2017 Russ Hellickson League Championship

On Sunday, February 12th, 2017 the Russ Hellickson Central Ohio Youth Wrestling League Championship was held at Dublin Scioto high school. 

Luke went 2-0 and took first.  Kurt went 2-1 and took third.

Luke Match 1

Luke Match 2

Kurt Match 1

Kurt Match 2

Kurt Match 3

2017 Shadyside Open

Kurt wanted to wrestle in the 2017 Shadyside Open on Saturday February 4th.  With a bye week in our normal league meet schedule, this worked perfectly, but first we went to watch Ohio State Buckeyes dual a very impressive Penn State team.  After the OSU dual, we made our way to grandma and pappy's house to stay before heading to Shadyside High School for their youth open tournament.  Kurt went 2-1 on the day for a 2nd place finish.

Kurt Match #1

Kurt Match #2 

Kurt Match #3

2017 League Meet #4 at Olentangy Braves

This was our last regular league meet of the year. 

Luke again has stiff competition with another undefeated wrestler right off the bat. 

Luke really working a cradle in this match. 

Kurt's best competition comes in his first match of the day. 

Match 2

Match 3

2017 League Meet #3 at Reynoldsburg

First time we wrestled at Reynoldsburg.  Luke wrestled some really stiff competition and super proud of his tough attitude and effort.  The look on his face tells me he knows he is in for a battle and up for the challenge.   All good lessons that wrestling will teach you.

Luke's opponent in match #1 has not lost very many matches and is well coached.

There is intensity in this finishing cradle.  This is also the first time Luke has been in the bottom position this year.

Kurt builds on his experience from last week and has to escape some head lockers.

This wrestler is interesting opponent and does not engage much.  But, it is good experience to wrestle someone that is hard to engage.

Have to avoid head locks. 

2017 League Meet #2 at Upper Arlington

Boys are look to build on week 1. 

Luke match #1 against a good wrestler from Upper Arlington.  These two have met in years past.

Luke match #2

Kurt Match #1

Kurt Match #2 - scoring LOTS of takedown.  This may have been the turning point in his season.

League Meet #1 - Sunday January 8th, 2017 at Olentangy Orange

Kurt and Luke wrestled at Olentangy Orange High School.  Our team did a good job of doing what they were taught. At one point, I saw 4 or 5 at the same time executing a cradle. 

Luke had one competitive match while Kurt does not get any break; all his matches are grinders. 

Luke's matches

Kurt's matches

2016-17 Worthington-Kilbourne Open Tournament

Kurt decided to kick start the wrestling season this past Sunday at the Worthington-Kilbourne open tournament.  Luke chose to sit this one out.

Kurt went 0-3 on the day, and wrestled better at beginning of matches than at the end.  True indicator that its early in the season with better days ahead.  This is a good warm-up for January when the season gets in full swing.

Match 1 against a familiar opponent from Upper Arlington. I love these guys smiling at each other at beginning of the match, battle it out, and end the match with mutual respect.  These guys are good role models for others to follow and mature beyond their age. 

Match 2 

Match 3 

2016 Lacrosse

This spring Kurt played Lacrosse.  This is a fun game to watch with action all the time.  Kurt is #77.

He opt'ed to play recreational league only, but received a pleasant surprise when his coach stopped by to ask if he would like to join the select team.  Big honor for his coach to appreciate his effort and extend the invite.  Kurt joined the team and held his own.  Below is video of him playing on the select team.

2016 Luke's Baseball season

Playing catch-up posting here about the boys.

Luke played baseball again this summer.  Here is some video of him batting and playing catcher.

He also made an all-star team and played some tournament baseball.  Below is video from his all-star games. 

2016 First Freestyle and Greco Roman Wrestling tournament

USA wrestling hosted a Freestyle and Greco Roman wrestling tournament today.  Kurt has been wanting to try freestyle, so we made the 2 1/2 hour trip to Delta High School.

Kurt was entered in only the Freestyle tournament.  His freestyle coach encouraged him to enter the Greco Roman tournament too to get more mat time.  So, with 5 minutes of instruction on rules and some technique, Kurt was all set to tackle Olympic style of wrestling.  You have to love his character, trying two new styles of wrestling that he barely practices, had fun doing it, and never lost his smile.

Kurt did not win a match today, but he had fun trying something new.  He wrestled 4 matches in one hour, and then we were on our way home.  Luke sat this one out.

On the way home, we stopped by Ford Street in Perrysburg on the Maumee river to check out the world famous walleye run.  We saw lots of fishermen with limits of walleye, and Kurt was mad that we did not bring a fishing pole. 

Next stop was Fort Meigs in Perrysburg to take in a history lesson that dovetailed with Kurt's class work.  This was the first time I had walked through the fort and took in the history of this fort and its significance of the War of 1812.

Totally could not have asked for a better day.  Tomorrow, Kurt has a double header in lacrosse, so look for another post soon. 

Here is video from today. 

Kurt and Luke Wrestling at my almamater

Kurt and Luke wrestled in the Shadyside Pee Wee Wrestling tournament this weekend.  Lots of familiar faces where it all started for me many years ago.  Luke took 2nd; Kurt took 1st.

Luke's Matches 

Kurt's Matches

2016 League Championship

Kurt and Luke wrestled in the Russ Hellickson League Championship.  Both wrestled really well and brought home top honors.  They are building strong bonds with their teammates and many of their teammates had similar success. 

