Strawberry Crest’s wrestling staff knows that, to excel in the sport, wrestlers have to work hard before, during and after the season.
But, not everyone has the ability to do so. Whether it comes down to distance from the nearest offseason club, membership costs or both, it can be difficult for local kids to join a program outside of the high school season.
The coaches are aiming to fix that with the Charger Wrestling Club, set to begin Monday, April 10.
“The idea of the club is to have something in this area in which kids from 7 to high school can have something in their neighborhood, so they can learn and understand the sport,” coach C.J. Gittens says. “Also, to learn how to be, I would say, more well-rounded citizens.”
The club, which will be operated by the high school’s coaching staff, gives local families an affordable alternative to traveling to Brandon, Lakeland or beyond. The base price is $30 per month per person, but newcomers to the sport can give the first month a go for $15.
Rather than host the club in Dover, at or near Strawberry Crest High School, the coaches tabbed the Planteen Recreation Center as the club’s base of operations. The goal is to accommodate kids from within and around the greater Plant City area, and to cater to students from any school — even Durant or Plant City. College students returning home on a break will be welcome to visit the club and practice, as well.
In addition to knowing the ins and outs of high school wrestling better than most — the coaches did just help six Chargers make the cut for the FHSAA state championships — Gittens and assistant Abe Fernandez are also well-versed in the ways of collegiate wrestling, which older students may want to know about.
“There’s all levels of experience in that room,” Gittens says. “I’ll have college wrestlers in there over the summer, teaching things they’ve learned. I’ll be teaching things that I learned in college, as well.”
The staff wants to use its knowledge of the sport to give local kids a valuable education on the mat, and to help make wrestlers better people off of it. Though Gittens and the Crest coaches will focus on the high school team during its season with the club team will be run by other coaches, the Crest coaches will help the kids, including periodic grade checks.
“I feel like wrestling teaches the kids about work ethic,” Gittens says. “I think it teaches commitment. It teaches them how to stay on task with things, to get things done accordingly. Teaching them these things from a young age not only benefits us, as coaches and a team … but it also helps the community of Plant City, as well.”
Most importantly, according to Gittens, is that the club won’t turn anybody down, as long as they fit into the age requirement. All skill levels, body types, genders, races and personalities are welcome, if they’re willing to work hard.
Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.