ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, March 28, 1996 TAG: 9603280043
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
SOURCE: JENNIFER MASON STAFF WRITER
Keith Mourlam wants the young wrestlers he's working with today to grapple for Virginia Tech tomorrow.
That's why Mourlam, Tech's assistant wrestling coach, is developing a youth wrestling program in the New River Valley.
The VA Tek Youth Wrestling Team, launched in December, is meant to complement, not compete, with existing programs in the area, he said. Sponsored by Virginia Tech, the year-round program targets third- through eighth-graders (ages 10 to 14) and features twice-a-week practices in the Tech wrestling practice room.
Mourlam is a hands-on coach; he gets down on the mat to teach technique.
The young wrestlers are involved all through the practice, held in a room padded from floor to ceiling to prevent injury. They intently watch each move and then spend a few minutes drilling with it. Parents may watch the practice, giving them the opportunity to learn the sport, too.
Blake Frost, 13, likes the program because it is structured. The coaches and the athletes take wrestling seriously and work toward a common goal - to gain experience. "You don't mess around, you just wrestle, " Frost said.
Preston Hall, 12, wants to go to the big events with his team. He said he enjoys the new friends he's made: "We have a good team. I really like to tangle with Blake, he is one of my best friends."
Parents back up the coaches' and wrestlers' hard work. John Hall, Preston's father, helped Mourlam start the program. A Tech graduate, Hall wants to "draw in a group of kids in a 50-mile radius from the university."
Mourlam also wants to promote Tech wrestling in the area. He hopes that more high school wrestlers will choose to go to Virginia universities to compete. That would strengthen state programs as a whole and bring more recognition to the sport.
Originally from Webster City, Iowa, Mourlam began his college career in 1973 at the University of Iowa. His senior year he wrestled for Dan Gable and between 1973 and 1977 he was a member of two national teams. After graduating, he competed with the Hawkeye Wrestling Club, which competes at the Olympic level, and was an assistant coach at the University of Northern Iowa. In 1989 he started his own youth club and coached the Hawkeye Club. He also returned to the University of Iowa as an assistant coach.
David Argabright and his son, Brad, see Mourlam's experience as a plus. "This is a tremendous opportunity to get this level of coaching," Argabright said. "It is a great sport because dad and son can be physical together. [It is] healthy for the boys to have this contact with the dad."
For Brad, 11, the appeal is in the physicality of the sport.
Mourlam hopes to see wrestling become a more popular sport in Virginia. He wants the commonwealth's collegiate programs to compete with schools known to be powerhouses, such as Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania and Penn State. "You are only as good as your competition," he said.
Starting at a younger age, with youth clubs, would strengthen high school programs. But coaches and wrestlers can't do it alone. "You need community involvement to have a good program," Mourlam said.
LENGTH: Medium: 69 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ALAN KIM/Staff. Preston Hall (left) and Jackie Toney getby CNBin some live wrestling under the watchful eyes of Keith Mourlam.
Mourlam usually spends 40 minutes teaching techniques, then the kids
get to spend the rest of the hour live wrestling. 2. Keith Mourlam
(left) gets down on the mat with 82-pounder Blake Frost to
demonstrate a freestyle hold, the "ankle lace". Watching them are
Jackie Toney, 10, of Radford (upper left), and Preston Hall, 12, of
Blacksburg.