Ken
Thank you for a great weekend in Beloit. I really enjoyed helping the young boys there and in Baldwin City. I will be looking forward to this fall.

I also wanted to take a minute and tell you how influential you have been to Peyton. Peyton not only enjoys your camps and takes so much from them, but he also truly enjoys being around you and admires you greatly. Thank you for being a strong, positive and personable role model. We look forward to many more Chertow Camp experiences in the future.

Sincerely,
Tracey and Carrie Robb

Ken

I really enjoyed the week at camp. I especially like the enthusiasm you put into your camps and your interaction with the kids. The kids really respond well. I have learned a lot from watching you and the other coaches. Thanks for allowing me to participate. I will be back next summer.

Mark Frisz

Ken,
The kids really enjoy the wrestling camp. They come back much better wrestlers and always comment on the training program. We continue to recommend your camp every summer as the kids always give great feedback.
We appreciate your efforts.
Thanks,
Greg Brooks
Nease Wrestling

The more time that passes, the more I realize how fortunate we (my boys, wrestlers and I) were to partake in your Gold Medal Training Camp in Colorado.  You truly have a most impressive camp SYSTEM.

Leonard “Buck” Wessell

USA Judo Team Force

Ken,


My son enjoyed your camp tremendously and we will be back again next year.  Thanks so much Ken for all that you do, and for giving the state of Colorado the opportunity to see your camp.

Thanks,

Chris Currier

Editor's Note: Chris was an NCAA Champion.

Hi,

We just finished your Denver wrestling camp. My son and I both thought it was a great experience. My son is an average 9 year old wrestler and I was unsure if a camp of this caliber was right for him. I must say I was surprised although the camp was intense and there were a lot of high skilled wrestlers who attended. There were plenty of wrestlers of his ability who he could wrestle with. The quality of coaches and staff at the camp were able to coach both high and mid level wrestlers effectively. Great camp, see you next year.

Robert Simons
Columbine High Youth Wresting Club

Ken,
Your camp promotes better wrestlers and better kids, so I will continue to encourage kids to attend. You are the quintessential ambassador for our sport and just having the opportunity to hang out with you and the great team of clinicians at your camps keeps the kids energized for another year.

Bud Gordon

Ken,

We plan on attending your 6 day Gold Medal Training Camp. I pushed for the entire team to attend together. You helped me a lot when I was in high school and hopefully these kids will learn as much as I did.

Thanks,

Tim Geiger
Circleville Wrestling

Ken,

Thanks again for another great year at your State College wrestling camp.  Bayne had a great time in the Future Champions group and is looking forward to the Kids Training Camp next year.  I am going to make a big push to the rest of our club members to consider attending; they are really missing a great time and un-paralleled instruction.

I had to write and let you how much we appreciate your excellent staff.  I am amazed that you can find such a great number of highly qualified coaches that are not just great wrestling technicians, but connect so well with the kids they are teaching.  Troy Elmore and Willie Hilton were awesome, and kept the kids interested and enthused.  Brad Pataky and Chris DeVilbiss were great representatives of your organization and their schools.  Learning from C.P. Schlatter was an experience that he will never forget; and for the second year in a row Casey Brewster made a huge impact on both of us.  Casey is an awesome young guy who is really going to do well in our sport.

Well I’ve taken enough of your time, but I wanted you to know what a great
experience we had.

Best wishes to you and the family,

Bud Gordon

Ken,

The gang had a blast in Wausau!

FYI: Just a few comments that I've heard
    - The youngest from our group thought camp was GREAT went from 73 to 79# (the kids must have been fed well)
    - Nolan - "I just liked all the work outs and wrestling with Ken." "The shadow training was fun." "I liked the 5 mile run too."
    - Nolan is so very proud of his scholar athlete shirt. (by the way, both Landon/Nolan earned straight "A's")
    - The t- shirt is very patriotic this year with the stars and strips :o) kudos!
    - Staff shirt - GREAT wrestling logo wrestling training for the rest of your life.
    - We have another wrestler who can't wait to go to camp again! (He's hooked and ecstatic!)
    - Kent decided that you should be the wrestling announcer for the next Olympics because of all your commentary and enthusiasm!

Lis

Ken,

Thank you so much for the time you spend with out camp Verde, Arizona kids and all the campers who attended. My son had an amazing time, learned a lot and enjoyed the one on one with you. He thought it was great how an Olympian took the time with him one on one. Vance McBain will be back next year.

Thanks so much,

Bill McBain

Ken,

Thanks for a great camp. You hit everything really well and I am very pleased. Isaac would benefit tremendously from attending regularly. He is eager to come back again next year. It is what he needs to continue his wrestling growth.

Frank Carreno
Ken,

We had a great time at the camp. My boys returned highly motivated, inspired, and encouraged. As a team they bonded even more than I thought they would. Their intensity level went up to the roof. My com

Coach Mario Chagolla
Arizona

Ken,

Thank you for helping me to improve myself, both on the mat and off. After attending your camps the last two summers I went from last in the district to third in state. I was able to do this through hard work, competitive drive, and mental toughness.  I learned all those things at your camp. I will be wrestling for Old Dominion University next year thanks to you and your amazing staff at the Super Gold Medal Camps.

Your Super Gold Camps not only taught me how to be successful on the mat, but how to be successful off the mat as well. In the beginning of my high school career, grades were not as important to me.  My grades were not bad, but after attending your camp and hearing you say "be a scholar athlete not a dumb jock", I raised my grades from a 2.5 gpa to a 3.1 in a matter of one school year.

Sincerely,

Sam Hunt

After camp last summer, I felt I had a much better command over my body in neutral and my chain wrestling. My confidence also increased after working with Phil Moricone and Joe Fendone everyday. I owe a lot of my success over the past year to you and your camps. I would love any opportunity to help out, learn more, and be a counselor.

Ryan Malo
State Champion
All-American

Coach

Thanks for all of your help. Sean's summer training with you helped him immeasurably - and I know that he is looking forward to wrestling as much as possible with you this summer before he gets to Blair.

Thanks again for everything Ken.

Sincerely,

Ed Boyle

Editors Note: Ed is the father of Casey and Sean Boyle, two of New England's most successful wrestlers ever

Editors Note: Coach O'Brien is a Michigan Native who coaches at our camps. He just moved to FL this season. He will be at our camp at Stetson.

Editor's Note: Mike was an All-American in college and competed internationally for the NYAC (New York Athletic Club). He is now a successful HS coach in Florida and a coach at Gold Medal Training Camp in Florida and other locations.

Ken,

Thanks for coming to New York. It was great to watch you in action and see the level of enthusiasm you have for the sport of wrestling.

I was very impressed with how you related to kids of all different ages and levels of experience. From the least to the most experienced, form the youngest little dudes to the HS seniors, you coached and pushed each kid according to their ability. It’s easy to understand why the kids respect and admire you. We plan on seeing you again and will try to get others from the Island to join us for the trip.

Steve

Dear Chertow Camp:

The camp at Stetson was outstanding. We have attended many youth sports camps and yours is the most intense and instructional. Thank you for a great experience.

Shari Ferritto

Coach Chertow:

Your GA camp was AWESOME. I absorbed as much as possible and plan to implement several things learned into our program.

Thanks again for such a great learning experience and all you do for wrestling. Hope to see you guys again next year.

Stephen Grimsley

Ken,

Just wanted to say thanks again for giving an opportunity to become a better teacher of our sport.

Your intensity toward the sport is unmatched, but I believe the athletes and members of your staff feed off you. Thanks again,

Jesse Ortega Delano, CA

Camp was great for me and my team. They found out what real hard work is. They really and truly thought they were working hard this past year. They found out the truth!! The clinicians were excellent. The kids really enjoyed the small group breakout sessions. This year, I offered several different choices to the parents, next year, there will only be one choice for camp. We sure would love to see you in Houston sometime. Thanks for a great experience. I look forward to working with you again next year.

