Local grapplers learn, grow at Smith Wrestling Camp

Sallisaw had a two-day wrestling camp at Paul Post Field House that was put on by Sallisaw Black Diamonds wrestling coach Mark Smith in which he invited his brother, retired Oklahoma State wrestling coach John Smith, to be an instructor.

The Smith Wrestling Camp had a big turnout, more kids than what was expected to show up.

One of the biggest reasons why the SHS Black Diamonds wrestling program is so well known is its successful season this past year, in which the Black Diamonds went 101, making it to the Class 4A Dual State semifinals and saw 10 of their wrestlers make state, with two winning state titles — 150-pounder Cole Mayfield and 106-pounder Cason Craft — and two more placing — 165-pounder Bodie Adams as state runner-up and 215-pounder Noah Flores coming in third. The Black Diamonds also were honored for being the Class 4A state academic runners-up and finished third at the state tournament.

“We had a great year,” Mark Smith said. “Putting these types of camps on brings kids from all over the area, and then even some from out of state are here. So, that obviously promotes our school and the program here.”

Mark Smith was very excited for this camp, as he would get to be with his brother John as well as another relative, Joe — who is the coach at the Roller Academy of Wrestling.

“I am very lucky to grow up in the family I did, lucky to have brothers with lots of wrestling experience, including myself,” Mark Smith said. “That is what I want to bring to Sallisaw.”

The camp is for both wrestlers and coaches to get better at what they do. Mark Smith said as long as he is here, he is going to be pushing for the success of the Sallisaw wrestling team, and others as well.

According to Mark Smith, wrestling is always evolving, just like many other things. He has been surrounded by wrestling his whole life, and as he puts it, “you never stop learning. The knowledge there is never ending.”

The camp was created with the intention of not only teaching the kids in hopes they learn something, even if it is only a few moves, and take it with them so they can use it down the line. Mark Smith said this is also a learning experience for himself and other coaches as they recorded the camp during its two-day run. This will help them find techniques to hopefully implement into their own practices for current and future wrestlers when the next season arrives.