS WILL BE CONDUCTED BY OFFICALS

FORMAT: All divisions will be a full double elimination format.

SEEDING: No seeding! Blind draw with separation of teammates when possible.

MATCH LENGTHS: Pee-Wee, Bantam, Midget, Juniors 1-1-1, Intermediate and High School 2-1-1.  All wrestle back are 1-1-1.  Overtime for all divisions- 1 minute OT, 2 @ 30 second OT, Final 30 second Ultimate Tie Breaker.

RULES:  PIAA Modified. Headgear and singlet optional.  Refs will not review video of a match.  Must bring proof of grade/age to tournament.

CONTACT INFO:  Bill Miner (570) 274-6731 or email wjminer@verizon.net

******This tournament is a challenge for all competitors.  We will wrestle through rain and heat.  This is part of the challenge!!  Mats will be watered down if they become to hot.  If it rains we have staff to squeegee the mats as the matches are wrestled.                   ARE YOU TOUGHT ENOUGH TO WIN THE HAMMER!!!********

VISIT: www.littlehammerswrestling.com

 LITTLE HAMMERS WRESTLING TOURNAMENT

OFFICIAL ENTRY FORM

(Age as of the day of the tournament)

Pee-Wee (6 and under)

40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 65, 70, 80+ (100 lb. Max)

Bantam (7 &

44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 65, 70, 75, 82, 90, 100+ (125 lb. Max.)

Midget (9&10)

53, 58, 63, 68, 73, 78, 83, 89, 96, 105, 115, 120+ (150 Max.)

Junior (11&12)

62, 67, 72, 77, 82, 87, 93, 99, 106, 115, 125, 140, 160+ (200lb Max.)

Intermediate

75, 80, 85, 90, 96, 102, 110, 119, 128, 140, 150, 165, 190, HWT (250 Max)

High School

95, 101, 107, 114, 121, 127, 132, 137, 142, 147, 154, 162, 173, 191, 220, 287

DIVISION:_________________________WEIGHT_____________________________

Print Name:___________________________________________________

Addres:_________________City:________________State:____ZIP______

Phone:__________________Age:______Date of Birth:________________

Name of School:________________________________________________

Email:________________________________________________

I hereby give my child permission to wrestle in the 2012 Little Hammers Wrestling Tournament and hereby waive/release M-R Tactical Security, Bloomsburg University, and all other sponsoring bodies, their officers, directors, committees, volunteers, and referees from all liabilities/claims for damages while competing in or traveling to/from said tournament.  I also acknowledge that my child is covered by a major medical insurance plan.

Parent Signature:______________________________Date:____________

Wrestlers Signature:___________________________Date:_____________

PLEASE FILL OUT FORM BELOW

WRESTLER REGISTRATION                           $25.00 x ______=_____

MULTIPLE DIVISION REGISTRATION         $12.50 x_______=_____

ADULT ADMISSION                                         $6.00   x_______=_____

YOUTH ADMISSION (AGE 6-17)                    $3.00   x _______=_____

6 & UNDER FREE

TOTAL=_____

VISIT: www.littlehammerswrestling.com

Gable and Ironside will be the guest speakers at the 2012 Greater La Crosse Sports Connection Awards Banquet by The La Crosse Area Sports Commission. The wrestling clinic will be held from noon to 3 p.m. followed by the awards banquet at the Stony Creek Inn in Onalaska from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

To register for the youth clinic, visit the La Crosse Area Sports Commission website by clicking here or contact the sports commission directly at (608) 782-2250.

Cost is $35.00 per wrestler or $25.00 per team member if 20 or more wrestlers participate. Wrestlers can also attend the awards banquet for an additional $15.00.  The cost for adults to attend the awards banquet is $35.00.

Gable coached the University of Iowa to 15 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I wrestling titles and compiled a career dual record of 355-21-5 (.944). He was 131-2-1 (.985) in the Big Ten and the Hawkeyes won 21 conference crowns.

Named a three-time NCAA Division I Coach of the Year, Gable coached 45 national and 106 conference champions as well as 152 NCAA Division I All-Americans. Iowa won nine consecutive national titles under Gable.

