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Hillside Wrestling Weekend VIII

The eighth in an annual series, held July 19 through July 22 at a large campground in the hills of northeastern Pennsylvania, HillSide was conceived in 1994 after the highly successful GayGames IV as an informal ‘wrestling camp’, for the more serious gay wrestlers to get even more competitive. But since then, it has evolved into a multi faceted ‘mixed’ event that has become -THE- signature event for the ever growing –cult- of ‘underground grapplers’, who have evolved from ‘Don’t Ask - Don’t Tell’, to ‘Don’t Care - Shut Up and Wrestle!’.

This years activities attracted some 155 wrestlers from all over North America, and Europe. Many of the various ‘grappling’ styles were well represented (FreeStyle, GRECO, SOMBO, Folk, Submission, and Pro). There was a lot more cross technical interaction than in previous years. Technique/rules clinics and live sparring filled the schedule from dawn until very late into the night, and there were plenty of coaches, opponents, and mat space under the multiple tents. This year’s group, though slightly smaller than previous years, was none-the-less more ‘hard-core’. Even this writer's FreeStyle bias has been compromised. It is just amazing how my first 3 choke submissions (‘tapouts’) have changed my view of the world.

Coupled with the non-stop mat action, the campsite offers a beautiful outdoor pool, a nightly bonfire, and numerous hiking trails. All meals are prepared and taken outdoors communally. Camaraderie, competition, and family (and maybe no deodorant) are the keywords that best epitomize the event. There is only one requirement: -all- must wrestle to the best of their ability.

If the level of this year's competition is any indication, next year’s Sydney 2002 GayGames VI wrestling will be loaded with talent. Probably the most competitive and physical match of the weekend occurred Saturday at 188# between Philadelphia Spartan’s Malcolm and San Francisco Golden Gate Wrestling’s Calvin. As expected (but not hyped), the entire camp was riveted on this clash of titans (which only proved that we must go to Sydney in 2002 to see it resolved).

Besides the usual series of great bouts, this year’s wrestlers were treated to some extraordinary entertainment. Andreas Czerney of Frankfurt, besides being one of the most skilled and respected HillSide wrestlers, is a renown German opera singer (bass-baritone). This ‘Singen-Ringen’ cuts an extraordinarily handsome figure in a singlet or a dragoon uniform, besides sending dark chills through your spine when he sings. He has just recently released a CD recording of Schubert’s Die Winterreisse.

One of the staples of the weekend is the annual meeting of Wrestlers WithOut Borders (WWB), an international federation of wrestling teams that maintains voting directorship status with the Federation of Gay Games. Some of the clubs represented this year were delegates from NYC, San Francisco, Seattle, San Diego, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Toronto, Sydney, Boston, Washington DC, Frankfurt, and Tampa.

High on the agenda was the evaluation of the bids for GayGames 2006 (Los Angeles, Montreal, Chicago, and Atlanta), one of which will be chosen this October in Johannesburg. Also discussed was the upcoming Sydney 2002 GayGames event, more aggressive outreach to more of the European clubs, establishing a website, the securing of a professional Federation owned video of the wrestling competition, and the establishment of an annual calendar (circuit) of international wrestling events similar to HillSide. Rick Van Tassell of Philadelphia and Erich Richter of San Francisco were unanimously elected WWB Federation representatives and WWB officers for 2001/2002.

Gene Dermody - 7/23/01

 

 

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