Good Deeds excel with Read Mountain Middle School wrestlers

Read Mountain Middle School wrestlers have participated in a Good Deeds program for the past three years. Over 40 students participated in wrestling this year. The program was developed by the head coach Paul Craft and his coaching staff of Tom Oxley and Micah Young. Basically, the program asks the athletes to perform at least one good deed per day at school and one at home. It is a seven day per week program. Craft said, “We see this character building as an investment for the future.”

The deeds range from something as simple as holding open a door, to sitting with a student who needs a friend at lunch. It carries over into the classroom as well, with better grades and completing assignments noted Craft.

At home the Good Deeds program includes helping with chores or maybe playing with a younger sibling and doing things without being told. Perhaps shoveling a neighbor’s walk or helping out is another set of good deeds the student athletes perform.

“They do this because they see results,” said Craft, “and so do others.” It carried out on the mat as well. The school finished an undefeated season on Saturday.

Susan Bruce, English as a second language teacher said, “The Read Mountain wrestling team has made a huge difference in my students’ confidence and academic performance in school.   I had two middle school boys who completely turned around their attitude after joining the team.  They willingly come to pick up their weekly grade reports to run and show the coaches their improvement.  I think having coaches who believe in them but push them to the excel has really been the motivation my students needed.  I am so thankful for what the coaches have done for my students.  I am thankful for this positive activity that gets my students involved.”

Parents have embraced the program as well.  Victoria Shepherd had this to say as she has had two sons in the program:

 “The Good Deeds Program is a wonderful program I have been part of for the past three years. My middle son started wrestling under Coach Craft and now my youngest is in it.  It’s a program that makes my boys think of others not just themselves.  I no longer have to beg them to help around the house.  They just do it!  My favorite part of the program is it follows them outside the house.  If we are in public, they open doors for others and have such good manners toward others.  If they see someone alone at lunch, they go eat with them or invite them to eat with their friends.  It’s a wonderful program. “

She continued, “Wrestling in general is a wonderful sport.  It is one of the hardest physical sports out there.  The wrestlers become not just team mates but a family.  They encourage each other and help each other get better.  My youngest who is in his second year of wrestling with Coach Craft, Coach Young, and Coach Oxley has truly grown as a wrestler and person.  He is a very kind-hearted boy that is becoming confident young man.”

The team is told to stand up for those being bullied without it becoming a conflict. “We stay in touch with the parents and we see that these wrestlers are developing skills that one day help them in their lives as adults,” said Craft.

He finished up by saying, “We don’t spend a lot of time talking about wins or losses. Our athletes know that in the end, the records, medals, and trophies don’t really matter. “

“We put an emphasis on effort. We started using a saying this season. “All I want is all you’ve got.” If our wrestlers can go to bed each night knowing they’ve given their very best on the mat, in the classroom, and at being the best possible person they can be, they can sleep soundly knowing they are champions. The wins, records, and awards are just a bonus from living right. The icing on the cake. “

He said with a laugh, “We tell them not to eat cake, though. It’s just empty calories.”   

Story by Cathy Benson Photo courtesy of RMMS