Peninsula wrestling camp provides pin techniques

Notables work with high school athletes

Marques Hunter

of the Gateway

At last year’s Class 3A Mat Classic state wrestling tournament at the Tacoma Dome, four Peninsula High School wrestlers were pinned in the first round.

It was a sign that this year’s talent might need a lesson.

Scott Valley, the parent of an incoming freshman, organized some notable clinicians for a camp last week to help wrestlers with their pin technique.

One of the clinicians was Gene Mills, a two-time NCAA champion at Syracuse University known by many as Mean Gene.

“They probably learned a 100 different ways to pin a guy from different positions,” Mills said. “I think it’ll make a huge impact for the team next year.”

While Mills dished out a handful of techniques to Peninsula wrestlers, a host of other schools attended, as well. Wilson senior Keith Mattsen (135 pounds) and Tacoma Baptist senior Stephen Talen (152) said the camp gave them more ideas to pin their opponents.

Participants received useful instruction from three veteran wrestlers throughout the week. Peninsula’s Jake Boley said the camp was worth way more than the $75 each person paid for the week-long event.

Mills showed off his patented half-nelson series that helped him set the NCAA record for most pins. He recorded 886 pins and 1,356 career victories.

Mills’ motto, “Pin to win,” was evident.

“The thing I tried to reiterate is to pin their opponent from everywhere,” Mills said. “Don’t try and get a takedown for two points. Take them to their back and pin them.”

Since 1979, Mills has traveled around the country to teach college, high school and younger wrestlers the ways of pinning. He said he tries to give back what the sport gave him.

“It’s very rewarding,” Mills said. “I’ve made an impact on all of them.”

Mills, who lives in Syracuse, N.Y., visited Peninsula High School for the first time. He was there for two days and said the camp went well.

“It was a great experience for all of them,” he said.

Other instructors included Brad Swartz, an NCAA All-American at Oregon State University, and Brian Higa, a two-time Pac-10 champion at Washington State University.

Peninsula assistant coach Billy Niuamoa said the camp had a positive impact on the Seahawks’ wrestling program.

“He (Mills) taught the aggressive part of the sport,” Niuamoa said. “The moves weren’t too complicated. It helped the team out extremely.”