Kids wrestle with technique at Iron Dog camp
Karen Peterson photo
Maggi Lake wrestles her opponent during the Iron Dog Wrestling Camp held last week in St. Ignatius.
Karen Peterson photo
Cole Rice explains a wrestling technique
Karen Peterson photo
Cody Dillard, 9, uses Ian Sharrard, 7, left, to practice his wrestling technique with the help of Coach Cronk.
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ST. IGNATIUS — Fellow wrestlers cheered as Maggi Lake, 10, used her newly acquired wrestling techniques against her opponent during last week’s Iron Dog Wrestling Camp.
“I like showing the boys that just because you’re a girl doesn’t mean you can’t wrestle and win,” Maggi said. “It makes me feel strong.”
About 40 kids from all over the valley, ages 5 to 18, participated in the camp at the high school gym for three days to learn wrestling techniques.
Ian Sharrard, 7, said he liked camp simply because “it’s fun.”
Participants were grouped into one of two categories based on age. “We have a lot of talent working with these kids,” wrestling coach Terry Murphy said. “Cole Rice, a wrestler from Boise State; Mark Johnson, two-time State Champion; coach Lyle Cronk, All American; Monty Cheff, two-time State Champion; Jake Bosley, three-time State Champion, and Scotty Gilleard.”
The camp helps kids figure out complicated wrestling moves.
“I’ve been wrestling and coaching for 28 years and I still haven’t learned everything,” Cronk said. “There’s always something new to learn. That’s what camp is for, to learn.”
Rice, a 2011 Arlee graduate, currently enjoys wrestling at the college level. He remembers getting into the sport at age 5.
“My dad pushed me into it and it turned into something I really like. It’s competitive, physically demanding and the team unity is nice.”
Coach Cronk designed the camp to allow newcomers to experience the sport and others to practice their skills.
“When I was a kid, I went to a camp like this and saw college wrestlers. I decided then that it was what I wanted to be,” Cronk said. “That’s what we do for these kids: we expose them to wrestling so they can decide if it’s something they want to do.”
