Brock Junior Badgers are back
E.L. Crossley’s Seth Ozog had a successful debut as a wrestler in his Grade 9 year.
The 17-year-old finished fifth at the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations championships and he was looking forward to a trip to Estonia with the Brock Junior Badgers Wrestling Club when COVID hit.
“It sucked,” he said.
He ended up turning to other things to take up his time.
“I just fished all the time with my dad,” Ozog said, with a smile.
Thankfully the Junior Badgers have resumed training and he is back to the sport he loves.
“It is demanding and physical and there is a lot to like about it. It is a tight-knit community and like a family.”
He is looking forward to getting his wrestling career back on track in 2023.
“I am hoping to go to OFSAA again and get into university through wrestling.”
BP Sports Niagara caught up with Ozog at a practice Tuesday at Eden. The club runs Mondays and Wednesdays at Thorold High, Tuesdays at Eden and Thursday at Blessed Trinity. Practices last from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
The club, which attracts athletes from the age of six and older, originated more than 30 years ago. That original club, founded by Richard DesChatelets, Sr., became the Brock Junior Badgers Wrestling Club about 20 years ago.
Before COVID, the club boasted between 45 and 50 wrestlers and now the club is at about 25-30 athletes.
“It is picking up because the word is getting out now that wrestling is back,” coach/administratorE.L.E.L.E.L.E.L.E.L.here was a block on the new generation coming in but the ones that wrestled before came back. Recruiting the newer kids is where we have to pick it up now.E.L.
Interested kids can come out and try the program for a few weeks at no charge.
“If they like it, they can join,” Gatta said.
He guarantees a lot of fun and fitness.
“For the kids, it’s more just games, We have a safe environment where there are crash mats and lots of soft cushioning for them to roll around. They will get to experience body awareness that is taught nowhere else.”
For more information about the club, visit the Junior Badgers Facebook or Instagram pages or contact Gatta at gatta@gattahomes.com.
The club will be hosting a Christmas camp for kids ages 7 to 17 at Brock University in the dance studio/wrestling room in the Walker Complex. The $40 cost includes a T-shirt. It will run Dec. 27-30 from noon until 2 p.m.
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