Ken

I never had a chance to thank you for all of your help. I am very much appreciative of learning under you for the last three years thank you so very much for all of your help.

Take Care and God Bless!!!

Sincerely Thomas Scotton

Ken,

I can't thank you enough for our Camp Experience. My guys and I took a lot away from all the sessions. I am so pumped for the season! Thanks again for all your instruction and encouragement!

Brett

Ken,

Thanks for getting back to me. Thank you to all the staff for their assistance with this and thanks for running a great program. My sons were thrilled to work with you. I am hoping that they will both return to one of your future camps. But mostly, thanks for taking a personal interest in Dan.

Steve Grabher

Ken,

Korbin is having a great time at camp so far. I wanted to thank you in advance for everything you and your staff are doing. This is an excellent camp.

Thanks again,

Darren, Heather, Korbin & Kollin Myers

Ken and Ian,

I just wanted to thank you for the outstanding experience my team and I had. Thanks for the understanding and willingness to work with us. I picked up a lot of great information over the course of the week. All of my guys said they enjoyed the time there. They said that they felt like they got a lot out of the instruction and experience. I know that I learned a lot from it also. We will be a much stronger team next year, thanks to your camp. Again, thanks for everything. You guys are great!!

Chet Burnes
Mill Springs Academy
Alpharetta, GA

Ken,

Thank you for the opportunity to work at your camps. It was motivating and invigorating for me to be in that training environment. You are truly a great instructor who is taking wrestling to new heights through youth and HS camp instruction.

Thank You!

Mike Porcelli

Editor Note: Mike was a national champion in college and All-American at the National Open in Freestyle. He is an Iowa State graduate who has been coaching wrestling for 20 years.

Mr. Chertow,

I am very excited about attending your camp. After reading your book, I knew your camp was the right choice for me.

Thank you again and will see you in July.

Shane

Ken,

I enjoyed the camp in Alliance, OH last year and have implemented some of the things I took from that camp. I truly believe that the only way to build my team is to stay on top of things by attending and working camps like yours. Our team made huge improvements over a short period of time this season.

Tim Simon

Ken

My son, Drew Bloss (Cornwall NY), will be attending your Super Gold camp in Allentown PA in August 2006. After comparing the quality and results of other camps to yours backed with the very positive experience he had your camp in previous years, we will be trying to guide as many of his team members to attend also.

If possible, please send us 35 brochures that we can hand out at our team's end of season banquet. Also please let me know if we could arrange for a team discount.

Thanks,

Walter Bloss

Ken,

Thank you again for having camps in Charlotte. My son, Trey, is showing a lot of improvement this season, thanks largely to the drills learned at your camp.

Please make every effort to return to North Carolina this summer.

Thanks again
Nathan Buchanan

Coach Chertow,

I wanted you to know how helpful your camps were to me. I am a freshman in high school now and wrestling varsity at 112 pounds. I combined many of the new moves that you taught me and some of the pre-match mental preparations and defeated a kid that uses to handle me very well. I have went 5-0 so far in my high school career and have all of you on the Chertow staff and especially you Ken to thank for this great start this season. I will be at your Super Gold camps for multiple weeks this summer. I am looking forward to joining you and traveling. I know you can make me into a champ.

Thanks a ton,
Travis Clouse

Ken,

I had a great 5 weeks with you and your staff in your Super Gold Camp this summer. I have more confidence in myself, and I am getting better grades in school then I ever did.

I also still keep in touch with other wrestlers from your camp, and I learned just how many new people you can meet through wrestling.

I am looking forward to train with you once again this weekend.

Thanks for Everything,

Ryan Herlihy

I just wanted to say how much we appreciated our camp experience in Cincinnati this summer. Our two boys (Randy and Andrew Caris) had so much fun and learned so much. I was so happy with the way everything turned out and am glad I spent the week with my sons at camp.

The camp staff and of course "Ken" himself were so kind and helpful and very motivating to the kids. It was simply "AWESOME" and I know the boys learned and made lots of friends and memories too. We would love to plan
on two camps in the summer next year and will be looking forward to Fall Camp of Champs at Eastwood.

I want to thank "everyone" involved and send our appeciation for our experience and fun at camp. Thanks again for everything!

Sincerely,

Fran Caris

Ken,

I would like to thank you for the outstanding job you did with my two heavyweights sons Larry and Patrick Cassidy. This is all they been talking about since they got home. Again, thank you so much.

I am sure you will see them in the very near future...again thank you.

Larry Cassidy

KEN -

TAYLOR IS DOING GREAT, THANKS!

YOUR CAMPS ARE A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE FOR YOUNG MEN WANTING TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WRESTLING AND WORKING HARD TO CHALLENGE THEMSELVES. THIS SPORT TAKES ALOT OF DEDICATION, DETERMINATION AND MUCH HUMILITY. YOU MAKE IT LOOK SO EASY! THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT SUMMER!

PLEASE TELL IAN THANK YOU FOR ALL OF HIS HELP WITH EVERYTHING. HE IS QUITE AN ASSET TO YOUR CAMP. WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE SUMMER CAMPS FOR 2006!

SINCERELY,

ANGIE AND TAYLOR FOULKS

Editors Note: Taylor attended multiple weeks of camp with us this summer in 3 different locations.

KEN,

MATT HAD A GREAT TIME WITH YOUR STAFF. WE SENT 3 KIDS AND ALL OF THEM BENEFITTED GREATLY. WE WILL DEFINITELY BE BACK NEXT YEAR. THANKS FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO THESE KIDS.IT HAD A POSITIVE INFLUENCE ON ALL THAT ATTENDED.

DAN SMITH

Ken,
Hope this email finds you and your staff well. Just wanted to let you know what a great time the wrestlers
from Team Adrenaline had at the Chicago Gold Medal Camp.

You and your staff are terrific with the younger kids. Many of our guys were first time campers this past weekend but they are already hooked on your camps. Thanks again for all you do for the sport and we look forward to bringing the entire team up to Luxemburg Camp in October.

Debby and Ross Bruno

My son just finished the Kids Training Camp in Indianapolis. He is 10 years old and it was his first time ever going away. I was very concerned needless to say. However, he had a wonderful time and the coaches supervised our son very closely. He had nothing but good things to say and couldn't wait to do all the new moves he learned on his 6 year old brother. He said he wants to go again next year and we will send him. The coaching staff was wonderful. This is without a doubt a wonderful, well run camp to send your child to. I would recommend it to anyone.

Thank You Very Much Ken for taking your time and energy to train these children.

Ken,

I just wanted to thank you for the truly wonderful experience both my son and I had at your camp this week. My son Justin (one of the two 5 year olds who you gave a poster to for his effort in prize fighting) had never wrestled before coming to your camp last Saturday. I was so nervous and apprehensive when we first got there, and I was afraid that the only thing we would take home from his 4 days there was some bruises. I was absolutely wrong. I am so impressed with you as a person and your whole program. I especially loved the emphasis you placed on schoool and grades. Every coach you had at the camp was so patient with the little guys. And Monday night I was speechless listening and watching Kyle Maynard and was so touched when my son came up to me that night and said "wow mom did you see him do a handstand even though he didn't even have hands, he can do anything!"

Prize fighting when Ian called my son to wrestle with him and I saw how slow Justin walked out there and knew he was terrified, I was terrified for him. But when you said wrestle and he flipped Ian to the ground I couldn't believe it. When we later talked about it he told me how scared he was and then he said, but I wrestled anyway mom and did my best just like you always say! It was then I knew that wrestling was going to be a great part of his life. I am confident that Justin will get from wrestling those male qualities which I cannot give him as a single parent (mother); like confidence, self-esteem and comraderie. Anyway, I could go on and on but I just wanted to thank you from my heart and let you know you will see Justin back at camp next year!!!

