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One of Virginia’s top high school wrestlers hones his craft with an axe One of Virginia’s top high school wrestlers hones his craft with an ax
(35 minutes later)
The day’s last sunlight streamed in, painting the Curtis family’s chickens a shade of gold as they darted in and out of the massive woodpile. Three generations of boys and men swung axes, sending seasoned pieces of oak and hickory flying across their Manassas lot. The birds ran underneath their raised metal, pausing to look up at the blades before being shooed out of the way.The day’s last sunlight streamed in, painting the Curtis family’s chickens a shade of gold as they darted in and out of the massive woodpile. Three generations of boys and men swung axes, sending seasoned pieces of oak and hickory flying across their Manassas lot. The birds ran underneath their raised metal, pausing to look up at the blades before being shooed out of the way.
A record-breaking snowstorm was approaching late last month. Production for the family business, Freedom Tree Service, was in overtime as demand grew for the busiest day of the year.A record-breaking snowstorm was approaching late last month. Production for the family business, Freedom Tree Service, was in overtime as demand grew for the busiest day of the year.
Johnny Curtis revved up his chainsaw. The motor whined as his two sons, both wrestlers at Battlefield High in nearby Haymarket, hacked the old fashioned way alongside their 85-year-old grandfather, Glenn.Johnny Curtis revved up his chainsaw. The motor whined as his two sons, both wrestlers at Battlefield High in nearby Haymarket, hacked the old fashioned way alongside their 85-year-old grandfather, Glenn.
River Curtis, a sophomore competing at 126 pounds, and his brother Beau, a 113-pound freshman yet to hit his growth spurt, were not splitting wood after a two-hour wrestling practice just to earn their allowance.River Curtis, a sophomore competing at 126 pounds, and his brother Beau, a 113-pound freshman yet to hit his growth spurt, were not splitting wood after a two-hour wrestling practice just to earn their allowance.
Out here, the Curtis clan built a champion. The lumberjack workouts helped turn River into a wiry Virginia 6A state title winner last year and All-Met selection as a freshman. Last weekend, he notched pins in the first minute of his first two matches before winning the Conference 8 title with a major decision in the final.Out here, the Curtis clan built a champion. The lumberjack workouts helped turn River into a wiry Virginia 6A state title winner last year and All-Met selection as a freshman. Last weekend, he notched pins in the first minute of his first two matches before winning the Conference 8 title with a major decision in the final.
When other wrestlers see River, 16, step up to the mat, most of them don’t know how he’s built up his back, fingers and forearms at the woodpile. River likes to throw his opponents, raising them up and dropping them with a full-body crunch.When other wrestlers see River, 16, step up to the mat, most of them don’t know how he’s built up his back, fingers and forearms at the woodpile. River likes to throw his opponents, raising them up and dropping them with a full-body crunch.
“A lot of times I’m like throwing the guy, I just picture myself chopping wood at the same time,” Curtis said.“A lot of times I’m like throwing the guy, I just picture myself chopping wood at the same time,” Curtis said.
After it’s over, the other boys often approach the twiggy kid with a shock of red hair and say, “You’re a lot stronger than you look.”After it’s over, the other boys often approach the twiggy kid with a shock of red hair and say, “You’re a lot stronger than you look.”
“River is one of those guys that he’s very deceptively strong. We almost look at him as like a snake,” Battlefield Coach Brian Shaffer said. “He’s not the guy that’s cut out of stone and is impressive when he walks out there. But man, he’s tough. He’s strong. When he locks onto you, especially in some of those quarter nelsons and those throws, you’re going to feel it.”“River is one of those guys that he’s very deceptively strong. We almost look at him as like a snake,” Battlefield Coach Brian Shaffer said. “He’s not the guy that’s cut out of stone and is impressive when he walks out there. But man, he’s tough. He’s strong. When he locks onto you, especially in some of those quarter nelsons and those throws, you’re going to feel it.”
Wrestling is a pulling sport. A bench press won’t help you. If you’re on your back pushing up, it’s already too late.Wrestling is a pulling sport. A bench press won’t help you. If you’re on your back pushing up, it’s already too late.
