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STAMFORD, Conn. The winter season is nearly over for the young members of the Stamford Junior Wrestling Warriors.
This spring, those wrestlers will have an opportunity to continue with the sport.
The club will conduct a spring program at the Stamford Boys & Girls Club beginning March 20 and continuing through May. The spring session comes on the heels of an expanded winter session, when the club provided opportunities for wrestlers in each of the five middle schools.
We just want to keep advancing the sport of wrestling, said Gene Edwards, one of the board members of the club. Were trying to teach character, commitment, confidence and courage. Were not only trying to make them better wrestlers but better people, too.
The club was founded more than 20 years ago and catered primarily to younger age groups. The group expanded this winter and drew wrestlers from Cloonan, Dolan, Scofield, Turn of River and Rippowam Middle Schools. Some of the wrestlers get financial assistance to train with the team. And no one gets cut, Edwards said. More than 150 wrestlers take part in the program.
The team is coming off a big meet last weekend in Milford, where it qualified 15 wrestlers for this weekends state championships. In January, 21 wrestlers earned medals as Stamford finished third in the Western Connecticut League championships.
The leagues success has been supported by a variety of supporters. The club is a nonprofit and relies on donations to pay for its programs.
It takes a lot of dedication and a lot of volunteers, Edwards said. We take a team approach.
The club is eager to begin its spring program at the Boys & Girls Club. Edwards says he has a captive audience, because many of the children already will be at the club after school. In a crowded spring sports landscape that includes baseball, lacrosse and soccer, Edwards believes there also is room for wrestling.
Our goal is to advance the sport and advance the skills of the children, Edwards said. We think this will be a great opportunity for them.
To learn more about the Stamford Junior Wrestling program, visit its website.
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