Welcome to the All-American Wrestling Camp Website

We are gearing up for the 2013 All-American Wrestling Camp!
June 23rd-26th!  See you there!!!
                            

2012 All-American Camp Champions!!!

 
2012 All-American Camp Clinicians!!!

To the 2012 All American Team staff, coaches, and wrestlers:

Our 11^th year is now officially in the books, and we are all one step closer to reaching our goals during the upcoming season.  With the success of last year’s camp, combined with the absence of a few tough teams from last year’s roster and a few more younger wrestlers, I was doubtful of whether this year’s camp would meet the expectations and standards that where set with last year’s camp.  While the dynamics and age groups changed a bit this year, the hard work and effort put in hadn’t dropped an ounce, which showed in each session, most particularly in the last morning run session when it would have been just as easy to give up or sleep in.  Making the little things count was this year’s theme, and this year’s group did just that.  As with most years and the time of year, the heat played a huge factor in your safety and performance.  As most parents do, we were constantly harping on you to drink more and more water, and to get as much rest as possible.  After the first day, I could see the change in your faces as you began to actually believe what we were saying, and you could physically tell that we weren’t just speaking for our own good.  But even through the blistering heat, you pushed forward like all champions do and you focused on the task at hand.

This year’s list of clinicians was once again a seasoned cast, lead by the new faces of Daniel DeShazer Jr. of Oklahoma University/Wichita Heights, and Garrett Jones of Fort Hays State University/Arkansas City High School. Both of these clinicians have grown up in the AA camp, both being campers at a very young age and through high school.  What better way for you to learn than from actual wrestlers that have been coached with similar foundations and styles, while still having their own individual twists that they provide to make themselves into the top performers that they are.   The phrase “Success breeds success” was oh so true with this year’s combination of staff and wrestler’s. Along with these youngsters, we also showcased some “old school” talent as well with coach and UFC fighter Tim Elloitt. Tim grew up with the All American camp, and has succeeded at every level of competition that he has went up against in wrestling, and is now focusing on sharpening his MMA skills with a recently signed contract with the UFC.  We have been honored to have been able to watch Tim grow and succeed in all of his endeavors, and we enjoy having him back and watching him give back to so many young wrestlers.  He is a great role model for the younger generation and works great with the campers no matter what the age or level. 

The rest of the staff was back as well, with plenty of the old faces that have been with the camp since its inception, and this year’s staff featured a few local faces that are currently wrestling on the college level.  Kash Biddle, Sterling Terry, Colby Waters, Tyler McMichael, and Lucas Hockenbury , all former Ark City Bulldog wrestlers, and Goddard standout Mitchell Means, were on hand as counselors and got a taste of the other side of the camp, as all were former campers like Jones, DeShazer, and Elliott.  “Actually we had the biggest staff that we have ever had to date, so it was a great chance to get a lot of individual coaching, even with so many wrestlers. I attribute the success to this camp due to the clinicians and type of coaching that they get with each session.  While most camps focus on big name draws or lots of live wrestling, the All American camp does a great job of teaching technique, and then going forward and implementing that same technique in actual situations during live sessions.  Our coaches do a great job of working with the wrestlers while they are at camp so that they are better prepared to work on those same techniques when they get home.”  stated Biddle, Camp Director.

This year’s list of Camp Champions was led by Cody Eastman, an upcoming senior and state finalist for the defending 5A State Champion Ark City Bulldogs.  Followed by another 5A State Champion, Nick Meck from Topeka Shawnee Heights, 5A State Placer Issac Rusell from Emporia High School, Fischer Medland from Wagnor High School, and Micheal Hamilton from Bartlesville High School. All champions had plenty of competition to push them for the honor, but these five young men set the tone throughout the camp not only in practices, but during the off times as well.