Snyder Helps Kick Off Wheeling Jesuit Wrestling Camp
EDITORS NOTE: This the first in a three-part series about Kyle Snyder’s quest for a Gold medal in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. The Ohio State University NCAA champion was at Wheeling Jesuit University Sunday to begin the three-day WJU Wrestling Camp.
WHEELING — Kyle Snyder is a busy man these days. After all, he’s preparing for a chance to have a Gold medal placed around his neck in late August when he competes in Rio de Janeiro as a member of the USA Olympic wrestling team.
However, the highly decorated wrestler at The Ohio State University found time to kick off the third annual Wheeling Jesuit University Wrestling Camp on Sunday afternoon. The three-day event continues through Tuesday inside the Alma Grace McDonough Center on the WJU campus just off of Washington Avenue in The Friendly City.
“I just happened to be free this weekend, so I thought it would be a good chance to come here and teach the kids about wrestling,” Snyder said.
His message to the campers was plain and simple.
“Number one is to just have fun,” he said. “Don’t really worry about the wins and losses as much and focus on your effort. Try to improve as much as you can. Camps like this are good for young kids because they can learn a lot if they want to.
“Wheeling Jesuit is bringing in a lot of fine wrestlers and the kids can learn from them. They can also have fun while learning and I make sure its as fun for them as it is for me.
“Number two, is to find something that you love and work as hard as you possibly can to be the best you can possibly be in whatever you chose. My thing is wrestling and that is what I love to do, so I try to work as hard as I can to become the best possible wrestler I can be.
“If your thing is teaching or being an engineer, then work as hard as you possibly can to become the best one you can be.”
Snyder, who won the 2016 NCAA national heavyweight championship in March, started wrestling at the age of 5, so he knows the importance of working with the younger kids.
“It’s real important. I remember being young and being exposed to a couple of wrestlers. I always thought it was fun to meet them, talk to them and learn from them,” Snyder reflected back. “I’m glad I can give back in the same way.”
Snyder is the third elite wrestler that Doyle has been able to lure to Ohio County. Cornell’s four-time NCAA titlist Kyle Dake was the first, with Penn State’s three-time NCAA champion Ed Ruth and Ohio State’s Bo Jordan visiting last year.
“This is an amazing opportunity for kids in the Ohio Valley, young and old, because the younger ones will appreciate it even more after Kyle’s career is done,” WJU head coach Sean Doyle said. “Just to have access to somebody like that and be able to be face-to-face with him while learning.”
Doyle said WJU set the tone early on that it wanted to bring the best wrestlers in the nation — and world — to the camp.
“This is the third time we’ve had a celebrity-like wrestler as our featured clinician,” Doyle said. “Should Kyle win the Gold medal, this will be a memory these kids won’t soon forget.”
Snyder was joined by his younger brother, Kevin, who is also a Buckeyes’ signee, and is taking classes to become eligible for the 2016-17 season. They are from Woodbine, Md.
“It’s a lot of fun to have him here with me because he works really hard,” Snyder said. “I think he is going to have a bright future at Ohio State.”
Doyle was shocked when the pair walked in.
“We had no idea he was bringing his brother. Having him here is an added bonus.”
Close to 150 campers were on hand as seven mats were spread out around the McDonough Center. Scheduled to make an appearance today is Myles Martin who also won an individual NCAA title this year for the Buckeyes. He became the 15th true freshman to win a national title. Two-time NCAA champion Gabe Dean, of Cornell, is slated to make an appearance on Wednesday.
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