Summer wrestling: getting stronger, gaining experience and busting new moves

Team Delaware - Let’s talk wrestling, because it’s not running or Little League, lacrosse or Lifeguard Olympics. Team Delaware, coached by Will Reid and Don Parsley, took a balanced squad to the 2019 NUWAY Summer National High School Duals in Atlantic City last weekend. There were 38 teams competing from as far away as California plus a team from Canada. Team Delaware won the Silver Pool (teams seeded 9-16) with team record of 7-1. The only loss was to the Triumph Club of New Jersey, which placed second overall in the tournament. The off-season is a time for wrestlers to get stronger and gain experience, and not worry about weight until they step on the scale in November.  

Can’t do free - Aug. 12 is the first practice for fall sports, and without a doubt, a few athletes will not have taken care of the triad of personal responsibility, which is a physical, parent permission form signed and proof of insurance. Concussions, contusions and conniptions are not free; somebody’s got to pay for that mess. The wellness center does provide free physicals, but not every family has a color-coded calendar hanging on the home refrigerator. There are chaotic households out there, and the no-show-for-free-physical kid may need intervention and a helping hand, or perhaps he really doesn’t want to play. Coaching is such a fun challenge, and if you can’t embrace the dissonance and chaos, find something else to do, then don’t do that either. 

Mistaken identity - It’s only happened in the Athletes of the Week section of the Cape Gazette four times over 25 years; that’s about 1,300 editions. And that’s when correct information is under the wrong photo, as happened Friday when the photos of Jen Perry and Meaghan Koontz Nana-Sinkam were flipped. Who cares how it happened; it ain’t like your furnace blew up. We changed it quickly online, but the printed page had already hit the street. I messaged both women to explain what happened, and they couldn’t have been nicer and were happy to know they would gain free admission to my end-of-career banquet for misidentified and misspelled people. Mistakes are funny. In fact, most people walking around came into the world as a mistake. Say it ain’t so, but you would be wrong. 

"I got a line on you, babe” - Steve Nemith of C&S Stripes was painting lines at Jeremiah's Place on Dagsworthy Avenue in Dewey Saturday morning, staying clear of the 350 runners rolling down the road for the Penn State Day 5K. Steve is 57 and one of those working man badasses. He doesn’t work out, he works. Each year, Steve paints the lines in the pit area at Dover Downs. The Dover High grad is a pro. He says he stays in shape for his 8-year-old son who runs him ragged. "I got to be fit to take him hunting and fishing when he gets older," Steve said. Steve continues a business started by his dad and makes a good living because he’s that good. I’ve got to stop interviewing everyone I meet.

Snippets - This is a good summer to be a Phillies fan because it will test your loyalty. In spite of periods of anemic hitting and sandlot pitching, the Phillies are in the mix for a wild card with only 57 games left to play. I expect a major trade at the July 31 deadline, and I’m expecting an outfielder. If cross training and CrossFit are such good ideas – and I believe they are – why aren’t more athletes not only playing multiple sports but two sports in the same season? I imagine a few soccer and field hockey players could really help the cross country team while also helping themselves. Don’t look for it to happen, though. Those old-school days are gone like home economics. Margaret Mitchell, a Temple grad sporting a Penn State shirt, completed a 5K in 50 minutes. I said, “Good job.” And Margaret said, “The last time I did this, I was 140 pounds heavier.” I think the last time I took her photo I was 30 pounds heavier. It must be a Philly Tastykake thing. Go on now, git!