TESTIMONIALS FOR WRESTLING...

Dear Athletic Director and Coach

As all of you know by now, wrestling is a sanctioned sport in the state of Arkansas. Currently we have 40 schools participating in wrestling including all 7A schools. The number of high school wrestlers in Arkansas has doubled in one year from 1,000 wrestlers to 2,000 wrestlers. We have several high schools now that have over 100 wrestlers on their high school wrestling team.

As Head Football Coach, I wanted to give you an opportunity to view a DVD that Houston Nutt made a year ago talking about the advantages for a football team of having a wrestling program. Wrestling simply makes football players better tacklers, more disciplined, and tougher. Although many football coaches worry that wrestling is going to cause their football players to lose weight the reality is that with the new body fat and hydration testing that wrestlers really don't cut much weight at all. Any weight they are going to lose is just from working out and certainly an athlete that's more fit is better than one that is not. Another concern is that football players who wrestle will not come to football offseason conditioning. If you or one of your assistant football coaches serves as the head wrestling coach you can do both. Just schedule wrestling practices around your off season conditioning workouts. Football coaches who have added wrestling at their schools are now seeing the results and want all of their football players wrestling. To view the video just click on the link below.

I'm writing you this letter because I think adding wrestling to your high school sports program would be great for your kids that aren't playing basketball. Only about 15 kids play on a varsity basketball team and the rest of the kids are not competing during the winter sports season. Although they may be in an off season conditioning or weight program, implementing a wrestling program to go along with your off season conditioning will get the kids in better shape, keep them out of trouble, and most importantly keep them competing.

Probably the greatest single advantage to a wrestling program for a kid's long term career and development is the ability to go out one on one and take responsibility and be accountable for whether they win or lose a wrestling match. This takes great courage, self confidence, endurance, and fitness. If you would be interested in starting a wrestling program for your high school please don't hesitate to give me a call on my cell phone at 501-517-4734.

Warmest regards,

Greg Hatcher
President, Arkansas Wrestling Association

P.S. As you know, we have found a way to purchase wrestling mats for 43 high schools and we'll do our best to try to find the funds to buy you a wrestling mat if you are interested in adding a program.

Enc: Houston Nutt Video

"I want to thank you and all the other people that you work with, for working so hard to have a wonderful event. I know who does all the work and it is hard. Please let the others know how appreciative we are for all that they did. Words are not enough, I know, to say how much you are appreciated.

- Sharri(February 16, 2009 following 1st Annual State High School Wrestling Tourn.)

"Just wanted to drop a little wrestling story about Jeremy Pilcher, hope you enjoy."
- Pete

Click Here...

I am a proud parent of a 2 time State Champion from CAC. I say that with pride and much gratitude towards you for making that possible! After Tyler won he hugged everyone in the gym. As I watched him a saw your face behind the scoring table with a huge smile. Thank you for the authentic joy my son has from the opportunity to compete. You will always have my families gratitude.

Sincerely,

Matt Binford (February 17, 2009 following 1st Annual State High School Wrestling Tourn.)

We at Beebe High School want to thank you and your staff for the work and passion you all have for this sport. I think I can safely say that without your tenacious attitude about promoting Wrestling in the State of Arkansas we still might be where we were 3 years ago.

You will never know how this has impacted our 103 weight class (Josh Freeman) when he was announced as the first ever State Champion in the Sport of Wrestling. ( I am assuming this has to do with AAA Sanctioning) He is still 2 ft. of the ground.

Again, thanks for your leadership.

Jerry Jordan, CAA
Athletic/Activities Director
Beebe Public Schools

Thank you to you and Pat for what you have done for wrestling in this state. I would have never dreamed that I would see a tournament of that caliber in Arkansas 20 years ago. I could not help but sit there and marvel at the quality of the tournament. I also was so pleased with the quality of wrestlers and officials that were there. Arkansas can now be proud to say that we have wrestling as a strong growing viable sport. Again thank you for all you have done. We would not be where we are without you.

Ken Fowler
High School Principal
Arkansas School for the Blind

I just wanted to send you a short note to let you know how much I appreciate your efforts!!. I agree with you on thanking all of the other helpers, but your work is unprecedented to make wrestling a reality in Arkansas. As I coached from my corner, I had a constant smile on my face, thinking about how much wrestling will impact these young kids in Arkansas. This is the first year for Har-Ber officially to have wrestling. Last year, Har-Ber took 3 wrestlers to state as a club. This year we brought a full team of 14 and ended the year with 35 wrestlers (18 freshman). Of the 92 that signed up after the informational meeting in October, we had 71 wrestlers attend at least one practice throughout the season. We have started our youth program and have almost 30 eighth graders interested in participating now in advance of next years season.

Despite our freshman at state having tough matches, I could not help but be excited about wrestling's future in Arkansas. 11 of our 14 wrestlers are first year wrestlers and 6 of our state wrestlers joined the team in Mid January 2009. I recruited wrestlers up and until last week. My smile continued even when are kids were getting pinned because when they left the mat, they were not discouraged, but wanted to know how to get better, how can I compete, where can I go to camps, are there more tournaments…. They did not want to end the season.

I volunteered to coach at Har-Ber this year for these kids. It impacted my life growing up outside Cleveland, Ohio and I wanted to give back to the sport that gave me so much that has helped me personally as well as my professional career.

Keep up the work and I hope that we can double the number of teams in Arkansas to 80 next year. We cannot stop now with the growth and must push on.

Let me know what I can do to help.

Paul

Thank you for all your work bringing wrestling to the State of Arkansas.

Last year, we brought 4 wrestlers and two coaches to the Tournament. This year, we brought a full roster in addition to other non-participating wrestlers, four knowledgeable coaches, and one coach still in training.

We realize that you are really the heart and soul of Arkansas' wrestling surge. Thank you again for your continued investments in the lives of our young men and women of this state.

Respectfully,

Pat

Greg I can't thank you enough for all you do for us!! Please take a good look at the picture I am sending, because of you this was possible. A lot of hard work went into him getting this moment!!! Take a look at Tanner's face and I hope that is some type of thank you for making this happen for this little guy!! Click Here

Kristi

I just wanted to drop a thank you note to you and all your volunteers for a great job this past weekend at the state wrestling tournament. Your hours of tireless work paid major dividends for the sport of wrestling in Arkansas. Everything was first class and very impressive. Many people were exposed to the sport and will hold it dear to their hearts for a long time. Your love and passion for the sport are second to none and I want to make sure it doesn't go unreconized.
I became an official this year because of the love I had growing up in the sport. I hope to help in anyway I can to grow the sport also. Anything I can do in Northeast Arkansas or any where else in the state to help wrestling please let me know. Again outstanding job on the state tournament and all you have done for wrestling in this state.

Thanks Doug Hauger

On behalf of the Little Rock Christian coaches, parents and wrestlers I would also like to thank all the volunteers and especially the Mighty Bluebird parents (and wrestlers) and Hatcher Agency employees who worked so hard preparing and executing such a great tournament. Not only was the tournament executed flawlessly, it was a special treat to have all your familiar faces there giving words of encouragement to our wrestlers.

We had 7 of 14 wrestlers make it to the Saturday evening events allowing them to earn the honor of All State Wrestlers. What an achievement for these young men to carry with them for the rest of their lives. Thank you so much for giving of your time and efforts, creating an environment for that to happen!

Leland Kurfess

" The National High School Coaches Association (NHSCA) reports that the average GPA of their elite wrestlers at the High School Senior Nationals is a 3.0"