The two-year-old Middle Township Youth Wrestling Association endeavors to provide an environment committed to teaching the fundamental techniques of wrestling in a positive and encouraging manner while instilling the principles of good sportsmanship and teamwork.
“We’re looking to help prepare and challenge all of our wrestlers,” said head coach and Court House resident Lou Donofrio, Jr. “We ask volunteers to help us supplement the existing township program by promoting and educating youth about the sport.”
Association President Eileen Bechtler, also of Court House, said parents discussed forming the organization in 2012 as a way of “going above and beyond” for the team.
Donofrio, who came aboard as a coach in 2008, wrestled, ran cross-country and played baseball growing up. Bechtler’s athletic interests include wrestling and baseball. Donofrio and his spouse, Alisa, have two children, 22-year-old Louie III, and 18-year-old Lindsay. Eileen, who joined the group in 2011, is married to Herman Bechtler IV. They have a son, 10-year-old Herman V, who is entering his fourth year of wrestling for the Association.
Middle Township Recreation sponsors the program through a $45 registration fee and by providing the insurance.
The Association is a charitable, fund-raising organization which supports youth wrestling in Middle by running activities such as community cleanups, bake sales, 5k races, beef and beverage events, wrestling clinics and solicitations. They purchase wrestling equipment, supplies, and help pay for participation in organized wrestling events such as matches, tournaments, summer camps and clinics.
“We applied to Cape May County for a $500 Clean Communities Grant which the parents, coaches, wrestlers, siblings, and other family members participated in along Magnolia Drive and the wooded area,” said Bechtler. “We collected 21 bags of trash, shopping carts, a car seat, and other debris. The cleanup teaches kids the importance of doing volunteer work within the community and the activity brings everyone, wrestler and non-wrestler, together for a team effort.”
The Association has purchased wrestling mats, singlets, headgear, T-shirts, wrestling shoes, warm-up clothing, and exercise equipment to supplement the local township recreation wrestling program,” said Bechtler. “These activities are to promote and educate youth in grades K-8 in the sport of scholastic wrestling.”
All Association members are volunteers who undergo background checks, concussion education, and who must adhere to Middle Township’s coach’s code of conduct.
The organization is open to any child in grades K-8 living in Middle or Dennis Township, Woodbine, Stone Harbor, or Avalon. Weight classes include 60 pounds through heavyweights who tip the scales at 220. Junior varsity competitors are paired by age, weight and ability. Divisions include tots, bantam, midget, junior, and intermediate, and are based on the child’s birth year.
Tournament and JV competition weight classes generally follow the varsity weight classes; however, adjustments are made for K-3. In addition, weight classes are sometimes created to group children with a maximum 10 percent weight variation for competition.
Aside from Donofrio and Bechtler, Association officers include Jerry Licata, vice president; Kristen Andre, secretary/treasurer; and Jeff Conlin, president emeritus.
The regular season runs November through February. The youngsters compete in the South Jersey Youth Wrestling League, which is comprised of 11 teams, including Lower, Upper, Ocean City, Ventnor, Mainland, EHT, Vineland, Mays Landing, Hammonton, and Mullica. The league organizes varsity and JV competitions with a year-end tournament in late February. All teams are from recreation departments or non-profit clubs. All league matches and tournaments are officiated by NJSIAA referees regardless of age.
“Varsity positions are attained by a wrestle-off by weight class,” said Donofrio. “All kids not on varsity are automatically on JV and are paired with a competitor based on age, weight, and wrestling ability.”
Donofrio coaches to see all children improve in ways well beyond grappling techniques.
“For me, watching a child improve in the sport and gain confidence in himself or herself is important,” he noted. “It’s about maturing and learning to win with class and lose with dignity and self-respect. It’s no different than the ups and downs of life.”
For Bechtler, it’s about the children and the volunteers. “It takes a lot of time and dedication to make a team successful,” she said. “I get great joy in seeing the development, confidence, self-control and pride in the kids. Being able to have a positive impact on them is one of the best feelings in the world. We have a huge influence on the lives of those we lead and it is our responsibility to guide our children in the right direction. The highlight of our league is everyone gets to wrestle. Remember, it’s about mat time.”
