Learning From The Best
BUTLER TWP — In town for the Pittsburgh Dapper Dan banquet, off to Philadelphia for a camp, back to Pittsburgh for the NCAA Championships, out to Colorado Springs to train, preparing to go to Argentina to compete in the Pan-Am Championships ... Kyle Snyder's schedule is rather hectic.
But the three-time NCAA wrestling champion and Olympic gold medalist found time to stop at Butler High School for a two-hour mat clinic Sunday afternoon.
And cherished it.
“I love working with kids,” said Snyder, who graduated from Ohio State last year. “I wish I could do it more often.
“I've been wrestling since I was 5. A lot of people helped me learn and grow in the sport. Looking back at that, I've always wanted to do the same.”
That's one of the reasons Snyder — as part of a sponsor deal with a wrestling clothing and shoe line — agreed to put on free clinics for the three people who found a gold ticket inside their new wrestling shoes.
Those tickets were randomly placed in three of 5,000 pairs of wrestling shoes nationwide. Butler Junior High mat coach Donnie Geibel happened to find one of them in a pair of wrestling shoes he bought last September.
Snyder put on one of the other two free clinics earlier this year in North Carolina. He will be heading to Las Vegas later in the year to do the other one.
Wrestlers from elementary through high school, coaches and parents came from all over the region to learn from Snyder. Kids were on hand from West Allegheny, Shaler, Indiana, Clarion and Laurel, among other areas.
Sharon High School coach Dave Ciafre, in his 28th year, brought 17 kids down for the clinic.
“If they learn one thing from him, it's worth it,” Ciafre said. “This guy is one of the best there is.
“I plan to pick up some things from him that I can pass along to our wrestlers as a coach, too. This sport is evolving all of the time and I want to stay with it.”
Butler assistant coach Fred Powell — who has spent decades coaching the sport — said it was important for the kids to see “this type of energy, to be part of a championship atmosphere.
“You can always learn new things in wrestling. This guy is one of the best in the nation, one of the best in the world. Who better to learn from?”
So as Snyder spoke of ankle picks, thumb locks and other technique, he held the attention of wrestlers from age 6 to high school seniors.
“They are all so focused,” Snyder said. “I love that. Working with the young kids is the best because, first, they're funny — and they're mold-able.
“They haven't reached high school yet. I feel like I can make an impact on their lives.”
Butler wrestling coach Scott Stoner could only smile as Snyder spoke of technique on the mat — the same technuique he and his staff emphasize every day in the wrestling room.
“As Kyle spoke and described things, a lot of our kids here shot a glance at me and smiled,” Stoner said. “We're not reinventing the wheel here.
“The kids are locked in on him as he says some of the same things, demonstrating some of the same moves we've been doing. But this is reinforcement and that's all good.
“Especially when it's coming from a guy who's done what Kyle Snyder has done,” Stoner added.