Robin Scola

Ken,

Your camp was a tremendous experience for me and our wrestlers. All of our wrestlers have said that they want to go again next year and are planning to attend the Coldwater Camp of Champs.

Thanks again,

Ralph Smith
Muncie, IN

Ken,

We ended the season with a strong finish. We were district Champions, had 7 regional qualifiers (school record), and 2 state place winners. Both attended your camps and plan on attending more this summer. Thanks for your help.

Sam Carsey had an incredible run for a state title, going 3-1 w/ his only loss coming in the finals. This is the first Linden state runner-up since 1993. Ryan Selley also had a strong performance at the state meet, finishing 4th at 160 lbs.

Thanks for all of your help and keeping in touch w/ me. It was exciting as a coach to see these two boys finish as high as they did. All of my team is underclassmen so it should be a real exciting year next year.

See you this summer.

-Coach Skinner

Ian,

I wanted to thank you for the positive experience that Ken and you and the rest of the staff provided this last week in Indianapolis. The boys had nothing but good things to say and are fired up and motivated for the upcoming season. Look forward to bringing a group again next year.

Thanks again
Brian Brady

Ken and Ian

Our kids had a great camp. It is a very young group, but they have a wonderful attitude. The camp was exactly what they needed to get them jump started for the season. All of the kids said very positive things to me about their experience, and in speaking with some of the parents this week, the kids had equally positive things to say to their parents about camp.

Hopefully you guys will run a weekend warrior camp close enough to us to attend this fall. As I have said, we are very young and can use all the mat time we can get. As long as they are interested in attending, I will bring them.

Thanks again for everything.
Kevin Smith

Camp Staff,

Thank you so much! I am confident that you are really busy about now, but we haven't sent Josh away for camp before and the "Mom" in me is a little nervous.

You have been great and all of our questions have been answered so well we plan to encourage our youth wrestlers to attend your camp in the future. We run our local youth program but also have a high schooler.

Thanks again, your help has been a great comfort to an overly concerned MOM! Have a great day!

Teresa

Ken
The season went great. All three of our sons qualified for the State tournament! Sam (8th grade) and Joe (4th grade) won their weight/age groups for State folkstyle. Sam also won State freestyle.

What they learned at your summer camps and Camp of Champs (especially in regards to drilling & practicing hard) helped a great deal. They are also getting excellent grades in school-which I also appreciate you preaching on.

Regards, Roy Umlauf

Ken,

Just wanted to thank you and your staff. Jonathan earned a $10,000 annual scholarship.

His successes are a direct result of your training camps and mental toughness he gained from your mentoring.

Thanks Again
Robert D. Lloyd Sr

Hey Mr. Chertow,

This is Chris Upchurch from Missouri. My senior season was good. I finished 20-0. I started the season 8-0 and broke my hand right in the middle of December. I was out for about 6-8 weeks. The doctors continued telling me how I wouldn't be able to finish the season because I wouldn't heal in time. Needless to say, I came back and completed the season undefeated at 145. I just wanted to thank you for the opportunities you gave me. Not only did you help me become a better wrestler but also a better person. There are so many things that you taught me, and I had so much fun at your camps.

Sincerely,

Chris Upchurch

Hi Ken,

I am the State Champion of Michigan (div 2)-189 lbs. I finished second last year and eighth as a sophomore.

Thanks for your help!

Chad Schoen
Gold Medal Camper at Chicago and Cincinnati

Ken,

We have all noticed significant improvement in many aspects of Ben's wrestling since attending your 5 week Super Gold Camp this past summer. As a high school senior, we are seeing the investment pay off because his head is really in the game and he's staying very focused. He's getting lots of attention from college recruiters. Thanks for helping us make those
contacts. It's great for him to have options!

Ken, thanks for the training that you and your staff provided for Ben. It was well worth our long trip from Minnesota. He is agile, creative, focused, smart, and well rounded...He's feeling confident and focused going into the state tourney and very determined to get what he wants!

Best regards,
Audrey
(Ben's Mom!)

Dear Ken,

This year I became a two-time District champion and a second place finisher at the New Jersey State Tournament. In Wrestling USA I was ranked the #10 ranked junior in the country at 145LBS. I can't wait to come out this summer to your camp because I want to reach the next level and I know your camp is the best in the nation to help me reach my goals.

Sincerely,
Tom Scotton

Tony McDermott won the State Championship at 171. He came to your camp this past summer and loved it.

Thank you.
Tony’s Proud Mom

Ken,

I just wanted to drop you a quick note letting you know that the Go-Hawks of Waverly won the Iowa class AAA state tournament over the weekend! We had 3 champs, a runner-up, a fifth and a seventh along with a couple other qualifiers. Mark Ballweg, Matt Ballweg and Romeo Djoumessi were individual state champs.

As soon as the season is over we will be finalizing summer camp plans.

Thanks.

Rick Caldwell

Note: Rick has brought over 45 wrestlers to our camp in Iowa over the past two years. He brings team members grades 1-12 from his community, not just his varsity. Rick is a member of our Gold Medal Coaching Staff. We congratulate him and are proud of his team’s accomplishments!

Ken,
Just had to let you know how this season is going. Kyle is 48-6 going into our State tournament. This last weekend he placed 1st at our Regional. He beat a boy from Montrose in the semis that he had lost to 3 times this year 5-0, than in the finals he beat the defending 2x state champ 8-6 after previously losing to him 10-9 earlier this year. The boy he beat in the finals was a senior and was 152-2 over the last 3 years. We are excited. Also, other team members that have been to your camps from Corunna that are having great years are Zach Perrin 51-0, Cody Rozell 45-10, Andy Robertson 48-5.

Just had to tell you Thanks Again.
Thanks,
Phil Rosser

Ken,

Just got home from sectionals… For the first time in DeKalb history we send our whole team on to team regionals!!! We qualified 10 of 14 wrestlers for individual regionals!!! Best finish in school history.

Just wanted to say thanks for all your help, your great camp system has shown it’s value once again.

God Bless,
Bill Knapp

Ken,
My kids gave me great feedback after attending your summer camp. Finally, a camp where kids drilled key moves with purpose instead of being shown 1000 and recalling none a week later. Also, they said that they rarely did any kind of games or activities unless it pertained to actual wrestling. That was great to hear. I'm sure Pewaukee's numbers at your Wisconsin camp will increase with each year.

I recommended your camp because I agreed with much of what you said a few years ago at the coaches clinic. I'm happy to hear that you will be back at our convention this year and am looking forward to sitting in on your sessions once again. I also plan to have some more wrestlers attending your November Camp of Champs.

Ed Kurth
Pewaukee Wrestling

Ken, My son Rossi Bruno went to the camp you had in July in Chicago. He had a great time and can't wait until the fall camp series start. He is going to bring his younger brother with him. I hope you plan on doing the same camp in Chicago next summer.

Thanks again for all of the things you do for these young athletes!
Debby Bruno

Ken
My son had a WONDERFUL time at your camp! He learned a lot and enjoyed himself tremendously. He saw old friends, met knew ones, and wrestled some great competition.

He looks forward to attending some additional camps that you have to offer.
SHERRI L. GRABHORN
GOELZER INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC.

Mr. Chertow,
Thank you so much for your interest in my son, Jay Adamson. Jay attended your recent Cleveland, Ohio camp Aug. 1-6.

He was telling me about the new stuff he learned and also the fine tuning on existing stuff. Again, infinite thanks to you and your staff and we'll see you in a gym somewhere soon.

Regards,
John Adamson

Ken,
Upon picking my son up after a very busy two weeks it amazed us how much he talked about all the guest coaches (John Smith and Kendall Cross were his personal favorites) and then proceeded to read through his notes on all the moves he learned and what ones he thought he could use. Not only did he like all the guest speakers but the continued rotation of partners helped him try those new moves on various partners many of which came with impressive winning credentials.

