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River Ridge offering first-class wrestling clinic

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BY ERIC HORCHY

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 4, 2008

SUNCOAST NEWS STAFF

NEW PORT RICHEY - The World Class Wrestling Clinic, organized by River Ridge High Coach Russ Schenk, will get under way June 16 and offer five days of instruction from some of the sport's top talent and coaching around the area.

Among others, Schenk - a onetime All-American wrestler at the University of Central Florida - will get assistance from nationally renowned Brandon High Coach Russ Cozart.

Cozart's program was thrust into the spotlight this past year by the ESPN film "The Streak." The film documented the Hillsborough County team for holding the nation's longest ever winning streak in any sport.

The streak ended Jan. 5 - at 459 consecutive victories and 468 matches without defeat - when Brandon lost to South Dade High School.

This is the fourth consecutive year Schenk and Cozart, longtime friends, have collaborated for clinics. Schenk ran camps for the past three years in Culver, Ind., while coaching in the Midwest.

Schenk said that the camp is open for all ages and skill levels, and is hoping to draw around 50 athletes. If necessary, he said the clinic has the capacity to handle upward of 100 kids.

There are no dormitories or boarding available, so it is a commuter program that will mostly draw wrestlers from Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough and Hernando counties, Schenk said.

All five days will run from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. and will mix hands-on instruction, live wrestling and weight training. The clinic will culminate on the with a folkstyle tournament 1 - 4 p.m. June 20.

Along with Cozart's assistance, the other clinicians will be:

•Sean Petersen, former FHSAA state champion, Ohio State Buckeye and U.S. marine.

•A.J. Agazarn, 2007 Jujitsu World Champion and Pan American Games Champion.

•Jeremiah Low, who in 1994 became River Ridge High School's first ever state champion in any sport.

With many of the wrestlers attending being from River Ridge, Schenk also said clinics like these pay enormous dividends come the next high school season.

The five-day World Class Wrestling Clinic at River Ridge High School costs $150 per wrestler. For information on team rates, contact 727-992-7229.

While the folk-style tournament concludes the camp's activities, River Ridge will also be hosting the inaugural National High School Coaches Association Grappling National Championships at the school on the same day.

Wrestlers will be able to weigh in for the competition during the camp. Grappling is an alternate style that is scored more heavily on submission or near-submission moves in comparison to folkstyle.

The competition is split into two divisions, high school and open. The entry fee into the high school division is $50, and $75 for the open.

Registration for the championships is only available online, at www.nhsca.com>.

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