From Sledgehammers to Camp Wrestling Team Having Productive Summer

The summer has shaped up as a very productive one for Westfield High School wrestling coach Glen Kurz and his team.

The Blue Devils have been at two camps already at The College of New Jersey and Rutgers University, and will take part in the annual Old Bridge Summer Duals starting Monday at Old Bridge High School. The team also competed in the Madison High School duals and has worked out at Governor Livingston and Rahway high schools.

Kurz has been very happy with the turnout and the commitment of his team. He said that the group has also been dedicated in showing up for team workouts at the high school. The team works out at school four days a week. They lift between 45 minutes to an hour and then get on the mat for about an hour and 15 minutes. One workout a week is dedicated to a different project including working out at the McKinley School playground or playing with sledgehammers and large tires.

"It's very good for team bonding and building,'' Kurz said. "They are really starting to get it. I really couldn't ask for a whole lot more.

"We're doing as much as anybody else,'' he added.

Kurz said the team had an "average'' outing at The College of New Jersey, but looked much better at Rutgers. The team won 10 of 13 dual meets at the four day camp led by senior-to-be Christian Barber, who has been very impressive
Barber, who has been wrestling at 160 pounds, was 14-1 at the camp.

"He had a great week,'' Kurz said.

Other Blue Devils like Mike Kalimtzis, Troy Skibitsky and Erik Gozdieski have been doing well. Those three and Barber were recently named captains for the 2010-2011 season. They have showed outstanding leadership, Kurz said. Between 18 and 20 Blue Devils have been showing up for workouts and the camps.

He said the team has been working especially hard in getting out from beneath their opponents; something the team was weak on last year. He said there has been improvement

"They have bought into it,'' Kurz said. "When we started doing this six or seven summers ago we were getting between five or six kids, but we have really built it up. The kids know they have to put the time in during the off season.''

The team will be tested in Old Bridge. The tournament ran from Monday through Thursday. Teams that have signed up so are: Bishop Ahr/J.P. Stevens, Edison/Highland Park, Governor Livingston, Hunterdon Central, John East Brunswick, Linden, Monroe,  Ocean, Old Bridge, Rahway, Sayreville, South Plainfield, South Brunswick and Woodbridge

South Plainfield was the top team in the state last year and Hunterdon Central is always a strong program.

"It's going to be good competition,'' Kurz said.