The Anna Maria Island Sun Newspaper


Vol. 17 No. 6 - November 23, 2016

sports

Kids take it to the mat at The Center

Anna Maria Island Sun News Story

monica simpson | SUN

Wrestling coach Will Schenerlein shows young Island
wrestlers the correct starting position.

The smell of new mats in the gymnasium brings excitement to The Center. More than 30 years later, the sounds of wrestling shoes shuffling on the mat and the coach's whistle directing drills return to the Island.

During the first week of serving as the recreation director, Will Schenerlein, helped to write a grant to receive funding from the Publix corporation to help fund the resurrection of the youth wrestling program at The Center. Last winter the Island's community center was awarded the grant, and Schenerlein put in the order for the new wrestling mats and started planning the program.

With the financial assistance of sponsors Gnarly Mangrove and Fun and More Rentals, the kids are taking to the mat in the afternoons on Wednesdays and Thursdays in The Center gym learning basic wrestling skills. Currently, the program has 23 participants ranging in age from five to 11 years old.

The Center's youth wrestling program is open to kids five years and older. As a member of The Center, the cost of the program is $5 and $90 for non-members.

During each session Schenerlein and The Center's facilities manager, Chris Culhane, work with Island area kids to improve them as individuals with physical conditioning and partner work, while learning the skills necessary to take them to the next level as wrestlers.

Schenerlein comes from a wrestling family comprised of state and national champions, including himself who brings to The Center an abundance of experience and accolades. Head coaching at the high school level in Parkersburg, W. Va., Schenerlein molded four state championship teams and five nationally ranked squads.

Over the years, Schenerlein has mentored more than 100 wrestlers to go on to compete for teams in the National Collegiate Athletic Association. He hopes his love of the sport will catch fire on the Island, motivating local kids to sport the singlet in the near future.

The two coaches are working through the awkwardness of the wrestlers as they learn to get close to their competitors. Schenerlein stresses the importance of bringing your opponent to you during a match. The new little wrestlers are learning the necessity of the wrestling stance, staying low, moving without crossing the feet, and always maintaining the advantage against their challenger.

Wrestling as a youth himself at the Anna Maria Island Community Center, now know as The Center, Culhane brings his local experience to the gym. Taking to the mat in the early 1980s, Culhane went on to wrestle at Manatee High School. The love of the sport and the skills he learned on the Island have stayed with him.

Bringing wrestling back to the Island is a dream come true for Schenerlein and Culhane. The arrival of the mats brought tears to Schenerlein's eyes as he realized his passion could become contagious. With his son participating in the program, Schenerlein sees another generation of wrestlers developing before his very eyes.

With his experiences and memories of success, Schenerlein, with the support of Culhane, plans on developing competitive youth wrestling program. They hope to start wrestling competitively in early 2017 in local tournaments.

Schenerlein is over the moon excited to expose the kids to what he believes is the "greatest sport on earth."

Sun Scoreboard

Monday, Nov. 14

Youth Soccer: 6-to 7-Year-Old League

Signarama 1
Air & Energy 0

Blalock Walters 2
Bin There Dumped That 2

Youth Soccer: 11-to 14-Year Old League

Progressive Cabinetry 2
Planet Stone 7

Tuesday, Nov. 15

Youth Soccer: 8-to 10-Year-Old League

Bin There Dumped That 2
Mason Martin Builders 3

Gulf Bay Realty 2
Cloud Pest Control 6

Adult Basketball

Blake Medical 74
Mike Walter & Associates 40

Beach To Bay 57
Intechgrate Systems 43

Harry's Grill BYE

Wednesday, Nov. 16

Youth Soccer: 8-to 10-Year-Old League

Bin There Dumped That 2
Mason Martin Builders 2

Gulf Bay Realty 2
Cloud Pest Control 2

Thursday, Nov. 17

Adult Co-Ed Soccer

Mason Martin 6
Eason Builders Group 6

Jiffy Lube 5
Slim's Place 4

Wash Family Construction 7
Anna Maria CrossFit 3

Ross Built Construction 6
Acqua Aveda 2


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