2012 Olympics, already? The time to train is now
It’s among the most grueling sports in the world, with next to no financial gain for any athlete beyond a college education or maybe a coaching job. They’re among the most disciplined, focused and intelligent athletes. And if you want to be an Olympic-caliber wrestler, you best get started yesterday.
I recently spent an afternoon at Ohio State’s wrestling room with two former college All-Amerians, former Buckeye JD Bergman and Edinboro’s Shawn Bunch. They’re the first two athletes taking part in the Ohio Regional Training Center. It’s a non-profit group aiming to financially support elite wrestlers aiming to compete at the world and Olympic level. The group, founded by Buckeye legend Tommy Rowlands, raises money to support athletes with a stipend and place to live so they can devote 100% of their lives toward their training. That means only the most elite wrestlers in the country would even be considered for this program. Bergman was a 3-time All-American at OSU, and despite several serious injuries remains one of the top ranked 212lb wrestlers in the world. Bunch is a former Pan-Am games champ and was an alternate on last year’s Beijing team.
It’s a also a huge opportunity for OSU’s growing wrestling program, national runners-up the past two seasons. They can now recruit kids not only to get their degree and wrestle for national titles there, now they have a program which allows them to train for Olympic success.
Ohiortc.com is their website… check it out and tell me these guys aren’t serious.
