John Park

FOUNDER, TREASURER & SECRETARY

I founded this program in gratitude to the sport that has shaped my life ever since my older brother Peter brought home wrestling mats in grade nine. Peter needed someone to practice on, and he naturally turned to his younger brother.

Despite being beaten up all summer, I was hooked. Since then, I have benefited from wrestling equally by winning medals and being pinned, from competing for my country to coaching another generation.

Wrestling has given me the confidence to believe in myself and to stand up for what I believe in. It has provided lifelong friendships, a full ride through university as a national team member, a tenacious work ethic, and travel. Wrestling has taught me life and people skills to start, operate and sell a successful business and the social conscience to realize that I didn’t do it on my own.

Both a team and an individual sport, wrestling demands and builds strong character. I tell parents that if their children can handle the rigours of our wonderful sport, they will successfully transfer the skills of discipline, determination, hard work, and patience to academic life and any post-wrestling careers and opportunities they wish to pursue.