Lower Township Youth Wrestling Has Continued Success

VILLAS – Lower Township youth wrestling, is a volunteer run, non-profit youth wrestling organization dedicated to introducing local kindergarten through eighth grade students to the sport of wrestling.
Coach John Altieri has been at the helm of the organization for 20-years and has been recognized by the Lower Township Recreation Advisory Board as Volunteer of the Month.
Altieri said the wrestling program was started in 1973 by his uncle, Coach Bill Porter.
“He was a great influence on my life,” said Altieri. “My first introduction to the sport was under his direction in the youth program in 1974.”
From that start, Altieri went on to wrestle through junior high and high school.
“The program was built upon principles and standards that he believed in and brought the most out in the individual. He set the example for me to carry on,” Altieri added. “I wholeheartedly believe in those same standards and principles not only as a coach but as a person.”
Altieri said that he’s continued to move the wrestling program forward over the years thanks to the support of the athletes, their parents, the community and his family.
The focus of the program is to build self-discipline, sportsmanship, self-confidence and physical fitness.
And although it is a popular sport, Altieri noted that it is not for everyone.
“This is a serious sport and not a game. These kids work hard in practice and sometimes they bleed, sweat and take a beating at matches. But they keep coming back,” he said.
The true strength of the athlete isn’t about how hard you can hit, but how many hits you can take and still move forward and how many times you can get knocked down and still get up, Altieri said.
“It is about loving the sport and having a passion for it,” he added.
That passion is not only found in the athletes, but in their support group.
“What makes this program so successful is the dedicated and committed group of people that stand by each other,” he said. “For our entire season which runs November through March we wrestle, wrestle, wrestle. We have practices and weekly matches. We attend tournaments. Some of our wrestlers wrestle year round.”
The Lower Township youth wrestlers participate in the South Jersey Youth wrestling league. The other teams in the league include Egg Harbor Township, Hammonton, Mainland, Mays Landing, Middle Township, Mullica, Ocean City, Vineland and Upper Township.
Altieri said that starting in the fall he sends out registration information about the organization to the local schools. Interested participants can also stop by the Lower Township Park and Recreation Department for more information. Updates are also on the group’s facebook page: facebook.com/lowertownshipwrestling.
The program has two levels, one for beginners that are just getting into the sport and a more advanced session for seasoned athletes.
Practices are held Tuesday and Thursday evenings with the beginners’ session starting at 5:30 p.m. and the advanced session beginning at 6:30 p.m. Matches are held on Friday evenings at the Richard M. Teitelman Middle School.
Altieri said that Lower Township wrestling is about pride, desire, discipline, dedication, integrity, character and attitude and encourages anyone who is interested in cheering on the group of youth athletes to the remaining home match of the season.
The Lower Township Recreation Center is located behind Lower Township Hall in the municipal complex at 2600 Bayshore Road. For more information call 609-886-7880 ext. 0 or visit the township’s website at townshipoflower.org.