Jamison imparts spirit of service upon wrestlers

Assistant coach Joe Jamison is a second and third grade math academic support instructor at Ben Franklin and helped get the ball rolling with the team’s involvement.

“As assistant wrestling coach and director of community service for the wrestling team, it is my job to find meaningful experiences for the wrestlers that will not only benefit the community, but the wrestlers themselves,” Jamison said.

Over the summer the team took part in Autism Speaks’ Walk Now for Autism, raising more than $3,000 for autism research. While the walk was rewarding, the wrestlers wanted a more hands-on service project for the school year.

Jamison decided to bridge the gap between his two jobs, seeing an opportunity for the team to help out in the community when the Ben Franklin Elementary School celebrated Read Across America. The program invites community members to visit the school and read picture books to the students.

“Children as young as first grade are aware of Princeton’s academic reputation and of course are fond of athletics,” Jamison said. “With the current state of professional athletics with regards to performance-enhancing drugs and unsportsmanlike behavior, I saw this as a unique opportunity for Princeton student-athletes to interact with younger students, promote literacy and serve as role models for the community.”

Wrestlers may be the best athletes for such a job.

The sport took a blow after Title IX was passed in 1972. Because wrestling lacks a “sister sport” — a girls’ sport with which it can split funds — on most campuses, many schools abandoned their programs or cut back on funding. Most people don’t even know about the intense physical demands of the sport, as collegiate wrestling is rarely televised. The wrestlers themselves tend to be humble and hardworking, a rarity in today’s world of sex, steroids and SportsCenter. These attributes are just what children should see when they meet athletes.

Participants included head coach Chris Ayres, assistant coach Andy Lausier, senior 165-pounder Johnny Clore, junior 157-pounder Marty Everin, senior heavyweight Sam Ritter, junior 157-pounder Aaron Casp and sophomore 133-pounder Nikhil Pereira. Due to class schedules, other members of the team were unable to participate. Everin took particular pleasure in sharing “Where the Wild Things Are” on Tuesday.

“The most rewarding part by far was getting to see the look of intrigue and enthusiasm on the kids’ faces as I read the book to them,” Everin said in an e-mail.

The Tigers continue to labor away this week in preparation for the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association tournament next Saturday. But they do so having completed a different kind of labor — service. On a campus sometimes characterized by frenzied anxiety over academic, athletic and artistic success, the Princeton wrestling team has reminded us that it’s also valuable to slow down and give back to those around you.