Attention Parents, Coaches and Wrestlers,

Just a quick reminder that applications for the 2013 Ohio All-Star Wrestling Team are due by October 17. Wrestlers interested in applying should currently be enrolled in the 6th-9th grade, have an estimated summer weight of 65-145 pounds and have at least a B-/C+ grade point average. Non Ohio wrestlers may apply and on average about half the team are from other states.

Next summer will mark the team's 31st year. Since 1983, more than 600 of the top youth wrestlers, from Ohio and other states, have participated as a member of this team. Team alumni have won close to 200 state high school titles, 25+ USA Cadet/Junior National titles and several NCAA champions, place winners and qualifiers.

For an application, or if you should have any additional questions, please feel free to contact me at [email protected]

Yours in Wrestling,
Bart Freidenberg

2012 Quotes:

“We highly recommend this trip. It was extremely well organized. The boys had excellent coaching and mentoring. The friendships made, the sights seen, the opportunity for growth both as a wrestler and as a young man, the life lessons that were learned; it was a once in a lifetime experience!”
Bob & Mindy Steer (son Matthew, age 14, 2012 Ohio TofC Runner Up) [email protected]

“The trip was an awesome experience for me. I have learned so much in just a short period of time. I learned how to do laundry, new wrestling moves, how to work together as a team and also learned more responsibility. One thing that I love is that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I will remember this my whole life.” Kaleb Romero (OH), 6X OAC State Champion and 4X Ohio TofC Champion.

“The trip was a tremendous experience for my son and our family. Through Facebook, text messages, and phone calls, my wife and I felt like we were experiencing the trip with our son. He saw and did more on the trip than most have experienced in a lifetime. Through the trip, I believe has built a lifetime of friendships, developed life skills, improved his wrestling, and improved on the mental aspects of wrestling. It’s a trip he will always remember and cherish.”
Dom D’Emilio (son Dylan, age 12, 2012 OAC State Champ) [email protected]

"Making friends and becoming a better wrestler was great, but the most important part of the trip was the life lessons we learned. I learned how to manage money, do laundry and how to rely on myself instead of my parents. I would never have learned these lessons at such a young age if I wasn’t on this trip. I want to thank the coaches for teaching me these lessons, because I wouldn’t be as responsible if they weren’t guiding us along the way. This trip was definitely inexperience of a lifetime. I will never forget the friends I made, the places I went and the life lessons I learned.”
Garrett O’Shea, age 15, Butler, NJ (2012 NJ Kids State Runner-Up)

I thought I would comment on two additional concerns I have heard from some folks: the length and cost of the trip

LENGTH

Back in 1983, the trip was only three weeks in length, and cost close to $2000. Over the years, it eventually expanded to the current six weeks (it was actually seven weeks in 2007, our 25th year, as we added a week in Hawaii). Keep in mind that these kids generally do not know each other before they meet up at the training camp, just prior to the start of the tour and it generally takes a couple of weeks before they really started to get to know everyone on the team. We have found that this generally occurs about three weeks into the trip and is when the team starts to behave more like a family, than just a team. This is also really when they start to learn a lot of life lessons, such as budgeting their money, being able to get along with each other and the art of compromise and toleration.

While kids always enjoyed returning home to see their families, there was no difference between them being on the road three or six weeks. In fact, most all said they thought the six weeks were perfect. I can tell you that their being away is much harder on the parents, than on the wrestlers themselves, as we keep them extremely busy on the trip.

Also, we found that most of the expenses on the trip were upfront ones, that would have to be paid regardless of the length of the trip. So, the additional weeks added only minimal expenses. A three week tour now would run about $3000 and the six week tour runs about $4500.

Now that we have done several six week tours, it is also tough to try to figure out what (cities and sightseeing) to eliminate from the tour, should we cut the trip length in half. We could easily cut things out and make the tour 90% wrestling. But, if you ask the wrestlers what they appreciated most about the trip, it was the opportunity to actually have the chance to visit the sites of the places we visited. In fact, the most vivid memories of past team members is not of the wrestling, but of the fun things they saw and did with their teammates.


COST

The other major concern folks have is the cost of the tour. What they don't realize is that most can raise the money. The main problem here is that folks don't know how to raise the money, or really don't want to put the effort into doing so. Remember, we have had more than 600 wrestlers go on this trip in the past and raise the money. So, it can be done.

We do provide a packet of materials to help and also go over ideas that families have used successfully in the past. Yes, $4500 sounds like a lot, but you can break that amount into smaller parts to work on it. That's only 225 folks donating $20 each, which doesn't sound as daunting of a task anymore, especially when you know some folks are going to donate more than that.

How about some sort of $5 product (several kids used wristbands this past year) that they can sell. Selling 200 of those to friends can generate close to $1000. We also provide some opportunities at the TofC, and some families have raised more than $500 selling raffle tickets and helping in the t-shirt area.

One other thing folks fail to think about is that there are others,that generally would be willing to help, should you ask. Folks like to help support kids in their quests, but often need to be asked to do so. A wrestler in a middle school, or youth program, probably has 100 other wrestling families in their community that can probably help in some fashion, if asked. There are also friends and family members that also can help out.

In a small community? Well, you will find that is often easier to raise the funds, as the entire community enjoys supporting someone from their area.

So, where all does the money go? Below is an estimate of expenses, based on a $4500 per wrestler budget

Airfare $550
Equipment $700
Sightseeing $700
Meal Money $650
Rental Vehicles & Gas $600
Lodging $700
Team Camp $200
Exchange Gifts $200
Photos/Videos/Certificates $100
Coaches $200
Miscellaneous $100

Hopefully that answers some additional questions you may have about the team.

Bart Freidenberg
614-833-5885