Wrestling team heads to Russia
Released: May 19, 2008
Humanitarianism and international competition are rarely mentioned in the same breath. At the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, however, the wrestling team will compete against premiere Russian talent in Moscow and donate to displaced Chechnyan youth in the southern Russia.
“This will be a great learning experience for the team,” Timothy Fader, wrestling coach, said. “I am especially excited that graduating senior Michael Schnaidt is coming because he is fluent in Russian. This trip will be a special homecoming for him as a Moscow native.
The first four days of the trip will be spent in Moscow where the team will wrestle some of the Russian junior clubs. “Even as juniors, those guys are really good,” Fader said. “In a couple of years, they will be hoisting gold trophies for their country at the world championships.” Russia is renowned for its wrestling clubs as they earned six of the seven gold medals at the last World Championships. “Going over there will greatly increase our competitive edge going into next year.”
“After four days in Moscow, we will head to Nalchik to stay in a home that houses Chechnyan boys,” Fader said. “These boys have had it tough.” For some time now the Russian government has quelled Chechnya’s efforts for independence with brute force. “We really want to go over to give the boys things like gifts and clothes.”
The trip will end with their climbing Mt. Elberus, one of the seven summits and the highest point in all of Europe.
The team will depart May 25. Fader invites everyone to donate to the Chechnyan boys. For more information on how to donate, contact Fader at 262-472-1867.
- LeQuez Spearman,spearmanlt22@uww.edu
