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closeRams grapplers show youngsters the ropes during annual summer camp
Nearly 60 children turn out for ninth annual Rogers Rams wrestling camp
Shaun Scott
The atmosphere filling the air in the Rogers High School gymnasium didn’t quite match the intensity of an South Puget Sound League dual match.
But Rogers Rams head coach David Johnston will take the much calmer environment for now.
Johnston was in attendance, guiding future Rams wrestlers from kindergarten to ninth grade, through the ninth annual Rogers Rams three-day summer wrestling camp on June 19.
“Since the camp is only three days long we’re focusing on takedown techniques,” Johnston said. “They’re doing a lot of work wrestling on their feet from the neutral position.”
Johnston was grateful to see a dozen of his high school wrestlers and notable alumni members in attendance helping guide the young grapplers through camp.
“All of the wrestlers who advanced to state one year ago are here helping out,” Johnston said. “We have a dozen alumni wrestlers who were great during their time here as well.”
The camp not only benefits the youngsters learning the basics of wrestling but the high schoolers who are teaching in the mat room as well.
“It’s a big help to our program,” Johnston said. “We figure if our wrestlers can teach the technique, that they will be able to complete the technique themselves when they’re wrestling in a match. This helps them execute their moves.”
Johnston said he sees camp attendees’ skills on the mat improve exponentially during their time at camp.
“A lot of these kids are going to grow up to be great wrestlers,” Johnston said. “It’s fun watching them develop and have fun.”
Rogers state placer Brian Bitney said its never too early for youngsters to get an ample amount of practice time in the mat room. Bitney attended the camp for three years during his junior high days and has been a coach at the camp for the past two years.
“The way I look at it the younger a kid wrestles, the more experience he will have,” Bitney said. “Like my dad says, you can have practiced over 10,000 single leg takedowns but still not be able to do it perfectly in a match. The more practice a wrestler gets, the better they will become.”
Eighth grader Josh Donaldson, who has wrestled for the past four years, enjoyed practicing his favorite move on the second day of camp.
“I like to wrestle. It’s exciting. My favorite move is the head and arm,” Donaldson said. “It’s a fun move but its painful at the same time.”