He was a three-time (1980, 1984, 2000) United States Olympic Head Coach.

Ironside won four Big Ten wrestling titles (1995, 1996, 1997, 1998) at 134-pounds at Iowa and was named the Big Ten Wrestler of the Year three times (1996, 1997, 1998). He earned four All-America awards, including winning the national title in 1997 and 1998. He was third in 1996 and sixth in 1995.

Ironside finished with an overall career record of 127-10 with 38 victories by fall. He went 30-0 in 1997 and 35-0 in 1998.

The UW-L wrestling team placed fourth at the 2012 NCAA Division III Championships March 9-10 at the La Crosse Center.  The Eagles’ five wrestlers competing at the national meet each earned All-America honors.

Bebeto Yewah placed second at 141-pounds for UW-L while Mike Schmitz was third at 174; Kevin O’Brien fourth at 165; Billy Mayer fifth at 285 and Adam Sheley sixth at 133.

OHIO TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS AIMS FOR WORLD RECORD
***8 NCAA CHAMPIONS ARE TOFC ALUMS***

March 20, 2012…Columbus, OH……YOU can be a part of wrestling history, as The Ohio Tournament of Champions aims to set a new World Record, with 4,000 individual entries. This year’s event, scheduled for April 21 at the Columbus Convention Center, in Columbus, OH, will mark the TofC’s 20th Anniversary. Already, entries from 22 states, and as far away as California, have been received and submissions have been entered from several others (registered but not paid yet).

According to Event Chairman Bart Freidenberg, the entries are coming in better than the past few years. “There are so many national level events that kids can do these days, that people now tend to wait to the last minute to enter any of them,” Freidenberg said. “Still, we are ahead of where we have been the past several years. Plus, we already have at least 100 more wrestlers that are part of large groups that won’t show up as accepted until the group administrator pays for the entire team.”

“I’m starting to hear from several more groups that are planning on coming and just wanted to know how to do the group registration process,” said Freidenberg, adding that recent groups contacting him have come from Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Hawaii.He also added that submissions (those who have entered individually, and have not yet paid) are also way ahead of past years as well, and include wrestlers from at least 10 additional states not already represented.

The TofC has always been known for the quality of the wrestlers competing and that was proved at this weekend’s NCAA Division I National Championships, as eight of the champions, and four of the runner ups, were past TofC competitors.

125 pounds: Nico Megaludis, 2nd place
133 pounds: Logan Stieber (6X TofC Champ), CHAMPION; Jordan Oliver, 2nd Place
141 pounds: Kellen Russell, CHAMPION
149 pounds: Frank Molinaro, CHAMPION
157 pounds: Kyle Dake, CHAMPION
165 pounds: David Taylor (2X Ohio TofC Champ), CHAMPION
174 pounds: Ed Ruth, CHAMPION
184 pounds: Steve Bosak, CHAMPION; Quentin Wright, 2nd Place
197 pounds: Cam Simaz, CHAMPION
285 pounds: Zachery Rey, Runner Up

“Right after Kyle Dake won the NCAA’s this year, I messaged his dad and told him that we would love to have Kyle as guest at our 2013 event (college wrestlers cannot appear until after they have used up their collegiate eligibility),” Freidenberg said. “He messaged back and said that he would let Kyle know, but also said that he had recently been looking at some of our past programs and that they were like a “who’s who of college wrestling.”

***Dake wrestled at the Ohio TofC several years. According to past results, he placed four times, with his lone Championship coming in 2005, at Schoolboy 92. In other years, he placed 4th in 2002, at Junior 73 (Collin Palmer, from Ohio took first and future NCAA Champion Jordan Oliver took second); 4th in 2003 at Junior 80 (Trey Adamson, of NM took first); and 6th in 2004, at Schoolboy 84 (NCAA Champion David Taylor took first).