From my own personal observations the facility for the camp is first rate and extremely well managed no doubt due to the extremely large staff on and off the mats. The instructor/coach ratio was so high it would be nearly impossible for anyone not to get the move correctly.

Again our appreciation goes out to you, your family and all the staff for an excellent program, truly an asset to the wrestling community!
Dan Harding

Ken,
Michael has gotten nothing less than an A- since he started college. With his 3.87 average, he's been given a $10,000 a year academic scholarship. He is determined to go to law school and seems on track to go to a top school. Despite not wrestling in college, he follows the sport closely and genuinely attributes all of his academic success to the discipline he learned in wrestling. Ken, wrestling unquestionably turned his life around. Your camps were a very important part of his development.

Moving on, I just bought a new home wrestling mat from your company (I dealt with Ian). I have a 12 year old (my third son). We are starting all over again!
Joseph Serota

Dear Coach Chertow,
My name is Stephen Marien, and I attended one of your Gold Medal Training Camps in August this summer. I had a truly great time and learned a lot from your camp. I sincerely thank you for the experience and knowledge obtained from your camp.

I especially enjoyed the talk from Kendall Cross. I have his poster and your poster hanging in my room, right next to all of my other motivational quotes. I thought your camp was beneficial and am glad i got the opportunity to participate in it. I am also honored that I was selected to your Academic All-American team.

I truly enjoyed your camp and believe that anyone who goes through it will come out a better, more intensive, and smarter wrestler.
Stephen

Ken,

All three of my boys loved the camp and plan to see you in Green Bay Camp of Champs in November. I'll try to get as many of the club members to go next summer as possible. My wife and I were real impressed. You and your staff do a fantastic job. Keep it up.

Roy Umlauf & family.

Ken,
My son attended your Super Gold Camp in Pennsylvania/West Virginia. Your camp not only helped him excel in wrestling, but he has also used the skills your camp taught to remain focused, set a goal, and keep heading to that goal. He is now a sophomore in college. He has become a very confident, focused young man since the days when he was a boy in your camp. Many things have influenced the young man he is today.....and I thank you for your part.

I have recommended your camps to others....I hope you continue to teach the future youth.
Cookie Hageman

Ken,
It was a great pleasure for Anthony and I to meet you at your CO camp! (The father and son from Texas who traveled over 10 hours each way to attend your camp.) We had a great time learning from some of wrestling's best and meeting other talented wrestlers.

If you will allow me, I must share with you how much we enjoyed attending the Kids Training Camp. It met the very high expectations we had going into the camp. We have attended other camps (three) over the past few years, but yours was by far the best primarily because the of the quality of the coaching staff and the camp's design. The coaching staff was world class and experienced in coaching kids. Further, the camp was designed and conducted with KIDS in mind. More importantly, the camp and every coach/guest speaker/staff member stressed to the kids the importance of being a good person, student, AND wrestler. I must say, Coach Bauer was awesome - it was very evident why he was recognized as a "Coach of the Year".

Further, you all made sure the kids understood that the only sure method to success is Hard Work and Dedication. In addition, there were a number of very talented and accomplished campers/wrestlers that we had the privilege of meeting, wrestling, and learning from. Finally, the coaches did an excellent job TEACHING and DRILLING and often REVIEWING new moves/techniques that I believe will make my son a better wrestler. It was a great camp, and I have/will recommend it to any parent/wrestler. If you do decide to hold a camp in Texas next year, we will most certainly attend it. If not, we will attend an out-of-state one again.

Again, thanks for providing a great wrestling experience and for intensely promoting your message. Best of luck with the rest of your camps and we hope to see you again soon.
Sincerely,
Anthony & Gio Kotoriy

Ken

Thanks for considering me. Since you and John are two of my favorite people, I'd be happy to work a session or a day. I could probably do the whole week if you really need extra help.

Wayne Baughman

Editors Note: Coach Baughman now works our Colorado camp annually and is a legend in our sport. The John referred to above is NCAA Champion John Fritz, my college coach at Penn State. John is director of our Colorado Camp.

Ken,
I had a wrestler named Mike Gaona go to your Super Gold 3 week Intensive Camp last year. Just to let you know how much it helped... as a junior he had a losing record on JV and NEVER won a Varsity match even though he was thrown to the wolves many times during his junior year. This past season, his senior year, he won over 20 Varsity matches, placed in several tourneys, and won one. He will be going to WEST POINT next year. Thanks for your help.

Kevin Menefee
---
Kevin,
Thanks for sharing the great news about Mike!! Very impressive. We are very happy for him. Congratulations to both of you on his appointment to West Point and his huge improvement this season! That is what makes the hard work worthwhile. With continued hard work and commitment at WEST POINT this should lead to some great career opportunities over time.

Ken Chertow
Super Gold Medal Training Camp
"Intensity...that's what it takes to become a Champion!"

Dear Ken,

My name is Thomas Scotton and I am in 10th grade. I came to your Gold Medal Camp this past summer and I learned a lot!
I just would like to thank you for all your help. I placed 5th in the New Jersey State championships and I recently placed 7th at the NWCA U.S. High School Open. My goal for next year is to become a State and National champion, once again thank you so much

Sincerly,
Thomas Scotton

P.S. I will be back this summer for your camp!

Thank you Ken & all clinicians...
Jay Adamson, 4x Gold Medal Camper is now State Champion! I appreciate ALL the knowledge, technique, good habits, and enthusiasm that you shared with Jay over the years. It all paid off in his state finals match.

Thank you,
John Adamson

Ken,

Thank you for everything. I received your motivational email before states, printed it, and taped it to my door so I saw it every time I left my room. I have attended your camps (starting in West Virginia, then Ohio) since I was an eighth grader with absolutely no clue about wrestling at all. I got beat up by you annually, until this past year (summer 2003) I didn't get whipped as badly. One of my goals was to place at state and I did. I was also Valley, District, and Regional Champion. I could not have done any of it without going to your camp each summer. Super Gold Camp had a huge impact on me.

Anyways, I will be continuing my wrestling career and education at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. They recruited me to wrestle, which is a huge deal because they are a D1 NCAA school. I had never planned on wrestling in college, let alone D1, and never even dreamed of making it to states until I had heard the guys speak each summer at your camp.

Again I wanted to say thank you for your camp and staff and everything about it. It was a privilege and honor to wrestle and train with the best. Now I'll be doing that at the Academy.

Sincerely,
Josh Barlow

Coach Chertow,
This is Mike McGill and I'm writing you to thank you. I am ranked 1st in the state at 135 and when guys ask me how... I usually throw in a Chertow quote like " Rise to the Occasion", or "Train like a Champion". I've been asked several times about what I do in the summer time and what camps I hit, and I tell them that I'm a Chertow man and follow Ken's teaching. I like reading your articles on mental preparation and getting up for the big matches and I now have the mind set that i'm the better wrestler and I always try to dominate my guy.

Thank you for teaching me to "stay tough when I'm tired".
Mike McGill

Coach Chertow,

I am a Middle School wrestling coach and two of the kids on my team attended your camp last summer. They said it was a great experience and learned a lot about the sport and some life lessons! There are around 25-30 kids that want to attend your camp in Indianapolis.

Can you please send me some information.

Thanks
Bronson Curtis

Dear Ken,
I wanted to thank you again for the opportunity to work at your camp. I enjoyed working with the coaching staff; they were knowledgeable, caring, and professional. You and Ian did a fine job organizing the camp.

I brought down our 189 pounder. He felt that the camp was difficult, but he enjoyed the hard work and he made great strides. The same was true for my 8 year old son. We wrestled in our living room earlier today and he has improved a great deal.

Good luck during the rest of the summer. If there is anything that I can do up here in the Boston area for you, let me know. Enjoy the fall; I hope that Alex and Emily have good starts to their years in school. Give our regards to your wife, Laurie.
Sincerely,
Steve Toubman

Editors Note: The note below is from a wrestling official who speaks annually at our summer camp.

