Local wrestling club to hold fundraiser for student athletes
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BLACKFOOT — A longtime Blackfoot wrestling club has a new name. The Sons of Thunder Academy, formally known as Three Style Elite, is unique in that they offer a training regimen that is stricter than a typical wrestling club.
Coach Jacob Eck, said K-12 athletes train at least five times during the week.
“We have athletes that train twice a day. In the morning time they do conditioning, and or strength training … sometimes even nutrition, or they video themselves,” he said.
The Academy seeks to help young athletes maximize physical potential, but they also encourage the students to beef up their academic standards.
“The goals are … for all the kids to be successful in school first, and then after that on the mat,” said Eck.
Academy students compete regionally and nationally. Two of their cadet athletes, have placed within the top eight wrestlers in the nation, in their division for All American Freestyle.
“We compete at the national level, and we do our local and regional events when they are in season. We had high school kids just compete over in Fargo North Dakota, at the USA Wrestling Nationals … We had a kid that was an All American and made the Fargo Finals,” Co-Founder Jeff Anderson said.
The Sons of Thunder Athletic Academy is set to host their first ever Zombie Mud n’ Blood Run this Saturday. Runners will have to escape infected Zombies in a Post-Apocalyptic obstacle course. All proceeds will go toward operating costs for Sons of Thunder, which include equipment and building upgrades.
Registration information can be found online through the Sons of Thunder Facebook page. Participants can also register the morning of the event.