Congratulations to FTWC's USANJ 2010-2011 Place Winners:

George Walton          Junior 90 7th. place USANJ States
Mekhi Lewis              Junior 95 4th. place USANJ States

Congratulations to Mekhi Lewis for his 1st. place win at the MAWA Eastern Nationals  May 1, 2011

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Welcome to the Franklin Township Wrestling Club (FTWC). We welcome children from K-6th grade. We wrestle in three different leagues, Central Jersey Midget Wrestling League, Raritan Valley Midget Wrestling League, and the Central Jersey Developmental Wrestling League.

There are always two choices, two paths to take. One is easy, and that is its only reward. One of our favorite motto’s in the club is “Hard work beats talent, when talent doesn’t work hard”. Our success has been a culmination of hard work and dedication from everybody within FTWC which includes the youth, parents, and coaches.

We shape tomorrow’s world by what we teach our children today. Our kids have learned that success in life is also what you do for others. Every Christmas the FTWC family works with the local DYFS organization in Parsippany to sponsor 50 children with a holiday gift. Also, at the end of the season, we partner with the local Franklin Food Bank to collect food and canned items for our local neighbors. Both service opportunities are a reminder that a real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.

Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwards. The great wrestler Dan Gable said; “once you’ve wrestled, everything in life is easy.” The sport of wrestling is a microcosm of society. It teaches you about work ethic, character, discipline, humility, and perseverance. In the confrontation between the stream and the rock, the stream always wins, not through strength, but through perseverance. It’s through perseverance that our wrestlers have learned that at the heart of every defeat, is the seed of a future victory. While the defeats can be heartbreaking, it’s encouraging to watch the kids come off the wrestling mat with dignity and professionalism. There are no losers in wrestling, just winners and learners. Our standard is not necessarily based on victories, but the number of wrestlers that are still standing at the end of the season to receive their trophies for a job well done.

FTWC would like to thank Bill Grippo and Sampson G. Smith School for allowing us to practice and wrestle in the gym. We would like to thank our parents for all their support. We would like to thank the entire coaching and administrative staff for making this such a wonderful and successful organization to be part of. We would like to thank all our sponsors for all your support for our golf outing and during the season. There would be no wrestling club without the efforts of our volunteers and the support of our sponsors.

We would like to thank two individuals that are affectionately known as “Wes & Mes”. Remember that to the world you may just be somebody, but to somebody you may be the world. Coach John (Wes) McGee and Coach Mike Messner have been the head coaches for this wrestling club for over a decade. In that time they have built a program that has been consistent with building winners on and off the mat. More importantly, they have been ambassadors for the sport of wrestling and have coached and encouraged numerous kids from other towns. They have set the pace and speed for FTWC and have set a new standard for others based on their work ethic and personal sacrifice.

Kids don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care. Wes & Mes are not only coaches, but they are teachers. They are molders of dreams and share a vision for the kids to challenge themselves to reach the next level. They provide the path for the kids to find their way along life’s travels, and provide the spark that ignites the flame in their hearts, to pursue their love to compete, to learn, and to develop, not only as an athlete, but more importantly as a young adult. This should be the sole reason why youth sports exist today, as we remind ourselves that this entire experience is for the kids.

The wrestling club has had the opportunity to watch the youth graduate from our program and wrestle in high school. These wrestlers have grown to be leaders in their classrooms, and in their neighborhoods. They say real leaders are ordinary people with extraordinary determinations. FTWC would rather be known for coaching great men than coaching great wrestlers. If a young adult can stand on our shoulders and take their dreams to a higher level, isn’t that the ultimate success of coaching or teaching?
Anybody that has volunteered for any youth organization has found how fulfilling and rewarding it is. It’s one of life’s ironic journeys that allow you to travel down the path of youth sports where you find yourself not seeking more days in your life, but more life in your days. It’s not the end result that provides the satisfaction but it’s a journey filled with incredible and unforgettable memories. A journey that provides deeply imbedded wisdom where we realize that we make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. Victories are fleeting. But memories will last forever.

They say the greatest achievements are those that benefit others. You can also add that the greatest lessons learned is when you are an active participant in the game of life. As coaches and parents, you walk into the door looking to make an impact, only to realize it was the kids that made an impact on you. That’s the essence of youth sports. It will change your life forever.