Clearview Junior Wrestling’s summer camp will return with four days of activity from Monday to Thursday next week at the wrestling building in Mantua, behind police headquarters.
Sessions will be 8 a.m. to noon, with check-in beginning at 7:30. The program – which is a few years old – will instruct kids interested in the art of wrestling, regardless of whether or not they live in the towns Clearview encompasses, Mantua and Mullica Hill.
“We’re really trying to grow the sport of wrestling in our area,” said wrestling secretary Megan Battaglia. “It’s one of those sports that helps with other sports, as it is very disciplined.
“It introduces wrestling to newcomers and gets returning students back on the mat before our season starts in November,” she added. “It is open to everyone and anyone who wants to come and wrestle.”
The camp will feature instruction by four clinicians, a different one each day from wrestling programs across South Jersey. They are Pat Higgins, of Centurion Wrestling Club; Steve Jillard, of Pride Wrestling Club; state champion and private clinician Ronnie Gentile; and Matt Correnti, of Seagulls Wrestling Club.
The coaches will provide kids the opportunity to learn a number of wrestling styles.
“These clinicians help introduce the kids to different programs throughout the area,” said Battaglia.
The summer camp is for kids in the bantam age group – those 7 and 8 – and up. Registration can be found online at Cheddar Up. The camp is $125, money that will help support the Clearview program.
“The money goes towards equipment, upgrading the building and for the building’s operational costs,” Battaglia noted.
Businesses that want to sponsor the wrestling program can email cjwfundraising@gmail.com The school will provide the company’s information on the Clearview Junior Wrestling website and social media.
Both the camp and the building – at 405 Main St. – are dedicated to the late John Hughes, who helped get the wrestling facility built.