Ken:
I always look forward to speaking at your camp and I am often amazed at the response from the fathers and mothers as well as the kids themselves. They truly enjoy the rules and question and answer part and I always get positive feedback.

It is a privilege to be involved in the lives of our nations youth both from an officiating point of view and also to allow them to realize that we officials are humans and eager for them to strive not only on the mat but in the classroom and especially in life. I feel like your camp allows them the opportunity to do all of the above.

Thanks again.
George Keeney

Ken,
I am excited to have an opportunity to work with you in the future. Your coaching expertese is commendable. One thing I actually enjoy more than wrestling is giving the gift of the sport to others. I sense that in you tremendously as did my young wrestlers at your camp.

I look forward to hearing more from you.

Sincerely,
Coach Tucker/Saline HS

Ken,
My son, Paul Thomas, attended your camp held in Lafayette, IN. We wanted to thank you and your staff for all your coaching and encouragement.

Paul received the Bronze Medal in the Bantam 55 class at the AAU National Championships in Hampton, VA held on 7/04/03.

Thanks for your help.
Kim Thomas

Dear Ken
I know you are at camp but I just would like to thank you. It is good to see how successful your camp have become. I often tell my son that the same intensity you had when you were wrestling you now have towards your camps and you are achieving the same level of success.
Thanks
Lori

Ken
Just updating you... Matt has now graduated from UNC and was just hired as the head coach at North Davidson Senior High. It is the largest 4-A school in our area, and one of the largest in the state. Kids are coming out by the groves, and needless to say you will see he and his "kids" at upcoming camps.

This is a dream come true for Matt and I know what an influence he will have on the youth.

Thanks Ken for everything!
Wishing you continued success.
Matt Dunn's mom

Webmaster's Note: Matt was a multi-time camper and now counselor at Gold Medal Training Camp. Matt was an undefeated State Champion his senior year.

Coach Chertow,
My son and his teammates got a lot out of your camp this summer. Thank you for the instruction in wrestling and your important influence over their overall attitide towards life. You had a good effect on them

Thank you for the positive influence you have had on my son.
Joe Scoby

Ken,
I stopped wrestling my senior year of college. It was a very hard decision to make but in the end it worked out.While I made the decision to stop wrestling in college I was able to fully transfer the disciplines and skills I learned from wrestling into my other endeavors. When wrestling ended school begun to take on a completely new meaning to me. While I was always a scholar-athlete, while I was wrestling it was like holding two jobs with the more demanding job always took the extra time that arose. I was never really able to get involved in the extra stuff around my classes when I wrestled. When wrestling ended I fully transferred my so called wrestling training regime to the classroom and excelled. I worked very hard and became very involved with a large number of groups in my major; finance & banking. I became the president of the Elbert V. Bowden Student Managed Investment Fund, which was an endowed fund to the University that a select group of students actively managed. I am my classmates managed a $100K portfolio that provided scholarships to students in the Finance Department.

The summer of my senior year I ended up getting an internship for United States Senator Fred Thompson of Tennessee. I worked in Senator Thompson's main office in Nashville. Senator Thompson is the one that is in all the movies and also now Law & Order. This was an incredible experience that was truly a once in a lifetime opportunity. My responsibilities for the Senator involved his correspondence to constitutes and governmental officials. I wrote letters for the Senator that went to Donald Rumsfeld, Colin Powel to name a few. I was recruited by a number of companies for positions in there management training programs. Of the companies that recruited I eventually choose to go to Bank of America and enter into there Finance Management Associate Program. This program selects an elite group of 24 students from across the country each year to enter the program for two years. I and my MAP colleagues are located at Corporate Headquarters in Charlotte, NC and rotate through different groups of the bank for two years. At the current time I am working in the Technology & Operations group supporting the Asset Management Group. My job is very challenging and I am in a program with the best of the best of recent college graduates. (School represented in the program: Virginia, Texas-Austin, Indiana, Notre Dame, UNC-Chapel Hill, Wake Forest). The skill I learned in wrestling definitely are helping me deal with my 60 - 70 hr work weeks.

In short Ken, I wanted to thank you for what you are doing and what you did for me by giving me a chance to work for you. You had to kick me into shape a few times but I needed it. Also I want you to share with the kids you work with and those that attend your camp the theme of my wrestling career. Here it is: While wrestling is great and can give endless opportunities, when your competitive wrestling career is over the lessons that you learn are completely 100% transferable to anything else you want to accomplish. The truth of the matter is that life is competitive and those people who want to be the best get there by being stubborn enough to never give up and to work harder than everyone else. I will leave you with some advice that I was recently told by the head of the Corporate Tax group at Bank of America - Tom Brantley. Tom said that, "In anything that you do you will get to a point where you are surrounded by the best, those people who then excel further are those who a willing to just work harder"

Tell the kids you work with they can do anything if they are willing to work hard enough, either on the mat or off!
Please tell Laurie I said hello.
Best wishes,
Ethan

Ethan C. Elzen
Bank of America
Finance Management Associate

Ken,
I'm sold on your camps. I was able to see first hand the structure and professionalism of the camp. I personally
retained more from your camp than I have at any other camp that I've attended. I know that my kids had a similar experience.

Cole Kelley
Orem, Utah

Webmasters Note: Cole is one of the most successful coaches in Utah. Many of his students have gone on to become NCAA All-Americans, including 2002 NCAA Champion Aaron Holker.

Ken and Staff,
Sam said he had an "amazing" time at camp and thinks he improved greatly in just the six days he was there. He will definitely do it again, and for the longer Super Gold next year.

He also wants to do some Camp of Champs during the school year. He was tired but very happy.

Thanks for giving him such a wonderful experience!
Rich

Hi Ken,

I recently was part of the Gold Medal camp that you run. It was a great experience for me and my teammates. This was are first time at your camp and we felt that we got a good mix of training, ethics, skills and live wrestling. The conditioning was great and it showed the wrestler how to have a good intense work ethic. It also showed us how to bring this intense work ethic back to our wrestling room in CT. I enjoyed my camp experience and I'm hoping that I will attend your Gold Medal camp again next year as a freshman with more experience and a better and even more intense work ethic.
Thank you for the hard work you put in.

TJ
New Fairfield, CT

Ken and Team,

The Allentown, PA camp is almost half over and Michael age 12, is working with his room mates, organizing his time and room, and checking the white board for his daily sessions. He might even attend the early morning AB Bands or the morning run pretty good for a late summer sleeper. He just completed his frist season of 6th grade wrestling so I though this camp would help him decide if he wants to continue wrestling. His first year he was 8-5 and he came in 2nd in districts so he appears to have a talent for it.

While watching the staff, I was really impressed with the mixture of local, regional and overseas talent. It was funny watching the under 130lb boys trying to the exercises with the young Russian coach. Most of the kids limbs dont bend that way!

Having so much diverse talent on the staff the campers never have time to get bored, maybe a little sore but never bored. I was laughing with my wife after the first 2 hour Gold Medal session wondering if he would be able to get out of bed the next morning!

The facilities were excellent for camp since the hotel is setup with everything right there and with such a large conference room you can watch a lot of quality wresting and teaching going on.

Thanks,
Jim

Hi Ken,

I was very impressed with your camps and how you run them. I think it is great that you take the time to make it into each camp and give it your personal touch. The staff teaching the camps were wonderful. They were both very helpful and demanding which I think was great. My daughter learned a lot. She is only 10 so I stayed at the camp with her however after seeing how well run it is I feel confident to allow her to attend by herself next time. My only desire would be to see the women's camp run for a lot longer time period as the gold and super gold even if it has to be run by the male staff. I also feel the women's camp did much better without the junior Olympians kids camp running along side them. I really feel they hampered the women's training. All in all it was a great experience and I would highly recommend your camp to everyone.

