Seats and Inspiration to Tomorrow's Wrestlers
WSC Sponsors Public League Wrestlers to Attend the 2009 Chicago Cup
By Paul Slomski, WSC Contributor
As the wrestling season gets underway with grueling workouts at high school and elementary school programs throughout Chicago, more than 150 young wrestlers came out to Wright College on Sunday to watch the 2009 Chicago Cup hosted in alliance by World Sport Chicago (WSC) and USA Wrestling. The event pitted Team USA vs. Team Russia in a freestyle event with a full slate of matches.
WSC worked with the Chicago Wrestling Coaching Association (CWCA) to provide tickets to CPS and Park District coaches and wrestlers. Lloyd Jimenez, CWCA Secretary and Head Wrestling Coach at DunbarHigh School said the kids would be able to “see the pinnacle of their sport today” and realize “there is a future after high school for wrestling.” Before the event got underway, fans got to mingle with past and present Olympic athletes and take in both Greco Roman and Freestyle Demonstrations to learn the differences in scoring and what types of moves are allowed in each category.
Coach Ron Wilson of Bowen High School oversees one of the largest and most successful teams in CPS, bringing 49 wrestlers to the event. Coach Wilson made it a point to tell his team to appreciate the low scoring and defensive maneuvers more typical in college and Olympic style wrestling versus the high scoring and frequent pins experienced at the high school level. Jarrell Carter, a 130lb wrestler at Morgan Park H.S. was anxious to watch “two different countries and experience a different style of wrestling,” something he had never seen before.
As the afternoon progressed, fans filled the arena while music fired up the crowd and set the scene for a fast paced sporting event that few have ever experienced in person. The Morgan Park Concert Choral sang a stirring rendition of the national anthem and in a show of international sportsmanship, wrestlers were introduced, shook hands and exchanged gifts at center mat before the first match got underway.
The matches went quickly, were often very competitive and had the home crowd showing their allegiance to Team USA. Huge cheers reverberated through the arena as Team USA wrestler Trent Paulson (66kg/145.5lbs) racked up points to win his match and was later awarded the “Most Outstanding Wrestler” title of the meet. When asked what had impressed Terrance Williams, a 112 lbs. wrestler at Morgan Park the most, he said “they never give up!”
The crowd came alive again as the final heavyweight match played out. Chants of “U-S-A” brought the crowd to its feet as Tervel Dlagnev (120/264.5lbs) outscored Alan Tsarikaev of Team Russia in a grueling three rounds of wrestling and gave USA the match. Unfortunately, the coveted Chicago Cup as a team award was given to Team Russia in a 14-11 decision based on qualification. Rashad Matthews, a 152 lbs. wrestler at ChristianFengerAcademy came to the event to “to see who was the better man in each match, who was going to push himself the most and fight to the end.” Matthews wants to see what the “next level” might be for himself, “not just in wrestling but life.” His coach at Fenger, Christopher McFarland appreciated the opportunity his young wrestlers had to “witness the discipline on the international level” hoping each of his kids could take away those types of traits, discipline, determination and drive, later in life.
Ronzel Darlins, a 112lb wrestler at Bowen High School, who was a state qualifier last year at 103 lbs., came to the event looking for “better ways to defend himself” and after watching the matches was inspired to “try harder to make Team USA” after high school.
Coach Wilson probably summarized the event best and the spirit of WSC when he pointed out he brought all 49 of his kids today to emphasize “team unity” a reoccurring theme with him throughout the season and “for today and the rest of the wrestling season, I know 49 kids will be off the streets and have something to strive for.”