Wrestling: Kids may apply

Photo by david hardt

The Fife Thunder Wrestling Club has only been around for two years, but it has hit the mat thunderously.

The Thunder is a non-profit organization that is particularly designed to launch boys and girls between the ages of 5 and 12 to the exhilarating sport of wrestling. The program is run by an all-volunteer Certified National Youth Sports Association (NYSCA) coaching staff. The staff is enthusiastic to see kids have a great time and grow into well-rounded and competitive wrestlers. The program’s success and economical feasibility has brought participants from as far away as Seattle.

Michael Snider, Sr. and his 7-year-old son Michael Snider Jr., a first-year wrestler, like clockwork every Tuesday and Thursday faithfully drive 40 miles each way to participate and receive some concrete wrestling experience.

“One of the reasons I like it here is because my cousins are here. In my first year I have already learned single and double leg,” Snider Jr. said. “I have learned to work hard and never give up. It is really worth it coming from far away (Seattle) to wrestle. I have good coaches too.”

As a proud father looking on while his son wrestles, Snider Sr. has seen improvement in his son’s skills and is impressed with the progress of the two-year-old program.

“There is no program in the Highline School District anymore, so out of the programs out there I felt that that the Fife Thunder had the best opportunity and coaches for my son to get started,” Snider Sr. said. “For a first year wrestler it is hard to get all the moves down, but most important thing he has learned is working hard on fundamentals and realizing that this is a tough-kid sport.”

The Fife Thunder has had success on the mat, particularly with standout wrestlers 10-year-old Jasmine Pleasants and 11-year-old Zach Berry. Both have achieved status by winning state at the Spokane wrestling Championships.

“My brother started wrestling and then I started to like it, then I joined. This program has helped me learn a lot of new moves on the mat,” Pleasants said. “Wrestling teaches me that not everything is going to be easy in life and that there will be challenges. I have also learned respect. In this program I have learned to be tougher; I used to be a baby.”

“This program really makes me become a better wrestler. I also like meeting new people. I am surprised for a two-year program we have this many people,” Berry said. “I have learned that you must practice like you are going wrestle in the match. The coaches have taught me respect, dedication and focus. I just hope we get even more people here.”

The Fife Thunder took second in league and brought 110 motivated kids. This had a lot to do with the experience of head coach Bryan Bartelson and the overseeing leadership of Fife Thunder Director Tracy Berry.

 “My philosophy is to have the kids fall in love with the sport first. At the younger age we want to get them out there and focus on having some fun, so later on when they want to go further, they will want to work super hard,” Short said. “This program is great for the community and is family orientated. We want to be a positive role model for these kids. The program is growing and we are now getting a lot of former wrestlers that are coming out, so that really helps.”

To learn more about this program go to http://www.fifewrestling.org.

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