Coach G's luau is scheduled for the Sat of Labor Day weekend, Aug 30th, beginning at 6pm.

Coach G's surf camp went off without a hitch on Sat, August 9th. 18 wrestlers and their families enjoyed cooler but fun surf all day long at Assateaque Island National Seashore. A number of SMWC's youth, high school, college wrestlers, and parents hit the surf early and managed to catch plenty of waves. The weather didn't cooperate very well with a very slight breeze and some sprinkles during the day. Coach G's big tent awning kept the drops off everyone plus the sides blocked the breeze and kept it warm inside. One interesting note was that except for Mike Rowe, the DeMatha boys had a rough time and didn't last long. Mike seemed to think it was due to being up very late the night before. Coach G did see Mike, Nathan Peck, Steve Sargent and Kevin each catch good size outside waves and ride them all the way inside. Good job all.

SMWC would like to congratulate our new USAW All-Americans, Ronnie Mills, Walt Hoffman, and Mike Cannon, and also our 5th USAW Cadet National Champion, Mike Row (right from the MSWA website). Great job all of you.

2003 inductees into the SMWC Hall-of-Fame are Dru Robertson and Jason Kiessling.

Coach G returned from CA July 10th. While there he worked at the Granby Camp in Huntington Beach and presented a session during a camp at Foothill HS.

SMWC's Corey Keener and Eric Hoffman won AAU Grand Nationals in Virginia Beach over the July 4th holidays.

SMWC's Eli Black and Mike Cannon placed 3rd and 4th respectively at the NHSCA Open Nationals.

Good size turnout for our final season practice June 25th at Stone. So long for summer.

SMWC's Corey Keener won the MAWA F/S and Greco championships held in Wilmington Deleware on 21 and 22 June.

SMWC winners at the East Coast FS Club Championships included Jake Smith, Eric Hoffman, Mike Cannon, Mike Rowe, Corey Bowers, Derek McDermott, Brent Jones, and Scott McAdoo. Team scores were SMWC 88, Team Delaware 87, Olney Mat Club 83, and Pikesville Mat Club 37. Good job all.

SMWC's Nicole Woody placed fourth at the Cadet Ladies International Championships. The USA Women's Cadet Team placed second over all. The competition was in Goetz, Austria. She was giving up 10 lbs.

Good but smaller turnout for Coach G's return to practice following his surgery June 11th. Several state HS and Beltway champs still showing up. Practices will continue on Monday and Wednesday for the rest of the month unless participation drops to 8 or less. If so practice will be cancelled for the remainder of the season.

Several members receive funding for national events: According to the SMWC Constitution and Bylaws, active club members who qualify to participate in major national events or activities can receive funding donations at the end of the regular spring season if funding is available. The SMWC Board of Directors met recently and voted funding for the following members: Walt Hoffman, Mike Rowe, Nicole Woody, Matt/Brent Jones, and Jonathan Farrenger. Note that criteria for funding includes being a current member in good standing as well as regular participation at club practices. Members who need fundraising activities should consider that participation is just one more way to reduce your costs, Note that our club has several members going to various events who didn't attend enough practices to receive funding.

There is a full time teaching position (in PE) and a wrestling coaching job that has opened for next fall at a local private high school. A certificate is not needed. Contact Coach G if you are interested.

SMWC's Corey Keener defended his AAU USA Ironman World Champion Title in Knoxville TN on May 24,25,26. He won national titles in Greco and Folkstyle and placed second in Freestyle.

Coach G had a short article in the travel section of the May 23rd USA Today.

Mary Woody sent the following note about Nicole who is currently in Colorado Springs at the Olympic Training Camp. "Nicole is having a great time. She said she has learned some good stuff. She is the smallest one out there. Nicole went a Bible study at the training center. She walked in with a SMWC shirt on. One of the residents came over to talk to her. He told her he was a wrestler and from MD and wrestled for SMWC. It was Mike Faust. He sent a hello to William in Iraq and took Nicole the next day to the men's Greco and Freestyle practice to meet the men's team. Nicole will be home Sunday night. She feels her time out there is way to short..so she is planning to go out there more often."

Strong turnout May 21st at our Stone practice. In one group there were 3 state champs and a state runner-up pounding each other. Rudy and Eli had a couple of intense head-to-heads. Still plenty of smaller members at practice as well.

SMWC winners at McDonogh included: Mike Cannon, Derek McDermott, Randy Oates, Mike Rowe, Rudy Rueda, Walter Hoffman, and Ryan Herwig. Mike Cannon also won most falls. The same weekend Corey Keener won the Paulsbor New Jersey freestyle tournament.

Due to decreasing numbers at our Northwestern practices, Thursday will be our last organized practice for the season. We will continue with our Stone practices as they continue to generate good turnouts. See you all in the fall.

Big weekend for SMWC wrestlers. SMWC's Brent Jones won VA Freestyle States and Greco States. Nicole Woody and Corey Keener placed first at the Solanco, PA Freestyle tournament. Ryan Buff was taken to the hospital by ambulance from the tournament. He was sent home this afternoon with his neck in a brace. There is no bone damage but it looks like a muscle tear. And finally, SMWC Hall-of-Fame Member Mike Faust placed at US Nationals in Las Vegas.

SMWC's William McKinney (left) sends news from the front. He is homesick and wants to get back to using regular wrestling equipment (instead of his current equipment) soon.

SMWC Team Photographer Kim Gabrielson has been nominated for the USAW Outstanding Photographer Award for 2003. She leaves tomorrow for US Nationals as the photographer for Dave Schultz Wrestling Club. The award winner will be announced at the USAW Dinner on Saturday night. Good luck Kim.

