Forty-seven children ages 7-12 participated in Lakota Tech College's Tatanka Tough Wrestling Camp.
WOLF CREEK – On Wednesday, July 10, 47 youths between the ages of 7 and 12 gathered at Lakota Tech High School for the Tatanka Tah Youth Wrestling Camp. Twenty-three girls and 24 boys participated, with nearly half (23) having no prior wrestling experience. Eight schools participated: Pine Ridge, Wolf Creek, Rocky Ford, Batesland, Isna Wika Owayawa, Gordon/Rushville, Elkton and Martin. The camp lasted four hours from 1-5 p.m. and included exercises, introductions to wrestling, games, drills and wrestling demonstrations.
The entire camp was coordinated by Dave “Bulldog” Michaud, who was selected as the assistant coach for the previous year, in collaboration with another assistant wrestling coach, Biden Palananski, and 10 Lakota Tech wrestling students, including Quante White-Bill, Jessica Waln, Jada Shelich, Elia Big Crow, Bruce Whelan, Colt Fox, Jerick Thompson, Cody Provost, Tyrone Janis and Derrick Merival.
“We really wanted to attract kids who had never wrestled before, and they had fun. We trained them, we played games. It was a good introduction. They got used to hitting each other, they learned how to fall, they threw each other around and had fun and realized they weren't hurting each other,” Bulldog said. “Once girls' wrestling was sanctioned as its own sport in high school, we just had girls wrestling each other. Every year the participation doubled. Not just here, but all over the country, girls see their friends wrestling, they start slamming each other and having a good time. The participation went up. Many had never even thought about wrestling, but when they tried it, they enjoyed it.”
At Lakota Tech, Dave always invites kids to come and try out. If you're not playing a sport, just give it a go, Bulldog added. Half the kids who came had never wrestled before, and the other half came to learn something new. If 10 to 15 of the new wrestlers stick around through the school year, that's great.
“We started with warm-ups, then takedowns, then real wrestling. We took a break to play some games and have some snacks, then warmed up again, did some bottom wrestling, practiced escapes and reversals. It was a great experience for the kids,” said Lakota Tech wrestling coach Dave Michaud. “We had about 15-20 parents watching their kids. A few kids said wrestling wasn't for them, but a few didn't want to go home. We hired some high school wrestlers to coach, which was great for the coaches, too. They got to show different moves in person, and it was a great experience for them to interact with the kids, show them and teach the younger kids.”
Red Dawn Foster came down from Manderson with a van full of kids. She wants to get WKDS involved in AAU wrestling again. We had a representative come out from the Siouan Center and hand out pamphlets and T-shirts. Added Michaud, “We're starting AAU wrestling in Wolf Creek, Rocky Ford and Batesland. We'd love to see it grow.”
Youth who participated included Wolf Creek Paisley Bad Yellow Hare, Timothy Janis, Jaleo Jumping Eagle, A-Rayna Fast Wolf, Riley Brown, Alex Fire Thunder, Wakyan Iron Cloud, Neil Tiger, Andreia Bagora, Andraraja Bagora, Milicale Pedragon, Emma Gibbons, Alexia Chandler, Tokahe Waters, Sapphire Chandler, Sadie Rogers, Chloe Rogers, Aries Corvine, Rockyford Brighton Black Bull, Dre Jumping Eagle, Mercedes Provost, Oren Provost,
Ryker Provost, Tawny Jandreau, Hazel Angel. Lone Man-Kito Wolf, Emerilito Wolf, Ethan Fast Wolf, Cruz Clifford, Noah Phils the Pipe. Bennett County-Wiley Mae, Tripp Hahn, Kace Lesmeister, Crew Lesmeister, Batesland-Pearl Slow Bear, Ash Condon, Marcus Condon, Johntrell Two Eagles, Elpkton-Irving Jumping Eagle, Lakota Tech-Rosanna Chase Alone, Gordon/Rushville-Brock Fish, Fen Fish, Bruin Fish, Wounded Knee-Teton White Hawk, Richie Chase Alone.
