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Shut Up and Wrestle!
Camp Doesn't Care About Gay or Straight; Just Bring Your Best

By Gene Dermody
Special to Outsports

The eight annual HillSide wrestling camp and tournament was held July19-22 in the hills of Northeast Pennsylvania and attracted 155 competitors from North America and Europe.

Originally conceived in 1994 as an informal wrestling camp for the more serious gay wrestlers to get even more competitive, it has since evolved into a multifaceted ‘mixed’ event. It has become the signature happening for the growing cult of ``underground grapplers,'' who have evolved from ``Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,'' to ``Don’t Care--Shut Up and Wrestle.''

Many of the various ‘grappling’ styles were well represented (Freestyle, Greco, Sombo, Folk, Submission, and Pro). There was a lot more cross technical interaction than in previous years. Technique and rules clinics and live sparring filled the schedule from dawn until very late into the night, and there were plenty of coaches, opponents, and mat space under the multiple tents.

This year’s group, though slightly smaller than previous years, was nonetheless more ‘`hard-core.''. Even my freestyle bias has been compromised. It is just amazing how my first three choke submissions (‘`tapouts’') have changed my view of the world. 

Coupled with the non-stop mat action, the campsite offers an outdoor pool, a nightly bonfire, and numerous hiking trails. All meals are prepared and taken outdoors communally. Camaraderie, competition and family (and no deodorant) are the keywords that best epitomize the event. There is only one requirement: all must wrestle to the best of their ability. 

Probably the most competitive and physical match of the weekend occurred Saturday at 188 pounds between Philadelphia Spartan’s Malcolm and San Francisco Golden Gate Wrestling’s Calvin. As expected (but not hyped), the entire camp was riveted on this clash of titans (which only proved that we must go to Gay Games VI in Sydney in 2002 to see it resolved). 

One of the staples of the weekend is the annual meeting of Wrestlers Without Borders, an international federation of wrestling teams that maintains voting directorship status with the Federation of Gay Games. Some of the clubs represented this year were delegates from New York City, San Francisco, Seattle, San Diego, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Toronto, Sydney, Boston, Washington D.C., Frankfurt and Tampa. 

High on the agenda was the evaluation of the bids for Gay Games 2006 (Los Angeles, Montreal, Chicago, and Atlanta), one of which will be chosen this October in Johannesburg. Also discussed was the upcoming Sydney 2002 Gay Games, more aggressive outreach to European clubs, establishing a Web site, the securing of a professional Federation owned video of the wrestling competition, and the establishment of an annual circuit of international wrestling events similar to HillSide. Rick Van Tassell of Philadelphia and Erich Richter of San Francisco were unanimously elected WWB Federation representatives and WWB officers for 2001/2002. 

This year’s wrestlers were treated to some extraordinary entertainment. Andreas Czerney of Frankfurt, besides being one of the most skilled and respected HillSide wrestlers, is a renowned German opera singer (bass-baritone). This ‘`Singen-Ringen'' cuts an extraordinarily handsome figure in a singlet or a dragoon uniform, besides sending dark chills through your spine when he sings. He has just recently released a CD recording of Schubert’s ``Die Winterreisse.'' 

Further information will soon be available from WWB's Web site or for now from Golden Gate Wrestling Club's site.

Gene Dermody is a coach with the Golden Gate Wrestling Club. He is also vice president for the Federation of Gay Games, and Federation Sports Wrestling Coordinator for the Sydney 2002 Gay Games VI.

Aug. 3, 2001