World Sport Chicago has partnered with Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Park District, Chicago Wrestling Coaches Association (CWCA), Illinois Kids Wrestling Federation (IKWF) and other wrestling sport partners in the city of Chicago to help expand and enhance Public League Wrestling. Through targeted initiatives such as equipment grants, coaching clinics, and connecting clubs with resources at the national level, WSC aims to provide the Public League with similar opportunities as its suburban peers.
The program aims to increase access to mats and quality coaching to all who are interested, to increase Public League access to major tournaments, and to broaden the awareness and training in the International Olympic styles of wrestling within the Public League. Through these initiatives, World Sport Chicago hopes to provide opportunities to urban youth for academic scholarships and international competitions in the "world's oldest sport."
WSC launched the program in February of 2007 through the establishment of a new, elite annual event, the Chicago Cup. The organization started its first programmatic piece in June of 2008 in partnership with the Chicago Park District by sponsoring three introductory day camps. Focused on teaching students basic techniques and skills, the four week program concluded with a friendly exhibition and motivational talk by Pan American Bronze Medalist, Mark Massery. WSC continued it's support of wrestling at the 2008 Chicago Wrestling Coaches Association's Fall Coaches Clinic by presenting 2008 Olympic Freestyle Coach, Lee Kemp as a guest clinician. Since 2008, WSC has partnered with many area groups in hosting young, international wrestlers as part of it's International Sport Exchange Program and hosted an international dual in the Great Hall at Union Station in May 2009. WSC has also been able to provide almost a dozen mats and various equipment and USA Wrestling membership grants to area programs and schools.
Finally, in June 2010 WSC, CWCA and IKWF partnered to bring a historic event to Navy Pier. The first annual Mayor Daley's Wrestling Festival is an all-ages wrestling tournament reminescent of the old Mayor Richard J. Daley's Wrestling Club, part of the Mayor Daley Youth Athletic Foundation. The event is named after his son Mayor Richard M. Daley and is anticipated to bring attention and excitement around some tremendous Chicago athletes and a great sport.
To view more photos from this program, please visit our Flickr page.