To register for this year’s Ohio TofC, you can go to ohiotofc.com and click on registration. Among the various ways to qualify are:

*All past TofC Champions
*TofC top 8 (past two years)
*All High School Wrestlers
*All Cadet Wrestlers (those born in 1997 or earlier)
*All Open (Post High School) or Girl’s High School Division
—Open Division Entries and Submissions are currently way up based on past events
*Any wrestler with 10+ match wins this season (includes open tournaments)
*Top 6 at any National Level event (past 2 years)
*Top 4 at any state or regional event (past 2 years)
*Top 3 at any League Championship (past 2 years)
*Champion at ANY Tournament (other than those specifically for beginners) this season
*Top 3/4 at any Official Ohio TofC Qualifier
*Any wrestler that has qualified for their State Youth Tournament that has a qualification process
*Wrestlers who resides in a state with no qualifiers, or that lives more than 50 miles from the nearest qualifying event.

Groups entering 8 or more wrestlers are also eligible for a Group/Team Discount this year. However, one individual needs to enter all of the wrestlers in, under one user name/password, and pay for them with one transaction. For more information on group rates, go to:

Registration Information

All entries are due by April 14, at 9 pm (EST), unless the event reaches its maximum number of competitors prior to that.

The tournament is open to ALL wrestlers and ALL ages…

For more information and to register you can visit the tournament web site at www.CornCobNationals.com

Details:

Learn more about Coach Chertow’s Gold Medal Training Camp System and Instructional DVDs, call 814-466-3466, or e-mail camps@kenchertow.com.

By Ken Chertow

This is one of the most exciting times of the year because the season-ending tournaments are upon us. Every high school athlete is striving to have a peak performance at the regional and state tournaments, while the college guys are looking to turn it up a notch for the Conference and NCAA Championships. I have been attending the NCAA Championships annually since 1982 and the competition is intense. State tournaments are also very exciting! I will be following the success of my summer camp students by attending many different state high school tournaments during February and March and then the Olympic Trials in April.

My most vivid memories from my wrestling career are undoubtedly state, national and Olympic competition. Of course, in order to excel in those events I was wrestling in hundreds of tournaments over two decades. Over 90 percent of what I remember is from the season-ending events. Winning my first State Championship is one of the most intensely satisfying experiences I have ever had on the mats. I was 15 years old, and it was the culmination of a boyhood dream. When I made the Olympic Team I was already an adult. It was definitely very fulfilling, but different from winning my first state championship. I have boxes of memorabilia in my basement, but all I display in my office are the few items with the most significant meaning from the season-ending tournaments.

Towards the end of the season I tell the high school athletes that I work with: “What you achieve at the state tournament will become memories of a lifetime.” Over time, no one will remember exactly what your regular season record was. Throughout your life people will ask, “Did you get to state? Did you place? Did you get to NCAA’s? Did you place?” These season-ending tournaments are your chance to shine. Make the most of your opportunities! Do not walk off the mat feeling you held anything back. If you give it your all, you will have no regrets regardless of the outcome. Seize the moment!

RISE TO THE OCCASION!
So how do you “Rise to the Occasion” in your biggest matches? Few athletes perform at the same level in major competition as they do during the season. Unfortunately, many athletes tighten up and hold back. Great champions are able to get the most out of themselves when it counts! Champions perform at their “optimal level of emotional arousal” and do the little things necessary to win the close matches. Below are some simple suggestions, in no particular order, which will help you win your big matches when it counts the most.

