By Rich DePreta
Staff Writer
Posted: 11/19/2009 10:06:04 PM EST
Updated: 11/19/2009 10:06:04 PM EST
STAMFORD -- It was like watching a master craftsman at work.
The mats will always be home for U.S. wrestling icon Melvin Douglas. And nearly 200 future wrestlers of all shapes, sizes and ages from across Fairfield County received a large dose of his wisdom at a clinic held at Westhill High School Thursday night.
The clinic, put together by the Stamford Youth Wrestling Club, the Stamford Junior Wrestling Warriors and Charles Branch's All-American Wrestling Club, featured Douglas, a two-time Olympian, a two-time NCAA champion and a nine-time U.S. Open freestyle wrestling titlist. Proceeds from the clinic will aid the U.S. Olympic medal fund as well as allow a number of area wrestlers to have free membership into USA Wrestling.
Douglas' words -- like his wrestling style -- were direct and to the point.
"I can still whip anybody's rear end," the 46-year-old Douglas declared. "I'm not cocky. I'm just sure of myself. The difference between the first place guy and the guy who finishes second in wrestling is simple. The first place guy believes he's good. If you don't believe you're a good wrestler, why should I?"
Even with the Internet, it might be months or years for some of the youngest wrestlers to realize the depth of Douglas' accomplishments in a stellar wrestling career.
How many wrestlers would work to earn a U.S. Olympic wrestling berth at age 37?
After placing seventh in the men's light-heavyweight freestyle division
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(198 pounds) at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Douglas earned his way on to the 2000 U.S. Olympic wrestling team that went to Sydney, Australia. Douglas placed 18th overall in men's heavyweight freestyle division (213 pounds).
"It's easy to win one championship," Douglas told the kids. "It's hard to keep winning titles and staying at that plateau. It's all about improving and changing every day. Every day at practice is a new day to learn."
Also taking part in the clinic was Charles Branch of Greenwich. Branch, a college wrestler at Virginia Military Institute, coached wrestling at the Naval Academy, the University of Virginia and Eastern Michigan University for more than 12 years. These days, Branch works on Wall Street.
But his love of wrestling never wavered. Branch runs All-American Wrestling Club on Wednesday nights and Saturday mornings at the Yerwood Center in Stamford.
The All-American club is an advanced placement course of sorts for the best young wrestlers in Greenwich as well as those affiliated with John Kijek's Stamford Junior Wrestling program.
In these times, wrestling resonates on a number of different levels for youth.
Wrestling is a solitary sport. Success or failure is directly in an individuals' hands. It is not a team sport. You don't need someone to pass you the ball like in basketball.
Wrestling builds courage and character while providing tools of self-defense in today's violent world.
Wrestling isn't simply about leverage. It is about subterfuge in setting up your opponent before you employ better technique. Douglas freely gave of his vast experience which includes a wealth of international matches.
There were two wrestlers Thursday night who will never forget Douglas -- who currently runs the Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club in Tempe, Arizona with special emphasis on future Olympic caliber wrestlers.
Walker Dempsey, a 14-year-old eighth-grader at Greenwich Country Day School with All-American wrestling credentials, and Ben Pierre-Saint -- a sophomore on the Stamford High wrestling team -- arrived early and received an impromptu private 40-minute clinic with Douglas in the Westhill wrestling room so they could help him demonstrate during the more than two-hour public clinic.
It was an education of a lifetime.
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