For the past few years, Chris Clark has coached some of the nation’s top female wrestlers.
So Clark recently had the idea to bring in some of the girls that he’s worked with from around the state to Columbus to put on a "War Room Wrestling Camp" for girls. The camp will take place from 9 a.m. until around 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Elite Athletic Club South, 4625 Progress Dr., in Columbus.
"A lot of these girls are on the back burners because they’re females," Clark said. "The recognition and hard work that they put in, they don’t get the recognition they really deserve."
Clark and his brother Aaron run Elite Athletic Club, along with Kevin English of Portage. Chris and Aaron Clark are former Franklin High School wrestlers and live in Franklin.
Chris got into coaching wrestling when his daughter Laney took up the sport. Laney, a two-time Indiana High School Wrestling Coaches Association state place-winner for the Grizzly Cubs, will be one of the clinicians at the camp.
"Female wrestling is a huge deal to me," Chris Clark said. "I’ve been through it with my older daughter, and my 4-year old is right behind her. These girls work so hard, they deserve it."
Several other girls will be presenting their expertise at the camp, including World team qualifier Julianna Ocambo and her sisters Ysabelle Ocambo and Alyssa Schuller of Mishawaka and state champion twins Caitie and Cailin Campbell from North Montgomery.
Also coming to Columbus to help with the camp will be three-time state champion Tori Buchanan of West Vigo and two-time state runner-up Lizzy Dollar and four-time state place-winner Lita Chowning, both from Jay County. Loralei Smith will make the trip from West Virginia.
"A lot of the girls that are there, they are realistically the trailblazers of Indiana girls wrestling," Chris Clark said. "It wasn’t really big until they got in it, and they’re the ones that have blazed a trail for all the other females. A lot of them are ranked nationally. If you had asked me who the top girls in Indiana high school wrestling are and who’s pushing the pace, it’s these girls."
The IHSAA does not sanction girls wrestling, and girls often compete with boys in regular-season and postseason events. However, the IHSWCA started a girls tournament a few years ago.
"There’s a push to get it (IHSAA) sanctioned," Chris Clark said. "They need a percentage (of schools sponsoring the sport) before they can sanction it. It’s just something that needs to happen."
Chris Clark said about 60 girls are pre-registered for the camp, and registration still is available at eliteathleticclubclark@gmail.com. The cost is $100, and walk-in registration also will be available prior to the camp’s first day.
"I’m just really trying to crack into the Columbus area. I know the coaches pretty well in the Columbus area and Seymour," Chris Clark said. "We’re just trying to bring a different atmosphere and tap into the Columbus area a little bit."
This will be a hands-on learning camp. Campers will watch the demonstrators show their techniques and then work on it themselves.
"Usually when you can relate to people in general, it brings comfort to it," Chris Clark said. "A lot of them have been told they can’t do it. Their character is phenomenal. They’re awesome girls, and they deserve the respect."
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