'The Pound' Hopes to Throw Down Competition Saturday at Ramona High

This weekend, the San Diego Imperial Kids Wrestling Association (SDIKWA) is throwing things down at Ramona High School, and wrestling club coach Eddie Badgett says his kids are ready.

"We do have undefeated wrestler's from our club," Badgett told Patch in an email."We practice five days a week, Monday through Friday, and wrestle on Sundays."

Badgett's club, appropriately dubbed "The Pound," has 25 youth members, some of which will be competing in the SDIKWA tournament Saturday.

"We will be having help from the Ramona Wrestling Club's high schoolers on manning the scoring tables for the tournament," Badgett said of the Feb. 9 competition. "We are anticipating about 250 kids from all over."

Last October, Badgett attended the SDKIWA meeting and entered Ramona High into the hat for this particular tournament to be held. RHS won the bid and will play host for the open tournament.

Badgett said the tournament rules are hard to explain, but depending on brackets, the kids can wrestle up to three times.

"You would have to come watch," Badgett said.

You can also come and wrestle! The open tournament costs $10 to enter if you're a part of SDIKWA and $20 for nonmembers. Of course, if you're more about sitting down than throwing down, spectators can watch for free.

The SDIKWA open tourmanent will be held at the Ramona High School Gym on Feb. 9, with the first match of the day beginning at 8:30 a.m.

Badgett said a program for those interested in learning the fundamentals of wrestling will begin in March. Interested athletes can email Badgett at eddie.badgett@gmail.com for more details.

Good luck to "The Pound" in Saturday's tourney!