My first wrestling camp was at Palomar College. Jesse Mindlin picked me up in his old Toyota pickup and drove me to Palomar College, 20 minutes from Encinitas. It was the summer after seventh grade. I was an eighth-grader and he was a fresh graduate of the San Dieguito high school. I remember being in that huge dome and still remember some of the moves that I learned during that week. I then took a Iowa State camp with the legendary Bobby Douglas at Army Navy Academy. I remember Joe Hansen who would go on to placing at olympics, showing us his moves. I remember beating the Nevada State placer and making friends from La Costa Canyon who were there as well.
In 11th grade I went to the La Costa Canyon camp, where I was the dummy for another world team member, Joe Gonzalez. I can still remember the pain I was happy to receive ass he demonstrated on me.
Wrestling camps cemented in me the love for wrestling. They showed me of what I could become. They made for me the sport bigger than just our little wrestling room. They created these memories that I still cherish to this day.
That’s what I wanted to create for kids of San Diego. Why? Because all of those camps were far North of San Diego. Most kids in San Diego, especially those who live east of 15 and south of the 8 don’t have the opportunities for off-season wrestling or camps the way I did living in Encinitas. But they should. This is why three years ago (when COVID was still a thing), Coach Jack and I tried to put on a camp. We failed, but the idea didn’t go away. Thanks to a supportive district and Athletic Director Cody Clark, in one month, our dream will become a reality.
To make this a reality, we partnered with some of the best wrestlers in the area, including an All American Mateo Olmos, World Beach Wrestling Silver Medalist, Bakersfield wrestler and coach of Palomar College Tim Box, State Champ, Caly Poly and La Costa Canyon grad and San Marcos Head Coach Ryan Williams.
We are making an affordable, and local camp for wrestlers in San Diego, who don’t have opportunities to travel. They get to make friends, learn from the best, improve their skills and have fun.
Since we have a beach wrestling coach, we decided to also introduce kids of San Diego to the Beach Wrestling style, making final day of the camp a Beach BBQ and Beach Wrestling outing.
Wrestling became a defining part of my life. It has created relationships, memories and skills I use every day. Camps helped me become the team captain and CIF placer, we hope that our Champ Camp will do the same for all the kids who may not have had the chance for one.
And what happened to Jesse? Well he became the coach at Torrey Pines and then an official in San Diego for many years after. I would find him time and again on the mat as I coached at one school or another, always a warm handshake and a smile, forged on that wrestling room under the Palomar College dome.
If you have a wrestler between seventh and 12th grade graduates, sign them up today. Prices go up on August 1st. Spots are limited.
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