Thanks
Rosanne Burkert

Ken.

Connor won Freestyle Cadet Nationals @ Fargo ND. Connor is 14 while most of the kids were 15 and 16. He has worked his butt off for this. A great deal of credit goes to you, Coach Ken Chertow. He had a great 3 weeks of training with you in June at Super Gold and you have have fostered Connor for 8 years.
Thank you Ken!

John McDonald

Hello again,
My son, Frankie Morelli, attended your Gold Medal Training Camp in Pella, IOWA and found it to be the best wrestling camp he has been to. He is 17 years old and has been to many. Thanks... We would like to attend more camps in the immediate future. I know we will be attending Camp of Champs in the fall. You also mentioned that you were going to have camps throughout the winter break. We want to come from Iowa to Winter Break Training Camp in Pennsylvania during Christmas vacation.

Thanks again,
Frank Morelli

Hi Ken,

On behalf of my son Nicky Casbar I would like to thank you and your staff for making Nicky's experience at your camp unbelievable! Nicky is sure he is 20 times the wrestler he was before he came. Your local boysQuentin and Matt were his workout partners and he benefited from their experience.

We will be back in December to tune up at Winter Break Training Camp. You have become a huge role model for Nicky. Keep up the good work !

Nick Casbar Sr.

P.S. He is proud to be named to your Academic Honor Roll.

Dear Ken,
I attended your Super Gold Medal Camp for the 3 weeks at Indiana and Cinncinnati in the summer of 2003. I am the13-year old from Beavercreek Ohio. I enjoyed the hard workouts and technique sessions. I just want to say THANK YOUfor making me a better wrestler. Now I am ready mentally prepared for matches. Believe me when I say this that you have not heard the last of me and my career in wrestling. Thank you for an enjoyable summer!

Sincerely, Zach Manning

Dear Ken,
I just wanted to thank you for all the help you have been to our wrestlers and coaches over the last few years. We have been to a few camps but the teams have always liked yours the best! From the counselors to the clinicians to the accomadations you have a first class operation.

As you know over the last few years we have had a 2x state champ, Jeremy Walsh, a 4th place finisher, Matt Eshenaur, and another that was a state qualifier, Jon Tranquillo, and a Eastern National placewinner in Caleb Walsh. Look for a few more at states the next couple of years. These young men were all products of your camps.
Thanks again.

Oley Valley H.S.
Mike Eshenaur

Ken and Ian,
I really appreciate your support and would like to work with your camp this summer before entering grad school or the work force. I want to thank you for a great experience at your camp. I attended numerous camps, but your camp was definitely the best both technically and intensity wise.

Thanks again.
Greg Parker

Greg was a 2x NCAA All-American and is graduating from Princeton University with a 3.4 GPA.

Ken,
We are from Maine and my son Seth McAlister attended your Super Gold Medal Training Camp in State College last year. He really enjoyed his experience and learned a lot. As a matter of fact he went to his first freestyle tournament this past weekend and won. I saw him use several moves successfully that he learned at your camp. I asked Seth if he would consider attending another camp that was closer and would better fit our schedule better, but he was adamant that he attend your camp. You certainly made an impression on him. He will be returning to your Super Gold Medal Camp July 18 - July 27th. Also, I know you emphasize the importance of schoolwork. Thanks. Seth is currently a Junior in high school and was recently inducted into the National Honor Society.

Rick McAlister

Ken,
Jordan placed third here in AAAAA Georgia after losing in the semis to Mark Payton-Ashe the eventual champion. Jordan led the whole match until the last ten seconds when Ashe took him down. He came back to win the next two and finish 58-7 for the year. We want to thank you for your help and we plan to enroll Jordan in one of your Super Gold Camps this summe.

Thanks again, Tom Black and Jordan Powers

Ken,
Thanks for the call of congratulations. Some luck and a lot of hard work goes into the making of All-Americans. Brandon had some luck and certainly has worked hard over the last 12 years. Thanks for all your help during his development. He looks to you as having a huge influence.

Thanks, Earl Laurer

Brandon Lauer was a 2003 NCAA All-American for WVU. He attended our camps 8 times during his jr/sr high career. Brandon as a 3x MD State Champ.

Hi Mr. Chertow,
Before the state tournament starts, I wanted to take the time to thank you for everything you did to get me to this point. I know it is the work I put in and the teaching from many people, but what I learned at your Super Gold Camp put me into a higher level. In theRegional Finals last week, I used a funk, a granby, and a few other things that I learned from your camp. I hope you are thereat state, and get to see me wrestle. I have my goal set high, although Rogers will be hard. I also learned that I should never count out anything. I was not supposed to be Regional champ last week, but Idid that too. I May go two and out, or I May win gold, but I am going to wrestle in college, and I wanted you to know how much a part of this you were.

Jake Rathfon

Editors Note: Jake upset defending State Champion Mike Rogers from Easton in the semis! In the State Finals he lost to local Gold Medal Training Camp Student, Matt Kocher. Both Matt and Jake will be wrestling in college.

Ken,
Kyle Rosser from Corunna, took 1st at the Michigan Youth Wrestling Association State Finals. He competed at 85lbs. in the 13-15 age group. Winning by 16-0, fall in 1:12, fall in 2:20 and 14-7 in the finals. He attended your Gold Medal Summer Caamp in Ohio and also did 2 weekendCamp of Champs last year. Your help has been a big plus in Kyle's success.

Thanks, Phil Rosser

Ken,
I attended your Gold Medal Training Camp and Camp of Champs this past year going into my senior year, and I wish I had gone to your camps before. Last year I was 26-23 and was decent then this year I was 42-14. I was a lot better and more confident with my wrestling. This year I won my conference and also qualified for state which was great! Last year I went 0-2 at districts and this year I was district runner-up. This year I also broke my school record for near-falls in a season which was 60 and I broke it with 84, which without the help of your camps I probably would have never done because I use to have trouble with getting kids to their backs and I think your camp help me change that. Your camps are very good and I like how you showed up to every session, (other camps I've been to usually the counselors are the only people that show you moves or the only ones you see for some sessions) helped the wrestlers, and being a good motivator during live sessions and things like that. I just wanted to thank you for the help your camps gave me to make me a better wrestler.

Thank you, Robert Maidment

Coach Chertow,
I will always tell people to go to your camp. It was a great experience and the technique that you learn is matched by no other camp I have attended. This season was an exceptional one for me. Before this season I went 10-22 as a freshman, 26-9 as a sophomore, and 28-7 as a junior. I finished this season 36-3. When I look back on all the friendships I have made and how much of a better person I am because I wrestled, I know that all of those are worth more than any medal that could hang around my neck. After the season was over I earned First team Academic-All State and was the Most Valuable Wrestler and Captain for my team. I set the school record for takedowns in a season with 146. I plan on becoming a teacher and coaching high school wrestling. Thank you once again for being an impact in my life. You are apart of one of the best communities in the world, our wrestling community and I'm glad that you have helped me and that I have gotten to know you. Hopefully one day I will bring wrestlers of my own to one of your camps and help out just like Coach Hutcherson and Coach Galka both do.

Sincerely Joe Willmann

Dear Mr. Chertow,
Thank you very much. My name is Ryan Pribble, I went to your Gold Medal Training camp this summer in Ohio. Your camp helped me out so much. It not only helped me with my moves and the physical aspect of the sport, but where it helped me out the most was the mental part. I have always been a pretty good wrestler. Last year I placed 8th at state. I have also finished 2nd many times in freestyle and greco state. I could never quite get over the hump and get first. Well when I went to your camp I learned to settle down in my matches and think more( which is probably my best weapon). I feel much more calm on the mat and I am much better in close matches. Well to get to the point, I won state this year. I am the 140 pound Indiana State Champion. I finished my season 48-0, to top it off I never trailed in a match. I am happy to say your camp was what helped me get over the hump. Now when ever someone ask me what camp they should go to I always recommend your camp. It is a great mix of intensity (live wrestling) and technique. Thanks again for the help you provided. Here is a link to the results- http://www.ihsaa.org/b-wrestling/03IndividualFinals.htm.

