Freedom High School wrestling coach Kent Nagy monitors both the wrestling room and the cafeteria during the week-long day Eagles Wrestling Camp in South Riding.

“Get your hips up, hips up, there you go!,” Nagy encourages as campers go through intense one-on-one drills.

Nagy will enter his third season as head coach at Freedom this winter after guiding the Eagles to consecutive district titles in his first two. Despite the success, Nagy doesn’t coordinate a wrestling camp for his own benefits. He wants to teach, and teach whoever wants to listen, regardless of where they are from.

“We have about 75 kids in this camp, ranging from seven years old to seniors in high school. Many are local, but several are from Ashburn, Sterling and other areas. We want wrestling in Loudoun County to be better, not just at Freedom,” Nagy said.

Following a minor collision, Freedom junior Tyler Beck rested for a moment, allowing opportunity to express what the camp is all about. Beck stated, “Coach Nagy teaches us about being a better wrestler, but he also talks about moral values and life lessons to be better people.” Beck wrestled on the junior varsity team this past winter.

With an emphasis on teaching technique, and developing new go to moves on the mat, Nagy says he tries to give the kids a balance between working hard and having fun.  In relation to how he goes about this, Nagy offered, “With the younger kids, we want to make sure that wrestling is fun. They can learn the sport and learn to really like it first and foremost, whereas we can talk to the older kids about representing their schools and working hard to be great.”

Matthew Mitchler, a rising sixth grader, enjoyed his time at camp. When asked what the most fun part was, Mitchler quickly and emphatically replied, “All the games.” And he was not talking about just wrestling. “No, I mean when we play dodgeball,” Mitchler clarified.

Everyday after lunch, all the campers get a chance to take a break from wrestling, spending a couple hours playing various games, such as the aforementioned dodgeball. “Don’t worry, we don’t use the old-school leather balls or anything,” Nagy joked.

The camp concluded July 1. The camp enrollment has significantly increased each of the past three years, and Nagy expects the trend to continue in summers to come. 

Anthony Escorza, 16, in front, and Josh Crissey, 17, practice technique during the Eagles Wrestling Camp at Freedom High School June 30. The week-long camp drew 73 participants, five full-time coaches and two volunteers.—Times-Mirror Staff Photo/Beverly Denny

Matt Escorza, 13, center, faces off with sparring partner Nick Hosti, 14, during Eagles Wrestling Camp at Freedom High School June 30.—Times-Mirror Staff Photo/Beverly Denny

Bradley Nelson, right, and Reid Clark, both 15 from South Riding, practice technique.—Times-Mirror Staff Photo/Beverly Denny

Nick Scolarici, 11, in the front, wrestles with Levi Moody, 10, during Eagles Wrestling Camp June 30.—Times-Mirror Staff Photo/Beverly Denny

Matt Escorza, left, gets into the starting position with sparring partner Nick Hosti.—Times-Mirror Staff Photo/Beverly Denny