SMWC senior Derek McDermott has signed to attend Millersville University next fall. SMWC Hall-of-Fame Member and former Head SMWC Coach Jason Gabrielson will be his new coach. SMWC's Walt Hoffman has decided to enlist in the Airforce.

SMWC winners at the AAU Maryland State Frestyle/Greco Championships and War-on-the-Shore this past weekend included Derek McDermott, Ryan Buff, and Mike Cannon.

SMWC's Corey Keener took 1st at the MAWA FS Tournament in Wilmington, Deleware on 4 May 2003. At the tournament he sprained his knee and will not be able to practice again until 13 May when he returns to the doctor.

Even with Rudy a no-show and Eli getting hurt in his first match (but still getting a pin), the Virginia Freestyle Duals on Sunday at Hayfield HS proved to be a tough but successful challenge for the SMWC high school team. Two members, Lucus Black and Derek McDermott (right) had outstanding performances, plus Chad NKing had the luckiest matches of the day. SMWC finished in 3rd place in the seven team draw. Many high school state champs and place finishers competed. SMWC's team (at left) included:
Coach G, 101 - Jonathan Farringer, 106 - Lucas Black, 115 - Chris Willig, 122 - Ryan Buff, 128 - Mike Cannon, 133 - John Loss, 138 - Derek McDermitt, 143 - DeOlanzo Jackson, 148 - forfeit, 155 - Eli Black, 163 - forfeit, 174 - Randy Oats, 192 - Tommy Priestley, 218 - Chad NKing, HWT - Zak Adomanis

SMWC's Ryan Buff won MAWA Eastern Nationals this past weekend. In other tournaments, SMWC's Cory Keener and Ried Brown won Nova I F/S and Greco tournament on 12 April 2003 held at Stonewall Jackson HS. SMWC winners at Severna Park included Mat Anderson, Michael Cannon, Eli Black, Ryan Herwig, and Drew Baldauf.

SMWC's Nicole Woody won USA Middle School Women's Freestyle Nationals. She teched and pinned everyone she wrestled. She also won FILA Cadet Nationals this past weekend and will be wrestling June 11-19, 2003 in The Cadet Ladies Internationals Gotzis, Austria. With the win she also gets free access to the Olympic Training Centers for one year.

SMWC Hall-of-Fame Member Mike Rowe has been selected to receive the 2003 NWCA Wrestler of the Year Award for Maryland. Good job Mike.

Great job 2003 Washington Post All-Met and SMWC member wrestlers: 1st Team - Mike Rowe, Cam Watkins, Derek McDermott, Rudy Rueda, Sonny Nucci, Eli Black, and Chad Nkang. Second Team - Walt Hoffman. Third Team - Ronnie Mills, Mike Cannon, Tod Smoot, Ryan Buff, Marco Priolo, Dirk Hurrin, John Villanueva, Mike Vachon, Brent Jones, and Matt Parsons.

SMWC's Marc Hoffer put on another great clinic for SMWC members at our Northwestern practice on April 8th. A large group learned Marc's underhook and inside attack takedown series.

Finally - the results from River Hill are available. SMWC had 14-1st, 2-2nds, and 1-3rd so far as we could tell without all the open results. It should have put us in first place team wise.

Despite not having the throwing mats available, SMWC's Jim Howard (right with Ryan Buff) put on an interesting Greco-Roman and freestyle clinic on Monday at our Thomas Stone practice. Among the moves Jim showed were his arm spins and set-ups plus a very tight reverse head lock.

SMWC's Firen Brown-Gassman placed first in Greco and Freestyle at the Short Pump Classic in Richmond, Va. April 5. Both she and Nicole Woody have been invited to train this summer at the Colorado Olympic training center.

Long time SMWC member Brian Paige found a very old article about our beltway team when we were called the Bowie Junior Wrestling Team that you will all find very interesting. We were a contender in 1987 just like today.

The Pennsylvania freestyle team duals SMWC was invited to are scheduled for Sat, May 17th. This is the day before the FS State Championships at McDonogh. If there is any interest in wrestling two days in a row, contact Coach G or Coach K immediately.

SMWC's Marc Hoffer (at left with Derrik McDermott and on the right with Coach G), currently Asst. Coach at American University, put on a great freestyle and folkstyle clinic at our Thomas Stone practice on Monday night, March 31st. Mark showed a series of defensive moves to use against opponents using leg takedown attacks, then showed two very strong freestyle scoring attacks to use when your opponent is on the mat. Mark also wants to remind everyone about the International Dual between the USA and Germany to be held April 12th at American Univ. - Bender Arena and that American University will host a Mark Cody's American Wrestling Camp featuring many recognized wrestling greats over 4 sessions from June 29th to July 6th.

SMWC's Nicole Woody and Firen Brown-Gassman are SMWC's newest national champs. Nicole won the 85 pound weight class March 29th in MI in the USGWA Folkstyle Nationals while Firen won at 90 lbs. Prior to the nationals, Nicole placed first at the Shippensburg, PA tournament on March 1, 2003. Good job both of you.

SMWC's Jason Kiessling will help Coach G run the Northwestern practices beginning in April.

If there is sufficient interest, SMWC will hold a free freestyle interclub tournament on a open date this spring. We have three practice sites and should draw a good entry.

Good luck to SMWC's Walt Hoffman and Chad Nkang at HS Nationals in Pittsburgh this weekend. Bring home the gold.

Due to bad weather and even worse traffic, SMWC Hall-of-Fame Member Jim Howard (right) was unable to put on the high amplitude throwing and Greco-Roman clinic he promised us for March 26th. He did finally arrive, but too late for us to watch his famous arm spins and other moves. All is not lost however as we have rescheduled his Thomas Stone clinic for Monday, April 7th.

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