News & Events

STEUBENVILLE - Mike Smith has been involved in wrestling since he was 5 years old.

And now as a 36-year-old, Smith has moved from grappler to coaching and since August has been the owner of Smitty's Training Center on Market Street.

"I opened this gym last August as a place for the youth to come in to practice and train. I wanted to create a place for younger people. This is an old fashioned gym without the fancy frills. But it is a place for the youth to come in to work with myself or the other volunteer coaches and hopefully find an adult mentor," explained Smith.

He was joined by representatives of USA Wrestling Monday to announce his Market Street training center has been designated as one of nine Junior Olympics training sites in the country.

Former Olympic wrestler Bobby Douglas of Bridgeport participated in the announcement by telephone from the Colorado Springs Olympic training center.

"The USA Wrestling organization is very pleased to designate Smitty's training center as a regional training center for Junior Olympics. This is an opportunity to help get kids interested in wrestling in the Ohio Valley," announced Douglas.

"We want to provide tutorial help, athletic training and academic support for the kids and at the same time create some jobs in the community. We already have these training programs in Chicago and New York and the programs work in helping to attract kids to a good activity as opposed to the gang recruitment efforts that take place in the cities. Kids will be able to come to the training center for practice and workouts and do their homework after their practices," added Douglas.

To meet that goal the local organizers have appealed to U.S. Rep. Charlie Wilson, D-St. Clairsville, for help in applying for federal stimulus dollars.

"USA Wrestling will provide some funding, but we need help from the federal government as well as the state government. And we are hoping the city of Steubenville will embrace us with a welcome and open arms," said Douglas.

"We will certainly be looking at the availability of stimulus money. There may be funding available through recreational programs," said Wilson.

"I have a lot of admiration for Bobby Douglas. He does a lot for the youth and I am in favor of this program. Cathy Gagin of my office will be looking at grant possibilities and we will do what we can to assist this endeavor," noted Wilson.

Steubenville Mayor Domenick Mucci called the move to designate the former Kresge store building as a Junior Olympic training center "a great opportunity for our community and the youth of our area."

"This is an opportunity to participate in sports and to build values and to find success in life. Today is the first of several steps to create a major sports center here in the downtown. We will need more government agencies as well as community support," said Mucci.

"I am hoping we can obtain funding to buy new wrestling mats as well as additional exercise equipment. But at the very least I am hoping for enough funding to pay for the electric and gas bills. I am charging the kids who have been coming here the bare minimum to pay for the utilities. Funding will help us to improve our facility and to allow more kids the chance to be involved in the program," noted Smith.

Smith also said in addition to wrestling, the Junior Olympic training center will offer instructional training in mixed martial arts, boxing and tumbling.

"This is not just a place for boys. We welcome girls as well," added Smith.