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MATSIDE WRESTLING ACADEMY
Scroll down
the page for more information or click on one of the links below
to read more about that specific section:
1. What
is MatSide?
2. Who is MatSide Academy for?
3. When and Where is MatSide?
4. Head Coach Eric Akin
5. Other MatSide Staff and Guests
6. How much does it cost?
7. Why a wrestling academy?
8. How do I join?
9. Application Form
What is MatSide?
MatSide is an
academy designed to offer serious wrestlers the resources needed
to become a champion:
Cutting edge material from nationally recognized instructors
Live sparring with other wrestlers their level
Character building strength training and conditioning
‘Wrestling specific’ nutritional advice
Training sessions/clinics when clubs and schools are closed Competitions
vs. other clubs and academies
Guest collegiate and world-class wrestlers
MatSide offers
technique and training sessions in addition to your club or team
practices, and does not have staff that travels to or coaches at
tournaments on a regular basis. However, MatSide members are welcome
to compete for Team MatSide at tournaments.
Who
is MatSide Academy for?
MatSide is for serious wrestlers beyond the beginner skill level
and for individuals who posses the ability to listen, learn, and
work at somewhat accelerated paces. This includes:
8th graders and younger who desire any of the following: Pre-season
tune up and training
Extra training through out their folk style and free style seasons
Training sessions available from September through July Attend MatSide
weekly in addition to their local club during the season
High school
wrestlers who desire any of the following: Pre-season tune up and
training
Extra free style and Greco roman training after the season
(By school rules HS wrestlers are not allowed to participate
during the HS wrestling season).
When and Where is MatSide?
*** NOTE: Matside Wrestling
Academy adds another site!!
Monday nights 6:30pm - 8pm
Paola, KS Wrestling Room
$10/session
Sessions Begin:
September 22 for the 2004-2005 season.
Sundays 6:15pm
to 8:15pm Wednesdays 6pm to 8pm.
Scheduled Session Dates Through March 30th:
September 22, 26, 29
October 3, 6, 10, 13, 17, 20, 24, 27, 31
November 3, 7, 10, 14, 17, 21
December 1, 5, 8, 12, 15, 19, 22, 29
January 2, 5, 9, 12, 16, 19, 23, 26, 30
February 2, 6, 9, 13, 16, 20, 23, 27
March 2, 6, 9, 13, 16, 20, 23, 27, 30
*Dates beyond these to be posted later.
Location: Private training facility, 3 miles off Kansas Highway
10,
between Desoto and Eudora.
*In order to
accommodate other areas and enrollment, an additional site offered
on different evenings is in progress . . . but is no guarantee for
the 2004-2005 season.
Head
Coach Eric Akin
Academy Goals
Eric’s
goals regarding the academy are big yet simply put;
“Produce
wrestling champions at every age level from kids to Olympic caliber
. . . and help many young men earn college scholarships and free
educations.”
Implement multiple
sites for the academy
Competitions with other academies and quality clubs
Frequent visits from top level guest clinicians and teachers
Full-time post college graduate wrestlers that compete nationally
& coach academy.
Coaching &
Training History
Coach Akin is 1st on the all-time win list at Bishop Miege HS, and
is 7th on ISU’s list.
Eric has played instrumental roles at all experience and age levels:
He has been a key player on the coaching staff for Team Kansas since
the early ‘90s.
Akin was a post graduate staff and training partner first at Iowa
State and then at Iowa.
Eric moved back to the KC area from 1997 to 2000 to continue his
Olympic training.
During that time Akin trained with and “chiseled” on
a good handful of standouts who were going through their high school
developmental stage: Zach Roberson, Joe Johnston, Justin Dyer, Zach
Allen, Chris McCormick, and many other standouts from the East Kansas
Club . . . the club Akin’s father established in 1985.
Coach Akin then
spent 4 years (2000-2004) on the coaching staff at the University
of Nebraska. Akin served as the light weight coach and was a major
influence on the success of Husker national champion Jason Powell
. . . the first NCAA champion since the beginning of coach Manning’s
era as the Husker wrestling coach.