Yours in Wrestling, Ryan Pribble

Hello Mr. Chertow
This is Chris Upchurch, Charlie Scherertz student. Our state tournament is over and I am pleased to let you know that I recently was state runner-up at 125. I lost a tough 3-0 match in the finals. I was hoping to be champion but I am only a sophomore so I still have two more years and the guy I lost to in the finals is a junior so I might see him again, hopefully. I cannot even begin to tell you how much your camp has helped me progress over the last two years. I've come a very long way, only starting wrestling the spring of 8th grade. Overall I had a wonderful season and I hope to be a 2x state champion. I will be attending your camp(s) over the summer. Other teammates of mine placed as well: Drake Hovis (state champ at 160, junior), Dan Tulley also known as the slide-by guru (runner-up at 171, junior), Jeff Knipper who is the blonde curly head kid (third place at 135, senior) and our heavyweight who only weighs 205 on a good day Scott Craft (fifth place, senior).

Thank You, Chris Upchurch

Coach Chertow,
Theo Meryanos from South Carolina attended your camp in the summer of 2002. He won the 145 State Championship and wrestler of the year in February 2003. Thank you for your help!

Cathy Meryanos

Coach Chertow and Coach Fritz,
Rowdy Andrews was at your Denver camp last summer. He didn't even qualify for state last year. Last weekend Rowdy placed 2nd in State. Rowdy is enrolled in your summer camp in Denver again this year. He is very excited about coming back and learning even more. He even wants to do some freestyle and greco/roman this spring and summer. I feel your camp helped him achieve his goals this year. We are looking forward to your camp and hope you will be there again this year. Rowdy loves the intensity you bring to the sessions.

Thanks, from a very proud father

Ken,
Darrick had a great season going 40-4 with 26 pins at 135 pounds. As you might imagine, most of his opponents were juniors and seniors, but Darrick handled himself well. He is very close to being in the mix for a state title. His work ethic gets better each year. You would be proud of him! He hopes to go to Fargo as a 1st year Cadet. He is very eager to get right into Freestyle. We will see you this summer at freestyle/Greco camp in Ohio to prepare for Nationals, and then after Fargo he wants to work folkstyle with you at State College Camp and Allentown .

See You Soon, Jeff Smith

Editor's Note: Darrick has been attending our camps annually since he was little. He was one of the youngest Super Gold Campers at age 11

Ken,
Phil is now a 2x State Champion. He won 12-3 in the finals. Phil has developed ad very physical stlye. He is 35-1. Thanks for all your help for all these years! Many kids and parents askus about camp. It seems everyone immediately connects Phil and Ken Chertow. We appreciate all you have done for Phil.

Phil Morcione

Hi Ken,
Jen and I both won PA States again. Jen also took 1st at Girls Mid Atlantics and last weekend wrestled in another girls state tournament and took 1st and MOW. We're both training REALLY hard for nationals in 2 weeks. We're on spring break so we're working out 2-3 times a day. I think Team PA is going to do really well this year at Folkstyle nationals and Jen and I are both looking to win it. After nationals, we've got a busy freestyle season ahead.

Kim Chu

Dedicated twins Kim and Jen Chu have attended our summer camp 4 times and our winter camp 3 times, as well as attending Fall Camp of Champs. "Hard Work Makes Dreams Come True!

Ken,
I just wanted to write you and tell you that I won my 3rd state title this weekend at 112 pounds.I had a pin, 2 techs, and a 13-2 win. My first round match I was tech falling my opponent and then I pinned him. My next round match I played the takedown game and was able to out hustle my opponent and catch him to his back a few times while in route to a 21-5 win. My semifinal match I played a more conservative match and won 13-2. I won by tech fall in the finals 18-0. I got ahead early and broke him early in the match. From then on it was all domination. Overall for the weekend, I rose to the occasion and wrestled my tail off. I got the Most Outstanding Wrestler and the Most Distinguished Athlete Awardfrom the marines. Thank you for all your help over the years. I have came a long way and hope to keep dominating through the summer and in the future. I hope to see you soon. I am looking forward to coming down to some summer camps.

Thanks again, Troy Nickerson 3X New York State Champ

Troy just completed 10th grade. He won his 3rd State Championship. In NY kids can compete varsity as an 8th grader, so Troy has won in grades 8, 9, and 10. He is also Cadet National Champion. Troy has been attending our camp multiple times annually since he was 9 years old. JP O’Connor, another wrestler from NY who has grown up attending my camps with Troy, also won the NY State Championship this season!

Ken,
Just a long overdue note of appreciation. My son, Danny, attended one of your 10-day Super Gold summer camps and it was one of the turning points of his high school wrestling career. He left your camp determined to excel, practiced hard year round, and had a great season finishing fifth at state. He was voted the most improved wrestler on his team. This was from a kid who couldn't hold a spot on his JV team as a sophomore, losing about 4 wrestle-offs that year. His career really started at your camp, learning the technique that would make him competitive at the next level. I wanted to say thanks just the same and let you know that you helped to make a difference.

John McCarthy

Ken,
Here is an update on Tates Creek wrestlers that attended your camps this year. I got Summer info yesterday and will be sending a bigger group this summer. 103 Dan Trejo 45-1 currently #1 in the state and had a great article written about him in the Lexington Herald Leader today. 112 Erik Anderson 28-3 (soph) at 112 ranked 6th in state and has a great shot at taking home the title. 119 Matt Ruttledge 6-1 (jr) was ranked 3rd before a season ending shoulder injury. 130 Boomer Brown 16-13 (soph) improving steadily. Workhorse. Will make his mark soon. 135 Tyler Brayboy 20-9 (Fresh) turning heads! 215 Brian Conlon 20-9 (Soph) should slide in and place at state.

Thanks again! Rusty Calvert

Ken,
I hope all is well with you. I hear your wrestling camps, clinics, products, and teams are second to none right now. Your campers Eric Galka and Jon Morrison are fantastic kids and are always two of the hardest workers in the room. They have great work ethics and are perfect for the practice room. They come ready to go every day. It has been great to have the opportunity to work with such amazing young wrestlers. Thanks Ken and good luck with everything that you are doing.

Charles Martelli University of Michigan '02, Gold Medal Camper who is now coaching Overtime Kids Club in Illinois.

Ken,
You had asked how Devohn was doing this year... Considering he is only a second year wrestler he is doing awesome. Devohn is 25-4 heading into the regional's this week and state's the following week. His 4 losses are between 2 kids. He has lost 3 times to the "defending" state champ, the last being a 2-0 score. 4 First places, 3 seconds, and one third. The last two tourneys he has not surrendered a single point. We'll see what happens the next two weeks. He is becoming extremely more focused at match time even without my encouragement. I do know FOR SURE that your camp was a great benefit towards his increase in intensity level. He just seems to matured a lot this year when he steps on the mat, or for that matter, just going to a tourney.

Andre Gibson USA Wrestling - USA Wrestler Advertising Manager Colorado Springs, CO Jan 18, 2003

Hi Ken, We are 1000 miles from Denver. We drove last summer to your camp, but will consider flying this summer. We are definitely coming. A definite PLUS to your camp was John Fritz - Wow. He was great with the kids! Your intensity is contagious...my boys still talk about your passion for the sport. Often, I tell them to walk on the mat with the intensity that you demonstrate.

Tamara Addis

Ken,
Quenten Fuentes who was at your camp this summer in Denver is Ranked #1 in the State at 112 pounds here in Colorado. He is 19-2 with his 2 losses coming at to 2 different returning State Champions at 119 pounds. Not bad for a freshman!!!!!!!!!!!! See you at camp this summer! Thanks Ken and keep up the good work!

