USAW Women's Combined National Team Camp at McKendree University: June 16

Today is the first of nearly one month of Women's National Team Training Camp in Lebanon, Illinois. Our host, McKendree University has gone above and beyond to make us feel welcome. Everywhere you turn there are Team USA and USA Wrestling logos and staff/faculty members helping out! Today both the Athletic Director Chuck Brueggemann and University President James Dennis stopped by to introduce themselves to athletes and coaches. Women's Head Coach Sam Schmitz has done a tremendous job helping with any and every camp need! The first team to camp is our FILA Junior National Team. There are 23 athletes here so far. This Wednesday the Juniors will be joined by the Senior National Team and University World Team Members.

This morning's practice was a team drill and a run. Practice began with a long warm up of gymnastics and speed drills led by FILA Junior National Head Coach Seiko Yamamoto. As the first practice it was important to get the travel out! The wrestling workout ended with individual drilling. Coaches observed the athletes in order to create our camp technique focus areas. Immediately following the mat workout, athletes began a sprint workout. The team ran 12, 40 second sprints with a 40 second recovery time took a short break and finished with 12, 30 second sprints with a thirty second recovery.

This afternoon's practice was live combat. Athletes warmed up with body exercise circuit sprints and speed drilling attacks followed by live wrestling goes. They completed 5 goes of 1 minute offense, 1 minute defense live with 5 different partners. Next was par terre on the mat live goes (4 x 30 second top/bottom with 4 different partners). The live ended with 3, 6 minute goes with 3 different partners. We ended practice with 100 suicide push-ups. To watch practice clips check out the link below:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152564954856177&set=vb.452712791440898&type=2&theater

Thank you to all those who have helped put this camp together and our Volunteer Coaching Staff attending camp! These individuals are: Jenna Pavlik (Day), Ron Tirpak, Melissa Simmons, Archie Randall, and Sam Schmitz! A final shout out to our athletic trainer for the week from Kansas University, Aimee Miyazawa!

We had a great first day and plan to keep it going!

Check out today's pictures!