Greencastle Junior Wrestling scores successes at league championships

The Greencastle Junior Wrestling organization recently finished a promising first season in the Central Pennsylvania Wrestling League with eight finalists placing in the League Championship held Saturday, March 3, at Delone Catholic High School in McSherrystown.

Championship place winners included: Bantam 40 pound class - Lance Overcash, second place and Garrett Decker, third place; Bantam 60 pound class - Mason Booze, third place; Midget 50 pound class - Owen Leydig, third place, Midget 93 pound class - Ryan Ramirez, fourth place; Intermediate 136 pound class - Demetrius Burton, first place; Intermediate 146 pound class - Colton Osenbaugh, second place; and Intermediate UNL class - Bryce Fisher, first place.

“We are proud of the whole team,” commented head coach, Brian Booze, “the boys all worked hard, produced a lot of wins and showed progress throughout the season.  We were wrestling in one of the toughest divisions in the league, and I think it all culminated in our showing at the championships, where we went up against 20 other premier teams and came away with great results.”

The junior wrestling program began practices in December and attended meets almost every Saturday through January and February.  Additional events included attending a middle school/high school meet as a team, a clinic with guest Tyler Erdman, collegiate All-American wrestler, and an end of the season banquet.  The team consists of 45 youths ranging in age from kindergarten to sixth-grade, supported by 13 volunteer coaches including Brian Booze, head coach; Attilio Paci, assistant coach; and Matt Jansen, coach and board president.

“Wrestling is a challenging sport,” noted Jansen, “it can be tough for parents to watch their kids go out there and face an adversary on his own and it takes courage for a youngster to step out on that mat by themselves, in front of all of those people.  But the rewards are self-confidence, discipline, and physical fitness.  There's not another sport out there that can so uniquely prepare you for life.”

The organization noted the following local businesses that sponsored the team, including Nolan Masonry; Arnoult Law Office, LLC; CEBCO Village Mart; Strait Steel, Inc.; CEB Motors; Peak Performance Physical Therapy; Paci Chiropractic; Eiker's Quality Car Care; and Stouffer Mechanical Contractor.

Greencastle Junior Wrestling welcomes more wrestlers, volunteers, and sponsors for the 2012 season. Registration will begin in the fall.