• Intense drilling will help you perform instinctively in the heat of battle. Fight for every point in the practice room. This scrambling instinct will help you in matches. Always think positively, particularly during the weeks and days leading up to major competition.
• Visualize yourself executing your game plan, winning against your toughest competition, and having your hand raised in the championship venue as your cheering section cheers.
• Study videotape of some of your best matches. This will help you visualize and think positively. Study video of your toughest potential opponents and picture yourself implementing the game plan you need to defeat these adversaries.
• Get proper rest and nutrition. Control your weight so that you can focus on your performance.
• Warm up properly before matches. This helps prepare your body for battle, while helping reduce anxiety.
• Be intense, yet relaxed, when you step on the mat to do battle! Allow me to elaborate on this key point. Over time, champions learn to develop a routine that allows them to consistently get to their optimal level of mental arousal level prior to matches. This mindset is different for everyone and can change over time. Each athlete is different. Coaches must help athletes identify when they were performing their best and what their mindset was going into the match. Personally, I performed at my best early in high school when I was totally psyched up and attacked my opponent relentlessly. As I matured and faced better competition on national level, I found that I could perform better when was a little more relaxed. Don’t get me wrong: to be at my best I still had to be intense and focused, but not wound so tight that I did not react quickly or made mistakes.
• Control the tempo and ties. The late, great Dave Schultz passed on this little pearl of wisdom to me. I specifically asked Dave when visiting his home in 1986, “Dave, you look so poised out there in competition. What are you thinking?” His response was simply, “I am looking to control the tempo of the match and control the ties.” Dave was a master of the 2 on 1 and front headlock (along with about every other hold, for that matter). When Dave controlled a tie, he could score quickly in a variety of fashions depending on how his opponent reacted.
• Use motion and body fakes to control the tempo and/or close the gap. Never stand around. Use body fakes to put your opponent on the defense so you can get a hold of him to control ties. If you like to shoot from the open, use body fakes to set-up a low ankle single or double. Too many athletes stand around and then dive in. No one has executed the low ankle single as well as John Smith. This is because few athletes have trained and conditioned themselves to create the motion that he had. Precise technique, quick level change, and unorthodox flexibility were undoubtedly some of the keys to John’s success too. One thing many athletes are lacking is the motion he created. I trained with John at every Olympic & World Team Training Camp from 1984-1992. I speak from personal experience. When he was not moving well, I could stop him with a front headlock. When he was moving intensely, he was practically unstoppable. If you want to get more effective with the low single, create more motion and body fakes.
• Keep wrestling through the end of every period. It disgusts me to see wrestlers rest at the ends of periods. This is a great time to score, or at very least, work your opponent’s head and wear him down. Never get caught on your heels and scored upon at the end of a period. My athletes often score with the blast double, low single, or snap down during final 15 seconds of period.
• Strive to finish every period on top, and definitely not on bottom! I wonder how many wrestlers who get ridden out to the end of a period come back to win? Usually it is far less than 50 percent.
• Never relax on the edge. Too many athletes get knocked on their butt on the edge and give up quick points. This is a critical error. I encourage my athletes to wrestle in the center and to know where the edge is. You are much better off if you can see the edge as opposed to having your back to it and being vulnerable. Wrestlers should circle in immediately when pushed near the edge.

MENTAL PREPARATION AND FOCUS
Stay focused no matter what happens. Too many athletes get visibly frustrated if they make a mistake or get a bad call. Do not do this! Get right back in there and keep plugging away to score and win.

Believe in yourself no matter what happens. You must believe you can win when you step on the mat as well as when you fall behind. Never doubt yourself. Remember Lincoln McIlravy’s comeback victory in the NCAA Finals his freshman year.

Be tough when you are tired! I tell my athletes this often. We can talk technique and tactics, but when it comes down to it, you must execute your technique and tactics during the final moments and seconds of close matches if you are going to reach your highest goals. Learning and understanding the game will only benefit you if you have pushed yourself to higher mental and physical thresholds daily throughout the season.

Once your season is over, assess what you need to do to improve. Make and follow a training plan that will allow you to live your dreams.

The Aztecs scored 230 team points in winning the tournament. The top 5 team scores were

1. Corona del Sol 230
2. Chandler 213.5
3. Sunnyside 178.5
4. Hamilton 135.5
5. Dobson 98.5

The Aztecs had eight wrestlers reach the finals with four earning Section titles.

Zach Walton (132), Daniel Cartagena (138), Ethan Tursini (145) and Jason Landrum (152) all won individual titles. Placing second were Matt Churchill (113), Glenn Farina (126), Jay Tucker (182) and Steven Rodriquez (285). Justin Butler finished in fourth place for the Aztecs

Corona del Sol qualified nine total wrestlers for this weekend’s state tournament, which begins Friday at 11 a.m. at Tim’s Toyota Center in Prescott Valley, Arizona.

The Aztecs are coached by Jim Martinez.

