I am presently looking through several brochures concerning camps for the summer. A large portion of our team at Pratt will go to the OSU camp, and I am considering the Athletes in Action camp in Colo. or the Nebraska camp, to send my son to. Does anyone have any feedback from prior experience with these camps, or any positive reaction to other camps attended? I believe that some freestyle will likely be on the menu, as well, even though I am not convinced that it is the catchall answer, either. In a sport that just gets tougher every year, if you pick a bad camp you have wasted more than the money, you have also lost precious time that could have been spent developing talent. Any helpful information would be appreciated.

The MU team camp is pretty good. It's a five day one that works you out pretty well. They also have an individual intensive camp you can do for five days prior to that if you want. I never did it but I heard that was pretty good as well.

Dear Mike:

I know several individuals who attended the O.S.U. Intensive Camp (including two nephews), and outside of the complaints regarding the demanding work ethic, were very impressed. One nephew stated the camp was much more difficult and demanding than the Iowa camp he also attended.

I also have had favorable experience with the Nebraska camp.

The key to success is for the camper to practice what is taught at the camp.

I am biased towards the O.S.U. camp, and believe it is difficult to argue with Coach Smith's success.

I myself have a soft spot in my heart for that camp, as I recall going to it when Myron Roderick ran it and watching all the guys on the first day trying to take him down, as he had offered anyone that could do it their enrollment fee back. No one succeeded! I don't know how good it is now, but I sure learned a lot there then.

I believe Coach John Smith and younger brother Pat offer the same deal. To date, there have been no refunds.

I do know they expect no nonsense, and have no tolerance for slackers. There will be no hesitation to have a wrestler call home for disciplinary reasons, and on the second offense, the wrestler likely will be sent home.

One of my nephews made the telephone call home, and fortunately, after the camp imposed discipline, decided to make the best of the situation and was awarded the outstanding out of state wrestler.

Anyonw know of any good freestyle camps for highschool age students? Folkstyle camps are ok, but I'm really looking for an all freestyle camp.

Sometime in middle June, Shawnee Heights alum Tanner Gardner(Stanford) and Phil Hart(FHSU) will be putting on a one day clinic in Topeka with a mix of folkstyle and freestyle. I'm not sure of the exact dates of the clinic yet though.

I have taken my son to the Athletes In Action Camp in Colorado the last two years. Steve Burak runs a great camp: Qaulity instruction-many wrestlers from the Olympic Training Center spend a day at the camp.Great Facility:food, lodging free time activities. We would be going again, but parents 50th is at the front end and can't make the trip.

The Manhattan freestyle camp is the best bang for your buck. $65 for a 3 day camp with an all-american and a national champion? They might as well be giving it away!!!

And by "it," I mean instruction.