For the seventh time in eight years, young wrestlers traveled to Healdsburg last week to sharpen skills, compare notes and share their enthusiasm for the sport in the Drew Esquivel Memorial Wrestling Camp, held June 12-14 on the Healdsburg High campus.
The exceptional year was 2020, when the Covid pandemic kept people home. But even then, online wrestlers came up with a scored physical challenge that everyone could do remotely on their own, keeping the camp alive.
Although the camp is several years old, it was held for the first time in the Drew Esquivel Hall, renamed (from Frost Hall) just last year for the popular Healdsburg student-athlete who died in an automobile accident in New York in 2016.
“It’s not a competition, but a chance for young wrestlers from across the area and even beyond to work out and ‘let the kids work on their skills,’” said Healdsburg High wrestling coach Scott Weidemier.
“We do some competitive games and stuff throughout the camp, but it’s just all very informal and just having fun,” he said. “It’s really about getting the kids together, giving some instruction and bringing the fun back to the sport a little bit.”
This year about 70 young wrestlers showed up, a fairly large number, many from the Redwood Empire, the South Bay and the Sacramento area, but some from as far away as Minnesota. The camp itself was started in 2017 by Weidemier and some of Esquivel’s friends, and coaches from MIT, in Boston, who came out to Healdsburg for a memorial service. Esquivel attended MIT and was in the wrestling program, and was able to attend the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology thanks to a full scholarship.
“I was talking to them about Drew and reminiscing about things, then we decided that we wanted to do something to give back to the sport in Drew’s name,” Weidemier said. The idea of a wrestling camp came up, the coach remembered, to pass knowledge onto the kids and help the sport. The idea was readily accepted. “We thought that would really be a cool way to honor him.”
Participants range from 8 years old through high school and learn about the program through email, social media and word-of-mouth in the youth wrestling community. There are a variety of fitness and team-building exercises, including a Saturday morning physical challenge on the last day of camp.
Weidemier said some Boston wrestlers and coaches come every year to participate, and they bring a different perspective on the sport. “These Boston guys are quite a hoot sometimes,” he said, chuckling.
“They love the sport, and it’s great for our coaches and for the kids to be able to see another side. It’s really fun to get an East Coast perspective on some of the techniques—little twists, little ways of doing things somewhat differently. And they pick up stuff from us that we’re doing a little different out here,” Weidemier said.
Andy and Susanne Esquivel, Drew’s parents, not only keep the memory of their son alive but contribute every year to welcoming wrestling kids and coaches to town. They host the MIT coaches and current wrestlers, help provide meals and house as many as they can. Susanne and Nikki Bosco, coach John Bosco’s daughter, make 70 sandwiches every day to feed the hungry young grapplers. And photographer Michael Lucid’s wife, Joyce, makes “dozens of incredible cookies,” Susanne said.
They are not the only locals to help out. “The Healdsburg Wrestling community is full of dedicated, generous and fun people,” said Susanne Esquivel. “Each year it’s awesome to spend time with new and returning wrestling families from Healdsburg and all over.”
The Drew Esquivel Memorial Wrestling Camp is held every June just after the school year ends. For more information, contact Scott Weidemier at sw********@**sd.com.