Luke's matches 

Kurt's Matches

2016-01-31 Little Braves wrestling at Marysville - League Meet #4

Kurt and Luke both wrestled good matches this weekend at our last regular league meet #4 at Marysville.

Luke's Matches

Luke is a step ahead of competition at his age and weight, and he would benefit from more competitive matches.  Luke is executing some new skills riding with legs and turning with tilts.   He also ducked under a couple of head and arm attacks which is spectacular.  Luke also makes his opponent earn every point, and this is very important.

Kurt's Matches

Kurt had really competitive matches again this weekend.  You can tell from teh length of his videos.  Kurt is learning the details necessary to win close matches by scoring at the end of a period and doing mat returns instead of letting his opponent have easy points.  These lessons will pay dividends in tight matches down the road.

2016-01-24 Wrestling at Olentangy Braves

Olentangy Braves hosted the league meet this weekend at our high school.  Both Kurt and Luke wrestled competitive matches.  Luke won the two matches that he wrestled and Kurt went 2-1. 

Luke's matches 

Kurt's matches

01-17-2016 Wrestling League Meet #2

Our second league meet of the year was held at Upper Arlington High School.  Again this week, Luke's competition was tough.  He wrestled two very good matches against more agile and physical wrestlers.  He does not give himself enough credit for how well he wrestled.  He will learn to put on a poker face when adversity strikes.  Experience is the best teacher for these instances, and, as a parent and coach, this can be tough to watch.  To handle this situation, we talked about the good things he did and where he needs to improve.  We will be looking for improvement in how he carries himself in similar situations in the coming weeks.

Kurt makes most wrestlers look like basketball players; he will always be competing against wrestlers that are taller than him.  In each of his matches, he cradled his opponent, and in one instance right at the buzzer for a go ahead score.  Coaches and parents have also complimented him on his demeanor and his cool nature.

 

2016 League Meet #1

Its been almost a month since we last wrestled, but we have been practicing three days a week, and the boys were ready to go.  Luke is wrestling up an age group and getting more adequate competition.  Luke had to work hard on mat returns.  Kurt likes working on cradles and did a great job hopping sides with his half nelson.

Luke's Matches

Kurt's Matches

2015 Worthington Kilbourne Open Wrestling Tournament

We went wrestling this weekend and the boys earned their victories.  Luke went 4-1 for a 2nd place finish while Kurt went 3-2 for a 3rd place finish.

Luke wrestled a bunch of head locker's and is realizing he doesn't like it.  You can see defense against this position improve as his matches progress through the day.

Kurt is closing the gap against wrestlers he lost to in the past.

2015 OAC Fall Classic Wrestling Tournament

2015 Wrestling season got under way this weekend.  Olentangy hosted the OAC Fall Classic.  

Kurt went 1-1 and was competitive in both matches.  He has a shiner today after taking a head butt and small cut under his right eye but finished strong.  Kurt did not make an offensive attempt at a takedown today. 

Luke went 4-0.  He did both double and outside single leg takedowns, and managed an immediate escape after getting out of position on top.

Kurt's report card

Neutral Position

Things he did well.

1. Attempting to spin for a go behind. 

2. Takedown defense was okay in some instances, but in other instances, shoe laces were not down allowing opponent to improve their position.

3. Defending a lead and took a stalling call.  Not my style, but he is smarting than the average bear.

Were he needs to improve

1. When spinning for go behind, change directions, whizzer, drag, and 3/4 nelson. 

2. When sprawling, keep shoelaces down.

3. He needs to learn some takedowns to use on heavier and taller opponents.

Bottom Position

Things he did well.

1. Defending legs.  He got out twice on a leg rider!

2. Great bottom position with shoulder/knee alignment and hand fighting, followed by a hip flip for an escape.

3. Fighting off his back in multiple situations where he did not give up.

Luke's report card

Neutral Position

1. Like the fact that he used both double and single leg attacks.  

Where he needs to improve

1. When shooting, keep elbows in.

2. Ensure you are shooting at correct leg of you opponent.  At one point, he shot at the leg that was farthest away from him.

Top Position

1. Great job of changing tactics with half nelson and legs.

2. Great job of staying on his toes, so opponent has to carry his weight.

Where he needs to improve.

1. Careful not to use full nelson when in crab ride, instead, learn cross face. 

2. Use spiral ride

3. Curl wrists when riding on top, and learn some tilts.

201510-18 Flag Football Finale at Olentangy Orange High School

Today was the last flag football for the 2015 season.  Both Kurt and Luke played on the Olentangy Orange high school football field.

Luke's team played for 3rd and 4th place with a 1:15pm start time.  Head and assistant coach were not available, so myself and another parent stepped in to coach the team.  The kids did a great job, had a lot of fun, but fell short on the scoreboard by two points. 

Kurt's game was a re-match from the previous week where the result was lopsided and not in our favor.  This week was a very different story with another lopsided score, but in favor of Kurt's team.  The coaching staff changed defensive schemes and the kids executed on offense.

It's been a great season and is one the kids will remember for a long time.  Hopefully these posts and videos will bring back good memories in the years to come.  

2015-10-11 Flag Football - Week #8

Sometimes you win; sometimes you learn.  Today was a learning day for both teams.  Luke opponent blitzed most plays making it difficult to move the ball on offense.  Kurt's team had a difficult time pulling flags.

Next week is the final game of the season for each team.  Kurt's team will rematch this team next week.  We are not sure who Luke's opponent will be next week.

Luke's game video

Kurt's game video