Brockport Youth Wrestling Club

Brief History:
The Brockport Youth Wrestling Program was established in 1994 by David Schickler, Bob Brawn & Don Roberts. The Club as grown year-after-year and has been a catalyst in the development of countless successful Brockport Blue Devil wrestlers. The Program's success is due to the efforts of all the volunteer coaches and parent assistants that have dedicated their time over the years to helping the kids learn and love wrestling.

Program Overview:
The program runs from early December through March and is broken up into two sessions, on Tuesdays and Thursday nights. The first session runs from 6:00-7:00pm for the younger wrestlers(K-3rd grade) and the second session is from 7:00-8:30pm for the older wrestlers(4th-6th grade). The students receive club Tee Shirts for participating and AAU membership which covers their insurance and allows them to participate in AAU Youth Tournaments throughout the season. Brockport hosts a very popular youth tournament in March each year and most of the club wrestlers participate in this event.

About The Club's Coaches & Volunteers:
Dave schickler is the Club's Head Coach and has been for over 17 years. Coach Schickler has watched his own children go through

this program and have good success throughout their high school careers. He enjoys working with the young kids and helping them develop a love for a sport that he has spent a lifetime involved in. There was an article written about Coach Schickler in the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle by Matt Weinstein on July 22, 2010 that captures Coach Schickler's dedication and committment to youth wrestlers of Brockport. (You can find the complete article below)

Article about Coach Dave:

With a full-time job as a mailman and a full-time passion for amateur wrestling, David Schickler has dedicated almost all his time to the Brockport community.

And he would not have it any other way.

"I love Brockport and I love wrestling," says Schickler, who runs the Brockport Wrestling Club for children ages 5 to 14. "I don't know what I would do if I was not allowed to share my passion and pass down my knowledge to a younger generation."

The 47-year-old Schickler, who has a walking mail route in the village, is entering his 16th season as the main operator of the Brockport Wrestling Club. His duties also include running the annual Brockport Youth Wrestling Tournament, which he has overseen for 17 of its 30 years.

"David does so much for the program and he takes very little credit," says Sharon Kerxhalli, whose son Adam was in the program for two years. "He's always there and he's always supporting the kids. He will take them to tournaments in other states and pretty much anything else to help a kid reach his or her potential."

Schickler, who put his sons Brett and Dan through the program, doesn't do it by himself and wants everybody to know it. He credits many people, including his wife, Vicki, in making the club a success.

"Vicki helps a lot when we have our tournament, and I don't think I could do it without her," Schickler says. "Brockport High school varsity coach Mike Ferris also dedicates a lot of time to the kids, which means a lot to them."

The club operates from November until the end of March, with the tournament capping off the season. Schickler runs two practices each week and averages about 70 kids each practice. The club travels to several tournaments throughout the area each season and will occasionally take out-of-state trips.

Schickler, who resides in Clarkson, began wrestling in high school at Brockport but drifted from the sport after graduation. After getting married and starting a family, he jumped back into the sport in 1993.

"After doing it so long, I constantly get asked about rumors saying I was quitting," Schickler says. "I just went through a lot of work to get certified at the high school level so I don't think I'm going anywhere."

Schickler said his greatest memories are when he sees his old students grown up and working while delivering mail on his route.

"Wrestling teaches you a lot of self-esteem and we really push that for our kids," Schickler says. "Wins and losses don't matter at this level."

Benefits of wrestling
David Schickler says kids can develop the following qualities through wrestling:

Discipline: "Once you step out on that mat, it's you against your opponent. Without the proper preparation and discipline, you can end up looking very foolish."

Character: "Cutting weight happens a lot in wrestling and takes a lot of hard work. You have to have a strong will and desire to be able to accomplish it."

Sportsmanship: "Even the best wrestler will lose at some point, so it's important to teach kids how to handle losing."