The Nation's #1 State Wrestling Publication

Lehigh Valley Report
By Dave Crowell, April 2010

     With the 2009- 10 wrestling season a distant memory, activities now center around banquets and celebrating wrestling achievements and the almost barbaric effort that is require to be even marginally successful in this demanding sport. It has been said that some goals in life are so lofty that it is glorious… even to fail! This certainly applies to participation in the sport of wrestling. The physical, mental and emotional requirements are such that relatively few have what it takes to complete a season – let alone enjoy success.

     For many, April simply means prime preparation time for next season. Many wrestlers find that opportunities for out-of-season wrestling workouts, strength training and competition are readily available. I hate to admit it but I am starting to think that my wife’s quote that “Wrestling is never over!” may actually be one of the most accurate statements ever made! At Nazareth, with seven training opportunities each week (two folkstyle, two freestyle and three strength training) the wrestlers and coaches are quite busy as are many others.

     One thing has become increasingly clear: good wrestlers are coming from everywhere in the state as well as from across the nation. At one time, the wrestling power seemed to be somewhat regionalized. Pennsylvania has seen its wrestling power shift around the state. Fans love to brag that “their area” is the best. From the early days of the Clearfield dynasty, District VII, District XI and now District III have all shared bragging rights to being one of the best (if not THE best) area for high school wrestling in the country. However, it is not uncommon to see good individuals and teams sprout up from areas not known for their grappling prowess. While I don’t claim to have intimate knowledge of the contributing factors in the success of other regions (or teams) of our commonwealth, there should be little disagreement that two factors are going to be present any time a school or region has a history of sustained success. First, the impact of the head wrestling coach is unfathomable. Research clearly indicates that the leadership and coaching abilities of the head coach is by far the single most important factor in determining the success of any wrestling program. In District XI, there has been an undeniable influence of some excellent head coaches. Several individuals that come to mind (active as well as those in the not-so-distant past) that have put their indelible stamp on wrestling in our area include: Steve Powell (Easton/ active), Don Rohn (Northampton), and Ray Nunamaker (Nazareth). If you look a bit farther back there was Tony Iasiello (Bethlehem Catholic), Joe Cesari (North Schuylkill), Charles Bartolett, Jr. (Saucon Valley), Frank Gutierrez (Liberty), and Bob Zarbatany (Easton). Each had his own coaching style and way of doing things. Yet, there were several things all these leaders had in common: They had a plan (which they believed in) for success; they had the ability to get the athletes and the community to “buy into” their plan; they were committed to succeeding; and they KNEW that somehow…someday…they would win. This combination inevitably results in great community support as well as long-term success.

     The second factor (which oftentimes is dependent on the head coach) is the development of a strong youth program. In the course of the coaches’ clinics and consultations I have conducted, many coaches have asked what I thought the “secret” has been of the wrestling success in the Lehigh Valley. My answer has been first, the coaches (present company excluded) and second, great feeder programs. The feeder “system” that was started years ago has undergone changes over the years but has stayed for the most part intact and is a great model for the future success of any wrestling program. Admittedly it requires the cooperation of a number of communities and youth programs in order to fully realize its greatest effectiveness. But once underway, it will eventually produce teams and individuals that are proven winners. It would be fairly safe to say that this youth wrestling “system” in the Lehigh Valley is largely responsible for producing 12 PA state tournament titles from 1993-2006 and putting a team in the state dual meet finals 10 out of 12 years. The following is the Lehigh Valley youth wrestling program in a nutshell.

     A league was formed a number of years ago (Valley Elementary Wrestling League) that is comprised of 32 wrestling teams. Eligibility requirements state that wrestlers must be in sixth grade or under and (as strange as it may sound to outsiders) its participants are called midgets. Each of the 32 teams is strongly encouraged to have enough participants to support two full teams covering all 17 weight classes (46-160 lbs.). Each teams “starters” are called the “varsity” team while the back ups are called JV. All other wrestlers on the squad are referred to as “exhibition” or “novice” wrestlers.

     Each community (sending school district) may form and enter as many teams as it chooses and can support. Commonly, smaller communities enter one team while larger ones have had up to five teams. Our home is in Forks Township, for example, and lies within the Easton Area School District. Forks Township has its own athletic association (FTAA) which supports a multitude of sports teams. Because of our residency, my two boys have wrestled for the Forks Township wrestling program. However, there are several other youth wrestling programs within the Easton sending area as well (Palmer Twp., St. Anthony’s Youth Center, Police Athletic League) that would eventually send wrestlers to Easton’s junior high program. Northampton youth wrestling is similar in design and supports three teams (Lehigh Twp., Moore Twp., Northampton). Nazareth, on the other hand, has one program divided into two equal teams (Nazareth White and Nazareth Blue) with two separate coaching staffs, practice times, schedules, etc. Parkland’s youth wrestling more closely resembles this configuration.

     The 32 teams of the VEWL are divided into four 8-team divisions. Throughout the season, each team competes in a dual meet format against the other teams in their division usually on Sundays similar to high school dual meets. The novice wrestlers compete first in a low profile atmosphere (exhibition style). Next, the JV teams compete against each other with team scores being kept. The final competition of the day culminates with the two varsity teams competing with team scores being kept and their standings in the division always at stake. These dual meets are very well attended by family and friends – often with more spectators than some high school dual meets.

     At the end of the dual meet season, the four winners of their respective divisions compete at a common site to determine the top four place winners of the VEWL. The second place finishers in each division report to a different site where they compete for places five through eight. This same procedure applies to the third, fourth, etc. divisional teams so that each program finishes their dual meet season with a four-team dual meet tournament and with all 32 places being decided. The following weekend an individual tournament is conducted for all the JV wrestlers in the league at one location while a second individual tournament is conducted for the novice/exhibition wrestlers at yet another site. The following weekend is the final event of the season with the varsity tournament held over two days. The skill level at this tournament is amazing and provides an early look at the future wrestling stars of District XI.

     This youth wrestling model has been very successful for several reasons. First, it gives all wrestlers a chance to compete against others with similar abilities. Second, with a dual meet format it provides a “team” wrestling atmosphere. The dual meets are appealing to both the wrestlers and their parents, doesn’t require spending all day in a gym and lends itself to better numbers and greater participation. Third, it also enables each participant to compete in a scheduled individual tournament at the end of the season. Not only are individual champions crowned but team score is kept and a team champion is determined. More information can be found concerning the Valley Elementary Wrestling League by accessing the VEWL website at: www.vewl.org .

 The Lehigh Valley Report was presented by Dave Crowell, head wrestling coach at Nazareth Area H.S. In addition to his coaching duties, Dave serves as a coaching consultant conducting seminars, clinics, consultations, and leadership training for all athletic coaching staffs as well as wrestling coaches specifically. You can visit Dave Crowell on the web at www.DaveCrowell-Coaching.com  or email him directly at dcrowell@rcn.com .