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Wrestling Keeps a Hold on Battinelli

Mike Battinelli's sons have aged out of the Stamford Junior Wrestling program, so there's no reason for him to still be rolling on the mats, teaching moves and motivating children. But Battinelli, a 51-year-old firefighter who was a wrestling star at Stamford High in the 1970s, wouldn't dream of stopping.

"I enjoy this more than coaching the high school kids,'' says Mike, a volunteer assistant for the Stamford High School team. "The kids get so much out of it. You see [them] develop from little kids to eighth-graders, and you can see them improve and grow."

Battinelli has been involved in the Stamford Junior program since 1995. His son, Mike, was 5 at the time and is now a standout on the University of Connecticut club team. His younger son, Joey, wrestles for Stamford High. Mike is on the club's board of directors and was its president until this year. He stepped down to devote more time to coaching.

Wrestlers ages 6 to 14 compete for the Warriors. The program begins in September and runs through March. The club has developed multiple state and New England champions.

"At the younger ages, we teach them drills and exercises and games that help them get more agile,'' Battinelli says. "We focus on flexibility, agility and strength in a game format. You want them to like it. If you get them to have fun, they'll want to come back."

Battinelli coaches the group's middle school team, which practices three nights a week. As Mike bounces, rolls and stretches with the team at a recent practice, it's evident he still has a passion for the sport.

"As long as my joints hold out and I can do the physical aspect of it, I'll keep doing it,'' Mike says. "This is my exercise, really. It's one of those things where you say, 'I can't do this any more, then I'll move on.' I don't see that in sight at the moment."

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