Olympic wrestlers coming to Smyrna for Howell wrestling camp

Brothers Kurt, Dicky and Brad Howell have decided to move their summer wrestling technique and training camp to Smyrna this year, and they’ll be bringing some international wrestling stars with them.

Olympian and World Silver Medalist Cary Kolat and four-time national Greco champion and Olympian Andy Seras will be coming to Smyrna Middle School to teach at the Howell System Camp on the week of July 5-9.

“Cary was one of the greatest prep wrestlers in American history,” said camp director Kurt Howell. “I remember watching him make the world team as a high school wrestler. That’s just unreal. His technique is fabulous. He has his own technique website and he is always on the cutting edge of new wave moves.”

Kolat won two NCAA titles while competing at Lock Haven and Penn State. He was in the NCAA finals all four years in his college career. He has won three world medals and was on the 2000 Olympic team.

Andy Seras was one of the top Greco-Roman wrestlers for two decades. “I love watching him teach,” said Howell of Seras. “Andy thinks wrestling better than anyone I know. He will teach a move with ten different set ups and ten different finishes and ten different counters. Then he’ll teach you twenty different counters to the counters. It is mind boggling how much he knows. But as much as he knows about wrestling, he is an even greater teacher. He also has great stories about a great sport. He is a great entertainer.”

The Howell System Camp will also feature Sheldon Thomas, the only Delaware wrestlers to become an NCAA champ. Sheldon was a four-time Delaware state champ and a three-time All-American at Clarion University. Howell said Thomas will teach his famous shrug series that helped him win a national title.

Local standout Dave Blake is also on the card at the camp. Dave was a three-time Maryland state champion wrestling for his father at Kent High School. After a successful college career Dave is now the head coach at McDaniel College.

“This is a great opportunity for our area wrestlers to learn from the best in the world,” said Howell. “The great thing about it is they won’t have to travel. We are bringing this camp to Smyrna so local athletes can benefit.”

Co-Director Brad Howell will be bringing many of his high school wrestlers to the camp. “I’m bringing kids from two hours away to get this opportunity,” he said. “I don’t want them to miss out.”

Besides the featured clinicians, the Howell System Camp offers a systematic approach to wrestling. At the end of camp each kid will receive one of three videos that demonstrate various aspects of this system.

In addition, campers will receive a free t-shirt and camp notes to follow the system. Campers will be on teams and participate in live matches and team competitions. At the end a team champion will be awarded. “We try to give our campers what other camps sell to them as extras,” said Howell. “Our goal is for our campers to love the sport and be successful next year.”

Lunches will be provided by Pat’s Pizza and Family Restaurant. The cost is $200. For information or a camp form, call Kurt Howell at (302) 745-7437 or Dicky Howell at (302) 423-9623.

The Howells have been running this camp for over 20 years. It has been on school campuses in Maryland and Pennsylvania and at the University of Delaware. They said they decided to make it a day camp so they could bring it closer to home. “We wanted to offer it to our kids,” said Kurt Howell. “I’ve been in Smyrna for six years and I want my kids to benefit from this. Hopefully we can keep it going here in Smyrna.”