Brian Velarde

Dear Ken & family,
I hope all's well in PA and everywhere else as you seem to be all over the place. I found your web site and am quite impressed. Your camps were great when I was a kid and they seem to be even better and more spread out now. I know it's been done through hard work. As for an update - I finished college in 2001, doing well all 4 years in both school and wrestling. I was captain my senior year. I couldn't have done all that without your help at your many camps. Thanks! I am going to by an attorney. After college I went to Budapest, Hungary for one year to teach English, and I am back now in my first year of law school at the University of Kentucky. My brother Drew is doing well in his senior year at Lawrence U. in Appleton, Wisconsin, and my dad, Bill, loves wrestling as much as ever. From the looks of your web pages, you seem to be doing just fine and staying awfully busy. Again, thanks for all your help in my younger days.

Dan Carman

Ken
Your detailed feedback and suggestions are excellent and greatly appreciated. My first year coaching has already been a great learning experience. The athletes are much different than the ones who attend camp. Many of the kids have quit because they thought it was going to be like the other years, little discipline, and intensity. I know I can make one or two great. Just as I did as a competitor, I have set high standards and plan to achieve them. I have also taken your approach to teaching wrestling. It is a great teacher of life. The skills you learn in wrestling carry over and a lot of these kids need that. Your advice means alot.

Thank you. Ben Gabriel

Coach Chertow,
Thanks a lot! You guys have never let me down from the quality of your camps to the commitment to your coaching staff even during the season. I have been improving steadily! Your camp system has given me the edge, and you and your awesome staff have helped me keep it.
Thanks, Phil

Dear Ken,
During high school I attended two of your training camps. Your camps taught me to value intensity, tenacity, and the value of hard work. At you camps I learned that the way to succeed is to know that you worked harder than your opponent. This made a huge difference in my wrestling and in the way I thought about thinks in life. So I'd like to say thank you, the camps that I attended really had a big impact on me.

Sincerly, Michael Duane

Ken
My name is Joe Bennett. I am a senior at Miami University in Ohio. I attended your camps every summer while I was in high school. I wrestled at Clyde High School in Ohio. You have made a great influence on my entire life, not just wrestling. I remember a time in high school when I was worried about making the varsity lineup. I wrote you a letter. It was more of a journal entry than a letter because I never expected you to write me back. But you did write me back. It was possibility the best thing anyone ever did for me. I ended up making the varsity lineup that season. The letter that you sent me is still framed above my bed in my room. Wrestling has been a source of motivation even now, having not wrestled in four years. I was able to coach a Junior High team in Cincinatti this past year. I was an incredible experience. I am paying my way through school and it has begun to get very tough. This summer I came up with an idea to start my own motivational business selling pictures, with wrestling being my first line. I was coming up with quotes to put on the bottom of my pictures and I came across your quote that was at the bottom of your technique guide, "You can learn a move so well that no one can stop it, if you want it bad enough, it is only a matter of time." I think that quote sums up everything that I wanted to say. I am writing to ask permission to use that quote on the bottom of one of my pictures. It would mean a lot to me. Thank you for everything that you do for kids. You are a special individual, the wrestling community is lucky to have. If you have any ideas for me, just let me know.

Thanks again. Sincerely Joe Bennett

Dear Mr.Chertow
I really appreciate how your camp changed my way of wrestling and how I look at this great sport of dedication. I really enjoyed how you dedicated yourself for me and all the other wrestlers. You really made me better I have improved greatly and I train everyday and eat right, thanks to you I have confidence in this upcoming season in completing my goal of finishing top 6 in states thank you!

Sincerely, Austin Jones

Hi Ken and all your staff!!
I just want to take a moment of your time to say a heartfelt "Thank you" for your camp, your dedication to the sport and most importantly caring about the future generation both on and off the mats!! My son, Corey Vasbinder, attended your camp this summer and it was a great experience for him! He was pleased, pumped up and excited (to say the least). and both his dad and I saw the change! Last year Corey was a first-year wrestler (15-10)...only going out for wrestling because he was cut from the basketball team and a wrestling coach went after him to join...THANK GOD!! ~ What an incredible season it was!! He lost 30 pounds (down to 185) and went from wrestling heavy weight to the 185 group. My husband and I knew nothing about wrestling but we instantly saw the determination, and drive this sport brought forth in our son! He's in 9th grade this year and we are really looking forward to the season ahead! I said all of this because Corey's number one sport has always been football. This past wrestling season has conditioned and toned him in ways that I can't even describe! His football coach uses him as an example of the many great attributes of wrestling and how it gives a football player "the edge"....(by the way he's kickin' butt and taking names in football) I love getting your emails and always forward them right away to Corey's hotmail account (but I like reading them too)! The Vasbinder family is looking forward to many great year's ahead in the wrestling arena and hope to get Corey to another of your camps when time/money allows. Not only is Corey a great athelete (aspiring to play football at Pitt University), he is an honor student and all-around wonderful young man! (No dumb jock here!) Thank you so much for what you do to make a difference in the lives of others! Blessings to you, your family, and staff.

Sincerely, Laurie Vasbinder Indiana, PA

Ken,
Your camp was top rate. My son and I learned a lot from some great coaches. Wow! What a lineup!! Being allowed to tape allows me to bring some of our experiences back with me to share. In the words of Arnold, I'll be back!

Bruce and Brandon Bocian

Ken,
I can't tell you how much my son, Dylan Rios, enjoyed your camp this summer in Cincinnati. He has spent the time since watching videos, practicing moves, and counting the days until wrestling season begins. Your approach to teaching skills, leadership, and the importance of education is second to none. You and your staff have made a huge impact on Dylan's skill and confidence...

Thank you! See you next year! Lou Rios

Thanks Ken!
We were just at your Jr Olympian camp in State College and Jake will be back next year. He had a great time.

Thanks again, Ed

Dear Mr.Chertow
I really appreciate how your camp changed my way of wrestling and how I look at this great sport of dedication. I really enjoyed how you dedicated yourself for me and all the other wrestlers. You really made me better I have improved greatly and I train everyday and eat right, thanks to you I have confidence in this upcoming season in completing my goal of finishing top 6 in states.

Thank you! Sincerely, Austin Jones

p.s. you might remember me from your camp in allentown in August you got your picture taken with me since it was my 16th birthday, thanks for your time.

Hello,
My eight year old son Jeremy attended your summer camp at State College. After a full summer of trying different camps, we agreed that the Chertow camp was absolutely the best way for us to spend our wrestling time and money. Jeremy would like very much to return as soon and as often as possible, including this coming weekend. Jeremy is very competitive and eager to learn. but I think the camp/clinic experience is much more beneficial to him than tournaments More importantly, he also excels at school. His athletic peers are at the top of their class, and so are his scholastic peers. Except for Jeremy, they are an entirely different group of kids at his school. Please accept Jeremy's application for fall training, not only for this weekend but for future sessions as well. We will do whatever it takes to get him there. Also, thanks for doing such a great job with the kids. We have been to premier soccer camps and a few good wrestling camps, but your organization is leaps and bounds ahead of any other. Sincerely, Greg Schwartz Ken, Thanks for all the help you have given me at your camps. It helped me win in Fargo. I want to continue to train with you so that next summer I can win it again. I'm moving to State College this year. I will be in 8th grade at the Park Forest Middle School. I'm looking forward to working with you this year.

Thanks again for all your help. Pat McCaffrey

Ken,
The camp here in Colorado was great.I just came from a league meeting and told them about our experience. As soon as you find out the dates you and John are coming back to Colorado the coaches in the league would like the info so they can start planing.

Thanks, Victor Fuentes

Ken, I just wanted to write you a quick thank you for what was a great camp for my wife and son. My wife, CeCe, said she learned a ton at the women's camp and got her tail worked off (which she loved),