Down in the basement of Markin, students are getting ready to throw down. When you walk into the room, you see crouched fighters in a dance of power. Pinning, lifting, flipping and tumbling bodies are found in a room with perspiration in the air.
It’s not senseless roughhousing; it is an ancient sport that’s been taking place since the start of human history and continuing on campus with the help of wrestling club.
Club President, Robert White, a junior business management and leadership major, has been with the group since his freshman year. His participation in the sport, however, has gone even farther.
“I originally joined the wrestling club because it was a big part of my high school experience,” White said. “I wanted to continue that when I came to college. I found a really good spot here with the club.”
There are group trips to restaurants, appearances at Bradley events like the Homecoming parade, and the annual wrestling tournament in the spring for Bradley students to sign-up. While the club aimed at recruiting fraternity members, it’s open to students outside of those organizations.
Club member Malik Jenkins, a senior theater arts major, said that he’s seen members gain leadership skills, a brotherhood and seen them “liven up their soul” through the love of the sport.
Jenkins said students should join the club because it teaches more than just improving oneself; it teaches new skills.
“It teaches you discipline, the limits of your fatigue,” Jenkins said. “My coach always told me that, ‘fatigue will make a coward out of you.’ That’s why we train with people that have the same love and compassion for wrestling.”
While the sport can seem intense, practices are open to all that have any remote interest. They take it easy for newcomers that want to show up and learn before getting into the real action.
“There’s not a ton of wrestlers here on campus,” said vice president Blake Harris, junior animation major. “[We want] to reach out to other clubs and maybe even former football players.”
By replacing what can’t be provided at Bradley, like football, the club hopes to gain more traction and a steady amount of members. This is not just to keep the club alive, but for the bonds, character and skills that are made with the sport.
Students meet for practice every Tuesday and Thursday and music is put on blast to get the adrenaline going. Students are lined up to show off or learn some moves on the mat.
While the positions can look daunting, peers are standing by and watching closely.
Members give feedback and discuss ways of improving after each round of tussling. Years of experience with the sport leads every part of the body.
For those who like to support outside of the fight, wrestling club will be selling merchandise and having fundraising events throughout the year. The club meets Tuesdays at 4 p.m. in Markin room 17. Club President Ryan White can be reached at rwhite@mail.bradley.edu.
