Heartland wrestling season begins Nov. 3

SIKESTON - Now in its third season, the Heartland Wrestling program is preparing for another year of competition.

Bringing back 17 state placers including three state champions, this year should be our best season ever. The past two season we have had 32 state placers and seven state champions. I'm looking for the team to be in the top three is the state championships this year.

There are so many kids in this area that are interested, but not sure what's involved in wrestling. Our program is where they learn the sport on their own level. We have a beginners level which is first year wrestlers .We as coaches are here to teach and protect these kids. We are not going to put them on a mat with someone that has more experience than them or can hurt them. Then we have experience and they are rated by the coaching staff.

Our program and tournaments go strictly by age, weight and years of experience. The levels are in small age groups, 6-7, 8-9, 10-11 and goes on up. There will be tournaments that are just for beginners and then we will have tournaments for the other levels.

As our coaching staff grew last year to about 18 men, we are getting prepared for bringing on more as we grow with kids. The level we wrestle is mostly AAU because we are members of the Ozark Association and there's just not much USA wrestling on this side of the state. Our kids are just now learning the sport and as we grow older we will begin to branch off to bigger tournaments when that time comes.

Our goal is to build a program that in a few years the high school level will be back to where it can compete again.

The program is open to 1st grade thru 7th grade. The team will meet 2-3 nights a week at Miner Baptist Church. And our tournament are on the weekends.

We have several high school kids interested in helping the program this year and those guys will help the program a lot. These wrestlers are going to be great role models for the younger wrestlers coming in. As these guys come in their not only be there to teach they will get to help a kid that may not have a role model in their life. Our program is not here just to teach an aggressive sport, it is very disciplined in our program we learn to treat everyone on the team with respect and when we travel these kids are taught to respect coaches and officials at all times. The coaching staff we have treat every child the same. We try not to work with our own kids so their confidence can be build on their own.Coaching wrestling is tough and parents seem to be harder on their own kids so we have rules for coaches also.These kids are taught not to ever lose their tempers in the practice room. And when they start learning how to handle the tempers then the begin to become better athletics and young men in school also.

Without the great support of the sponsors we have we could not have this program going here in Sikeston. We would like to Thank them all for their continued support each year.

As the program grows we would like to turn it into Little League here in Sikeston for the wrestlers not ready to travel around the state. The Sign ups are October 22nd at Miner Baptist church from 8 a.m to 12 noon. The cost is $30.00 for the program.There is a discount for families with multiple wrestlers. For parents that may have questions about their child feel free to call Dan Ruby at 471-1576. Our program is here for the kids in our community.

There will be a coaches meeting November 1st 6:30 p.m. at Miner Baptist Church for all interested coaches and a coaches clinic the same night for dads/parents wanting to learn the sport.If you were a coach last year and have not been contacted please come to the meeting.