What coaches and wrestlers say about coach Akin:
“Eric
has been a huge part of producing wrestling champions in the eastern
Kansas area since he stepped foot on the mat twenty five years ago.”
-Zach Roberson, NCAA Champion for Iowa State
“Along
with coach Klemm, he made a huge impact on the area when he returned
in the late ‘90s to coach and train with the East Kansas Club.
It’s the toughest era the club has ever produced.”
-Scott Rieck, Head coach Pittsburg HS
“Eric
has left a trail of high school and college standouts wherever he
has ventured in wrestling.”
-Ted Witulski, National Coaches Education Program USA Wrestling
“Akin
paved the way for many young champions who followed his path and
even extended the rode.”
-Jason Powell, Big 12 Champion & NCAA Champion for Nebraska
Other
MatSide Staff and Guest Clinicians
Due to the nature and size of the wrestling network that coach Akin
is connected to, there will often be planned and unplanned visitors
at MatSide that include nationally known coaches and competitors.
Also MatSide has future arrangements with other academies and clubs
to interact in dual competitions and ‘swap’ coaching
one another’s sessions occasionally. Some of these people
and organizations include:
Zach Roberson
– NCAA Champion Jason Powell – NCAA Champion
Gonz Medina – KC WC Head Coach Kevin Klemm – college
coach
Sammie Henson – World Champ Tom Peterman – Pitbull’s
coach
Randy Smith – Competitors Coach Bryan Snyder – College
Coach
. . . . . and more?
How
much does it cost?
$10 per session
if you are purchasing a minimum of 8 sessions.
Pre-payment
required to receive price of $10/session and to reserve enrollment.
Enrollment is
capped at 34 wrestlers per session to ensure productive coach to
athlete ratio and safe practice space.
Walk-Ins are
welcome. . .if space is available. . . and cost $15/session.
Before applying
for membership to MatSide, we invite you to search the internet
and compare our prices to other academies around the country.
You will conclude that MatSide is offered at discounted prices!
Why
a wrestling academy?
A large majority of the best young wrestlers and top college prospects
attend an academy or some type of specialized club. These wrestlers
are progressing at much swifter paces than the rest of the field
their age. Furthermore, college coaches are seeking future recruits
by tapping into these sources more than they’re tapping into
other sources.
MatSide wrestling
academy is not for advanced wrestlers only, but serious wrestlers
rather. The progress of many young wrestlers is slowed down by various
reasons: size of the club they attend, the number of quality workout
partners available, experience level of coaches teaching them, level
of local competition, or lack of adequate contacts.
Some young wrestlers
simply lack the extra ingredients required to get them to the next
level and beyond. Those ingredients are often a recipe that can
only be achieved through a staff and system with proven success
at every level. MatSide holds the secrets to those recipes.
MatSide will
be a great asset in helping wrestlers develop and achieve: Fundamentals
and skills that are a must for wrestling success Intense training
habits Tolerance to mental and physical pain Proven winning techniques
Positive character qualities & goal setting
Relationships with world-class coaches, instructors, and athletes
A future in an Olympic & collegiate sport
How
do I join MatSide Wrestling Academy?
To achieve productive
coach to athlete ratio and to increase safety, enrollment at MatSide
must be capped at 34 wrestlers per session. This means there must
be an application process to screen for the most appropriate members.
Wrestlers will
be given priority for membership based on:
Experience level
Length of planned commitment and attendance
# of others the same size/age/level applied
After completing
and submitting the form below, you will be contacted via email to
confirm that we received your application. Upon acceptance into
the academy you will be contacted by phone and email.
Once all the
available spots are full, other applicants will be placed on a waiting
list and contacted as soon as enrollment is available.
Keep in mind
that those who apply for extended membership and consistent attendance
will be the most likely to be accepted for enrollment.
MatSide already
has members enrolled and we expect a high volume of more applicants
to come in soon. Apply Now!
Application
form
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