By Ed Piper
Dale Siscon, 74 years young, long-time wrestling referee and coach, teaches "power and one" to his young charges at Mater Dei Catholic.
Siscon, still coaching after all his years--we met when he was refereeing at local high school tournaments almost 15 years ago--is well-versed in introducing the sport to young people.
"Three skills you introduce to a student-athlete who has never tried wrestling: teach the sprawl (legs shooting back to avoid being taken down), then how to shoot (lunging to attack your opponent), then 'stay off your back'." Obviously, the last, a precarious position that can lead to being pinned.
The mini-clinic continued as Siscon, his brother John a regular companion to refereeing meets until more recently, and I sat on the front row of the bleachers at CIF girls Masters at Eastlake High, me with pad ready, the assistant coach keeping an eye out for his athletes to begin matches on the three matches shortly after 9 a.m. Sat., Feb. 21.
Three further rules:
"Never get taken down; never get reversed; never get on your back/get pinned. That's the sign of a good wrestler."
Now, with the girls' side exploding in numbers, testified to by the entire floor of the Eastlake gym being covered with Masters qualifiers warming up with a partner, Dale can pass his experience and knowledge on to even more eager young people.
"A true champion," Siscon said, "has these things: endurance (running included); flexibility (so you don't get hurt); every exercise to develop every part of the body; basic skills; and commitment, pride, determination, defiance."
"We teach (crossing his forearms over his chest) 'power and one"--pointing up, "up above", God's power.
"Power and respect. Maintaining humility."
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