Edinboro graduate, and NCAA runner-up Shawn Bunch spent this past week training with RAW 241 and NCAA O.W.  Darrion Caldwell (NC State). Caldwell was a workout partner with/for Shawn @ the Olympic Training Center (OTC) in Colo. Springs Colo. While here, both wrestlers ran a few classes, drilled with one another, brawled with one another, and delved into the sport specific FUNCTIONAL training that is offered here at RAW 241. "The golden rule of any conditioning program is specificty -This means that the movement you perform in training should match, as closely as possible, the movements encountered during competition" - from www.brianmac.co.uk/plymo.htm. One of our earmarks at RAW is to incorporate what is commonly referred to as FUNCTIONAL training into our core training. 

Both Bunch and Caldwell are special athletes, very talented and extremely hard  working. Most importantly, both are coachable athletes. From a technical standpoint, I worked with both wrestlers on wrist roll set ups (surprise) among other things. And of course, video review also was part of the week. In the FUNCTIONAL training department, we covered Plyometrics (an excercise that enables a muscle to reach maximum force in the shortest possible time) & AB Bands (elastic bands by Andrey Brener).

Both superstars were impressive in both areas - Darrion has a great approach to drilling and repetition; Shawn is the type of athlete that treats practice as if it were competition (very intense and focused). Darrion, always known for his leaping ability, and Shawn both cleared the 42" platform at the Mantua wrestling building. The 42 inch plyometric platform was cleared multiple times by both wrestlers, the force generated by those jumps are very similar actions to the type of explosive attacks they both use during competition.

Bunch recently made the World Team by defeating former World Silver medalist Mike Zadick in the finals at trials (WTT).  Shawn will compete at 60 kg's and is the USA's top pick to snatch a Gold medal from the World's in September. Darrion is also on the team and is the 2nd in line here in the US at his weight class (145.5) as only a junior in college (he's only 21 and has hasn't redshirted). Flowrestling interviewed Caldwell @ TCNJ on tuesday and Darrion discussed his plans for the future: http://www.flowrestling.org/videos/coverage/view_video/235214-tcnj-lions-wrestling-team-camp/191637-darrion-caldwell-2009-ncaa-champ-and-ow-at-the-lions-camp

Shawn left for competition Sunday for Baku, and Darrion will follow behind on Tuesday --- both will be on the US Team and compete there in Azebaijan:

U.S. FREESTYLE ROSTER FOR BAKU, AZERBAIJAN TOUR

55 kg/121 lbs. – Danny Felix, Morgantown, W.Va. (Sunkist Kids)
60 kg/132 lbs. – Shawn Bunch, Columbus, Ohio (Gator WC)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Trent Paulson, Lincoln, Neb. (Sunkist Kids)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Darrion Caldwell, Rahway, N.J. (Sunkist Kids)
74 kg/163 lbs. – Dustin Schlatter, Massillon, Ohio (Minnesota Storm)
74 kg/163 lbs. – Travis Paulson, Lincoln, Neb. (Sunkist Kids)
84 kg/185 lbs. – Jake Herbert, Evanston, Ill. (New York AC)
84 kg/185 lbs. – Bryce Hasseman, Iowa City, Iowa (New York AC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Andy Hrovat, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Tervel Dlagnev, Cedar Falls, Iowa (Sunkist Kids)
Coaches – Zeke Jones, Colorado Springs, Colo.; Mark Manning, Lincoln, Neb.

Good luck to both wrestlers.