Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Cory Asato | 161118-N-OO032-117 TACOMA, Wash. (Nov. 18, 2016) All-Navy Wrestling head coach, Chief...... read more read more
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TACOMA, Wash. – All-Navy Wrestling head coach, Chief Petty Officer Alejandro Delapeña, lead an annual fall kick-off clinic at Keithley Middle School, Nov. 18.
The five-hour clinic was geared for teenage athletes and hosted by Kyle Foster, the school's athletic director, and his wrestling club Team Toss'em.
Foster explained about how wrestling helps to instill work ethic and serves as a vehicle to success for student athletes.
“You’re always one day from never being an athlete again,” said Foster. “You wrestle to get that piece of paper, that goal. The reality is when they're done, they're using those years up and parents want to know that their children got a piece of paper – a degree and has a future, is taken care of.
The team is committed to providing a positive and competitive wrestling experience to help student athletes climb the ladder to that championship track, according the their website.
“Wrestling embodies what our kids need in today's society,” said Foster. “So does the Navy, they both serve as a means to success. You do your time in both and they make you a better man. You learn skills and values.”
With goals of nurturing the next Olympic gold medalist and raising their athletes to compete at Fargo, North Dakota at the Junior and Cadet national tournament, which is a gateway for youth to qualify to compete at the international level, Foster has been having the All-Navy Wrestling head coach, formerly Rob Herman who is currently the head coach of Greco-Roman wrestling at Northern Michigan University, teach his fall clinic for the past 16 years.
“It’s a great opportunity to give back and another way to build our future champions, our future leaders,” said Delapeña , stationed with Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Division Keyport. “Coach Rob, who was my coach coming up and wrestling with the Navy, gave so much to us, to me. That’s what this is about as leaders, we learn and build ourselves to pass everything on to everyone coming up.”
The All-Navy Wrestling team aims to combine their core values of Honor, Courage and Commitment while dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in accordance with the mission of the Navy, according to their mission statement.
The clinic started off with Foster introducing Delapeña, who opened up with warm-ups leading into techniques revolving around the double-leg takedown and Russian tie. After a short break the clinic was finished with Delapeña showing an escape from bottom position.
Delapeña closed out the clinic with a speech, while the wrestlers gathered around him on the mat.
“This is a tough sport, so you have to take that desire and that passion and use them in setting your goals and visualizing what you want,” said Delapeña. “You need to believe it, every last one of you.”
Delapeña continued to ask wrestlers around the room for individual input on the qualities of an Olympic champion. Each shared qualities and virtues such as drive, determination, commitment and consistency in regards to what it takes to be a champion.
“All of you know what it takes to be an Olympic champion. Anyone can tell you what it takes,” said Delapeña. “If there's seven things, a champion does all seven – he doesn't cut short and do six, five, four [etc.] if you can answer what it takes you can do it. You have to commit to what you know and go for it.”
| Date Taken: | 11.18.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 11.20.2016 11:59 |
| Story ID: | 215310 |
| Location: | TACOMA, WA, US |
| Web Views: | 240 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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