Ridgefield’s Mark Dollins was part of the Team USA coaching staff at the U23 Pan American championships in Peru earlier this month.(Photo courtesy Mark Dollins)
Ridgefield’s Mark Dollins was a member of the U.S. coaching staff at the recent U23 Pan American Championships in Lima, Peru earlier this month.
Dollins,65, is in the final stage of getting his gold certification in coaching from USA Wrestling – its highest certification. One of the 11 tasks to complete his gold certification is to coach at an international event.
“I was chosen to help coach — and learn — at the U23 Pan American championships in Lima, Peru,” Dollins said. “I was among the coaching staff for all athletes attending working with team head and assistant coaches. We attended weigh ins, training sessions and competitions for three full days. I was among six coaches working on this big task for certification. States represented (among the six coaches) included Nebraska, Arkansas, Illinois, South Carolina, Georgia and good old Connecticut.”
Team USA was impressive in Peru. The men’s freestyle and women’s freestyle each won their respective tournaments along with the men’s Greco-Roman team.
All 10 members of the men’s and women’s freestyle teams earned medals with nine American men and seven U.S. women winning their respective weight classes. In Greco-Roman, eight Americans won medals and six came home as U23 Pan American champions.
“It was highly insightful experience into coaching at an international level,” said Dollins, who also coaches at South Side Wrestling in Bridgeport. “The access to top coaching and competition talent was phenomenal.
“From training to nutrition, safety and security to periodization, the coaching, training, medical and officiating knowledge and experience at this event was world class,” he said.
Team USA swept all three divisions at the U23 Pan-American championships, winning men’s and women’s freestyle and Greco-Roman. Ridgefield’s Mark Dollins was part of the coaching staff. (Photo courtesy Mark Dollins)
His next coaching assignment will take him to Colorado Springs on June 29 through July 4 to coach at a national development camp for high potential wrestlers (under 18 men) at the Olympic Training Center.
Dollins will also be leading a free 30-minute coaching webinar on Thursday, July 9, at 6:30 p.m. On demand playback with support materials will also be available. The topic will be retaining youth wrestlers through effective coaching strategies. Register today by going to this link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/m5d0Kdy9SLGC_St-12NKNQ
