Warhawk wrestlers volunteer at Faith Community School

October 21, 2004

In 1999, UW-Whitewater wrestling coach Willie Myers hand-selected senior heavy-weight wrestler Phill Klamm of Burlington, to join his team––of volunteers at Faith Community Christian School in Fort Atkinson.

Faith Community, a small church-affiliated school, wanted to provide its students with everything they needed for a well-rounded education, but couldn’t afford to hire a physical education instructor. So school officials asked active church member and elder, UW-Whitewater coach Willie Myers, for help. Myers came up with the idea of enlisting his wrestlers.

Using his base of wrestlers, Myers asked Klamm to become one of the first volunteer physical education teachers at Faith Community. Klamm accepted and for the next six semesters, while completing his undergraduate and master’s degree, he taught physical education to nearly 100 children, kindergarten through eighth grade, and twice a week.

In fall 2004, after being hired as UW-Whitewater’s assistant wrestling coach and part time lecturer, Klamm transitioned into the role of supervisor and turned his teacher’s whistle over to two new students on the wrestling team: sophomore Dustin Andrews from Mukwonago and junior Adam Moe from Burlington.

“I like my new role as coordinator,” said Klamm. “I love to teach teachers. It is such a great way to learn. I get to interact with other teachers, parents, kids, administration and I see Adam and Dustin at least once a day. This is a learning experience for me and the kids are getting a really nice physical education program.”

In addition to teaching three classes, two times per week, Moe, Andrews and Klamm are in the process of creating a formal curriculum that coordinates with the Wisconsin Model Academic Standards. Developing the curriculum, one unit at a time, Klamm hopes to publish a guide and make it available to other small private schools, Christian schools and home-schooled groups.

“Personally, I get satisfaction from helping the school and helping Dustin and Adam,” said Klamm. “Professionally, I’m getting practice developing the curriculum. In the end, we will have finished a nice piece with our names on it. For me, the experience is invaluable.”