Lady Grey Elementary School has started a new wrestling program with some of the boys in the school.
“This club started out after a request from the Grade 7 boys. They are a very physical group…So we had one of the Physical Education teachers from the high school come and coach them in the appropriate techniques,” said LGES Vice Principal Laurie MacDougall.
Shelly Morris is the Special Education Assistant and coach of the wrestling club.
“This gives them an outlet to let off a little steam. They have been doing this about a month and they love it. All the kids have been coming back and they are liking it a lot,” Morris said.
She went on to explain that it is also a great physical activity for the participants.
“They love to be able to wrestle. they love the competitive spirit. This has been very positive,” Morris said.
Ronda and Mike Vrooman’s son Nate has been taking part in the club since the first class. On the day of the interview they were watching their son taking part in the lunch time activity for the first time.
“He loves this. We hadn’t come to see it before today but we thought we would check it out because he is having fun doing it. They look like they are having a riot and it is good for them to get out any frustration in a safe environment,” Ronda said.
This opinion is something Mike agrees with. “He is a quiet boy. It is interesting to see a different side of him. I think he will look forward to the high school side of the sport. It has been great for him,” Mike said.
This is a feeling that the participants all seem to agree on. Nicholas McClean, Eric Turner and Nate Vrooman are three of the students who take part in the club.
“It is awesome and fun. It is a very energetic thing to be doing. I love it,” McClean said.
“It is a place where you can forget about your problems. It is nice to have something where you can use your energy,” Turner said. On a side note he also felt the club has helped him focus more in class because he gets to be active in the club
As for Nate Vrooman, he confirmed he has been enjoying the club and is looking forward to competing more in the future.
The club would like to put a thanks in the article to the Columbia Basin Trust for sponsoring T-shirts for the club.
