Erin Phipps USA Wrestling
The Boston Center for Youth and Families will receive the first Stance in Motion Scholarship from Massachusetts USA Wrestling, the state association for USA Wrestling. This creative program will strengthen and build the sport in the state.
The Boston Center for Youth and Families will use the scholarship money to introduce the Boston Neighborhood Wrestling Program, which will provide approximately 100 youth wrestlers, ages 10-14, with the opportunity to participate in the sport. At this time, there will be no charge to wrestlers to participate in the new program.
“For the past three years, Massachusetts USA Wrestling has been working diligently to create a strong financial base in order to support the development of amateur wrestling in the state of Massachusetts,” said Aaron Polansky, State Chairperson for Massachusetts USA Wrestling (MA USAW).
The Boston Recreation Department has volunteered three Boston Community Centers for use in the program. The sites to be used include the W. Roxbury High School Community Center in West Roxbury, the Tobin Community Center in Mission Hill and the “L” Street Community Center in South Boston. The fourth site will be hosted at Boston Univ., and will be organized by Carl Adams, the head wrestling coach at Boston Univ.
Each site will host 25 wrestlers and hold practice sessions twice a week for 90 minutes, beginning around 4 p.m. or 5 p.m. Practice sessions are scheduled to start in mid-March and end the last week of April. At the conclusion of the program, wrestlers will compete in a tournament. A host site has yet to be determined for the competition.
In support of the new wrestling project, Dollamur Mat Surfaces and World Wide Sport Supply are both sponsoring the Boston Neighborhood Wrestling Program with donations. Dollamur Mat Surfaces will be contributing a new wrestling mat and World Wide Sport Supply will provide over 100 of the youth wrestlers with their uniforms and headgear.
The $10,000 scholarship will be presented on March 11 at the first ever Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association Dual Meet State Tournament Finals at Hudson High School. This is the inaugural year for the scholarship and the tournament, but both are intended to be annual events.
MA USAW is responsible for furthering the development of amateur wrestling in the state of Massachusetts. The organization has been able to do so financially through fundraisers such as the upcoming IRONMAN Tournament, held May 19-21 at Hudson High School, and the USA Wrestling Gold Tournament at the Hopkinton Country Club on May 22.
“Through the implementation of our IRONMAN Tournament Series, our Coaches Education Programs, our Spring and Summer Tournament schedule and several other wrestling-based initiatives, we have raised the finances to support the implementation of a full wrestling program on an annual basis,” Polansky said.
“The Massachusetts USA Wrestling Board of Directors has taken a strong stance on the importance of our grass roots programs. We are so proud to be sponsoring the Stance in Motion program, which will increase opportunities for Massachusetts youth wrestlers and coaches,” he said.
The Stance in Motion Scholarship is given out through an application process. The 2006 recipient was chosen out of a pool of 15 applicants. Garin Veris, a former member of the New England Patriots and current Director of Recreation for the City of Boston, applied for the scholarship on behalf of the Boston Centers for Youth and Families.
Interested groups wishing to start up new programs may apply for a Stance in Motion starter package. Those interested in applying for the Stance in Motion Scholarship, or contributing to the program should contact Aaron Polansky at 197 Flint Road, Charlton, MA 01507.
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