2012 Arizona High School Wrestling State Tournament Information

When: Thursday-Saturday, February 10th – 12th
Where: Tim’s Toyota Center, Prescott Valley
Admission: $10 adults, $6 students with I.D., $15 for an all day pass, children 5 and under free

Related Information:

Search Arizona Summer Wrestling Camps

This year, Maryland will challenge the Western Pennsylvania All-Stars in the preliminary dual meet beginning at 4:00 p.m. The feature match, between the Pennsylvania and USA All-Stars is at 6:00 p.m.

Team USA:
113 No. 1 Jarred Brooks, Warsaw, Indiana, 98-6, Indiana Tech
120 No. 1 George DiCamillo, St. Ignatius, Ohio, 119-7, state champion, Virginia
126 No. 3 Cory Clark, Southeast Polk, Iowa, 139-0, three-time state champion, Iowa
132 No. 5 Zane Richards Carbondale, Illinois, 126-9, state champion, Illinois
138 No. 1 John Meeks, Roosevelt, Iowa 123-0, three-time state champion, Iowa State
145 No. 1 Jason Tsirtsis, Crown Point, Indiana, 131-2, three-time state champion, Northwestern
152 No. 2 Brian Realbuto, Sommers, New York, 150-3, two-time state champion, Cornell
160 No. 3 Zac Brunson Churchill, Oregon, 140-2, three-time state champion, Illinois
170 No. 3 (at 182) Kyle Crutchmer, Tulsa Union, Oklahoma, 105-21, state champion, Oklahoma State
182 No. 1 Jordan Rogers Mead, Washington, 117-6, two-time state champion, Oklahoma State
195 No. 1 Devin Peterson, Lincoln, Wisconsin, 146-8, Wisconsin
220 No. 1 Josh Marchok, Schaumburg, Illinois, 113-14, state champion, Stanford
285 Doug Vollaro, Pine Castle Christian, Florida, 112-6, Lehigh

Note: Records do not include 2011-12 school year.

USA Honorary Coach: Max Askren

The talk is buzzing too – at many Saturday tournaments across the country parents of wrestlers are asking:

• How do you know what is the best wrestling camp?
• How do you research a wrestling camp?
• How much do wrestling camps cost?
• How do I know what camp is best for my child?
• What camp has worked for your child and why?

Those are just a few of the scenarios taking place. As you start to research wrestling camps, keep these tips in mind:

1. What may work for your wrestlers best friend or closest teammate may not be ideal for your son or daughter.

2. At the same time, going with a few familiar teammates can help a child have a more rewarding wrestling camp – as it gives them someone they can talk to or are familiar with at the camp.

3.  The most common concerns are about:

• Where is the camp located?
• How much does it cost?
• What will my son or daughter learn?

4. Understand the types of camps out there: There are a variety of camps – technique camps, big man camps, father-son camps, camps strictly for girl wrestlers, team camps, intensive camps, day camps, overnight camps, etc.  Each focuses on a different aspect of the sport of wrestling and can help your child in different ways. The best idea is to perfect your strengths and improve your weaknesses.

5. Be ready for a challenge. If you want to get better, find a camp that will take you out of your normal routine or natural element. Going to the club or camp at your local school or with the same coaches/work out partners you always train with is a good way to get mat time. However, sometimes a new environment, new partners and new ideas can help offer a fresh perspective and outlook on the sport.

6. Make it fun. Whatever you do, don’t get burned out on the sport by picking the wrong wrestling camp. By doing your research now you are getting a head start and will in time, make the right decision.

These items and more are all discussed in the book, The Ultimate Guide to Wrestling Camps.  Now is the time to start planning for the summer wrestling camp season. You have plenty of time to make a decision, but remember – it’s important to find a camp that is not only affordable and educational, but one where your wrestler will have a rewarding camp experience – on and off the mat.

Talk to your club or high school coaches, call camp directors, talk to other wrestlers and parents of other wrestlers and most of all, find one that fits your son or daughters needs the best.

Get more advice and detailed tips by ordering your copy of The Ultimate Guide to wrestling camps today!