One of the best American wrestlers of all-time sounds like someone who would work in camps and clinics in the nation’s biggest/most well-known schools, gyms, clubs such as those in Pennsylvania, Iowa, or California. All of which Helen Maroulis has done throughout her career but earlier this week she went away from all of the lights, the high profile match-ups, to give a full-day clinic in Abilene, Kansas. Helen Maroulis, fresh off competing in Final X on Friday (June 19th) and earning another trip to the World Championships that will take place in Kazakhstan this Fall, didn’t waste any time in traveling halfway across the country to help teach and inspire the next generation of women wrestlers.
Despite its relative isolated location, Abilene, Kansas has hosted other premier clinics in the past, including Amit Elor last summer. This year, over 100 girls (From age 6-high school) from six different states (Missouri, Kansas, Illinois, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and New York) showed up to learn from one of the best in the business. Due to this high turnout from pre-registration, Coach Curtis Rein of Abilene HS, moved the clinic from the typical high school room to the nearby community center.
Whether they were 7 or 17, the wrestlers were hanging on every word as she explained and demonstrated the techniques that she had used to become an Olympic champion. Not only did she answer the “what” and “how” of these techniques but also the “why.” Sure she could have gone through a lot more techniques if she stuck with just demonstrating them a few times but she took the time to explain and stated several times “when you go back home and work on these moves…” Another phrase she would use throughout was “This is what works for me.” She encouraged the girls that the eventual goal was muscle memory/feel to wrestle fluidly, and not have to think about the move and just wrestle.
Despite all of the mats and athletes, I was able to observe Helen circulating around the entire room and taking the time to work with just about each set of girls (drill partners) at least once throughout the day. This spoke volumes that she wanted them to do the techniques she showed them correctly, but she was willing to adjust to their level of ability to make the techniques work for them.
After 4 hours of technique and drilling, you would think these wrestlers would be tired and ready to go home. While that might have been the case for some, there was enough energy for them to ask Helen a smorgasbord of different questions ranging from nutrition to mindset, to a historical overview of Helen’s introduction to wrestling. After the Q&A session, Helen, knowing her audience, geared them up for a quick Tick Tock/Instagram post that would later be shared on her official social media outlets. After the laughing and shenanigans, Helen gave each one of those wrestlers an opportunity for autographs and an individual photo with her.
When I had a chance to ask Coach Rein about how he was able to start this tradition of bringing in these top flight clinicians he simply stated, “ I asked.” These Olympic athletes want to share their knowledge with the next generation of wrestlers as their schedule allows. All of the athletes in attendance in Abilene, made sure to state that they were appreciative and thankful for this opportunity.
