Coach Mark was recently interviewed on Hometown TV in Summit, New Jersey. Check out his interview in the sports section called “Coach’s Corner” right here:
National Wrestling Coaches Association Names Princeton PAWS a "Wrestling Center of Excellence"
October 14, 2009 -- The Princeton PAWS youth wrestling team has been chosen by the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) as a pilot program for a United StatesWrestlingCenter of Excellence initiative. This honor, one of only a few to be bestowed, recognizes the unprecedented success of this youth program.
“The NWCA recognizes the PAWS wrestling program as what is the very best in youth sports. They have created the perfect atmosphere for excellence in teaching and coaching youth wrestling,” stated Mike Moyer, Executive Director of the NWCA. "Never, in the history of wrestling, have we had more students at the youth level and, at the same time, more forfeits at the high school level. What we look for in youth wrestling clubs is a combination of "safe challenge" learning for kids, combined with leadership and personal growth lessons. PAWS is an organization that is deeply committed to improving the way we recruit and retain wrestlers in our sport. They have also developed a fantastic model that serves the novice, intermediate, and elite-level wrestler," said Moyer.
“We need to learn from this program," Moyer added. "We look forward to collaborating with PAWS on an ongoing basis to package their incredibly successful youth wrestling system in such a way that it can be replicated in communities across the nation."
The NWCA has assigned a full time coach to this project to assist PAWS in any way and to make their program even better. Presently the success of this program comes from volunteer coaches who dedicate much of their off hours to make this program a success. We need to take this kind of excellence to the next level. And the only way to do this is to put a dedicated coach on the project.”The NWCA gave former PrincetonUniversity wrestler Marty Everin the nod for this position. Everin, a 2009 graduate of Princeton University, will head up the team’s Elite Wrestling Program earmarked for the team’s top competitors. Everin’s other responsibilities will include handling the day to day operations of the program and assist the other coaching staff with instruction, conditioning, and youth personal development.
“To have a fresh college wrestler in the room day to day with these kids for technique will be invaluable. We have always had a high level of instruction, but on a youth level, this will surpass anything we have ever done before,” stated Nick Corcoran, Princeton University graduate ’84 and PAWS head wrestling technician. “This is a great honor for our program; It is a tribute to all of the coaches and parents who have contributed many hours, days, and weekends to create, what I believe, is the finest youth wrestling program anywhere," said Dr. Mark McLaughlin, MD, and head coach of the PAWS team. "To have an opportunity to make this even better now with a new full-time coach will truly put Princeton on the map as a regional center of excellence from the youth recreation program all the way up to Division I collegiate level.” “PAWS wrestling made an indelible mark on my children. They have gone on to great successes in high school and college as leaders, scholars, and good citizens on and off the wrestling mats. I give a lot of credit to PAWS wrestling and Coach McLaughlin for instilling those values in my boys,” said Alex Bethea, father of four PAWS wrestlers, two of whom were state champions in 2008.
Brothers and PAWS teammates Ray and May Bethea were both State Champions in 2008
