Marblehead-Swampscott Wrestling Booster Club Hosts Successful Wrestling Information Night

On Wednesday, May 15th at Swampscott High School, the Marblehead-Swampscott Wrestling Booster Club, in conjuction with the Swampscott Recreation Department, held a Wrestling Information Night for kids & their parents who were interested in learning more about one of the oldest of Olympic sports.

 Speakers at the event included Marblehead-Swampscott Varsity Wrestling Coach Mike Stamison, who also captained the Co-Op team before graduating Marblehead High School in 2005.  Coach Stamison spoke to parents about the benefits of wrestling to the individual and what is required to be successful.  He also stressed the need for a youth program, like the one that will be delivered this summer through the Swampscott Recreation Dept., to get kids introduced to the sport at a young age "so they can master the basics- which then positions the wrestler for more advanced training in Middle School and High School".

 Also speaking was Arizona High School State Champion, Rick Wyman, who will be one of the instructors at this summer's Swampscott Recreation Dept. Wrestling program.  Rick discussed the benefits of wrestling to him personally as an undersized High School Freshman.  He emphasized the need to "put in the work, stay focused on the fundamentals & master the technique".  Wyman also reiterated Stamison's position of starting kids as early as possible in wrestling "so as to give them the best opportunity to succeed".

 The keynote speaker of the evening was Steve Biondolillo, former Head Coach of BC Wrestling, 1980 Olympic Trials Wrestler & soon-to-be Inductee in the National Wrestling Hall Of Fame.  Biondolillo, a Wellsley resident and owner of a successful Fund Raising Company specializing in Marketing for Non-Profits, spoke to parents about how wrestling helped instill the values, discipline & drive within him to enable Biondolillo to become successful in life.  Steve spoke about the state of wrestling at the national & international level as well- so as to assure all in attendence that they were going into the sport of wrestling with both eyes wide open.  Biondolillo stressed the absolute need for kids to start wrestling early and that "parents would see the benefits of wrestling, and the life skills it instills in children, in their approach to school work as well as life itself".

 Closing remarks were delivered by Rob Hopkins, member of the Marblehead-Swampscott Wrestling Booster Club, who reminded all in attendence that they can sign up for the Swampscott Recreation Department's Summer Wrestling Program (Tues. & Thurs. nights, 6-7:30pm at SHS) via the Swampscott Rec. Dept. website:

 http://www.swampscottrec.com/info/default.aspx

Any other questions regarding the summer wrestling program can be directed to:

Rob Hopkins - 508.440.9497 (m) - graydawg864@aol.com

Danielle Strauss - 781.596.8854 - dstrauss@town.swampscott.ma.us