By circling as they chop, the boys are learning to adjust their footwork in awkward positions. By lifting and throwing wooden trunks wider than their own, they’re building whole body strength and learning to use their hips. By facing the wind in the dead of winter, they’re getting tough.By circling as they chop, the boys are learning to adjust their footwork in awkward positions. By lifting and throwing wooden trunks wider than their own, they’re building whole body strength and learning to use their hips. By facing the wind in the dead of winter, they’re getting tough.
“It just helps you mentally sometimes when it’s cold and you want to quit, but your dad is yelling at you,” Beau Curtis, 14, said. “It just gives you a strong mindset that other people don’t’ really have.”“It just helps you mentally sometimes when it’s cold and you want to quit, but your dad is yelling at you,” Beau Curtis, 14, said. “It just gives you a strong mindset that other people don’t’ really have.”
When the boys chop wood, they never break a balanced stance. One strike won’t split a log. It takes strategic swings along the grain and three or four thumps. Johnny says some stumps could make a preacher curse. Some days, Johnny has the boys shot put logs.When the boys chop wood, they never break a balanced stance. One strike won’t split a log. It takes strategic swings along the grain and three or four thumps. Johnny says some stumps could make a preacher curse. Some days, Johnny has the boys shot put logs.
Inside the house, there’s a custom built wrestling room that overlooks the woodyard. Johnny conducts club wrestling practices he finishes with Christian bible devotionals. The boys warm up with dodgeball and sharpen themselves against the best wrestlers in Prince William County. Bodyweight exercises have helped give River wide shoulders that become more conspicuous in a windbreaker.Inside the house, there’s a custom built wrestling room that overlooks the woodyard. Johnny conducts club wrestling practices he finishes with Christian bible devotionals. The boys warm up with dodgeball and sharpen themselves against the best wrestlers in Prince William County. Bodyweight exercises have helped give River wide shoulders that become more conspicuous in a windbreaker.
Much of the boys’ success comes from yardwork, but genetics have something to do with it. Johnny, River and Beau’s father, was a two-time all-American wrestler at George Mason and joined the United States national team for four years.Much of the boys’ success comes from yardwork, but genetics have something to do with it. Johnny, River and Beau’s father, was a two-time all-American wrestler at George Mason and joined the United States national team for four years.
As a member of a Christian athletic missionary group, Johnny and his wife Karen temporarily moved to Moscow in 1998. That was where Johnny observed Russian wrestlers training with exercise bands and body weight exercises because they didn’t want to get too “woody,” or stiff.As a member of a Christian athletic missionary group, Johnny and his wife Karen temporarily moved to Moscow in 1998. That was where Johnny observed Russian wrestlers training with exercise bands and body weight exercises because they didn’t want to get too “woody,” or stiff.
When he began competing in mixed martial arts and eventually training fighters, Johnny saw videos of Chuck Liddell sprinting uphill with a wheelbarrow full of bricks. A lightbulb went on.When he began competing in mixed martial arts and eventually training fighters, Johnny saw videos of Chuck Liddell sprinting uphill with a wheelbarrow full of bricks. A lightbulb went on.
“They are paying people for themselves to do manual labor,” Johnny said. “So I’m thinking, okay, I’m just going to save money and go out to the woodpile and get creative.”“They are paying people for themselves to do manual labor,” Johnny said. “So I’m thinking, okay, I’m just going to save money and go out to the woodpile and get creative.”
As a result, his sons have learned the value of hard work while training and bonding with the elder Curtis men. The January day before Winter Storm Jonas hit yielded four checks made out for $75 or $80 depending on the size of the truck bed crunching in reverse over the gravel driveway.As a result, his sons have learned the value of hard work while training and bonding with the elder Curtis men. The January day before Winter Storm Jonas hit yielded four checks made out for $75 or $80 depending on the size of the truck bed crunching in reverse over the gravel driveway.
The money will help River pitch in to pay for his first car. The sense of accomplishment was free.The money will help River pitch in to pay for his first car. The sense of accomplishment was free.
As the brothers hacked away, Johnny could hear the telltale crack of an axe clearing a log. That was a pin shot. As the brothers hacked away, Johnny could hear the telltale crack of an ax clearing a log. That was a pin shot.
He turned his head and said, “Doesn’t that feel good?”He turned his head and said, “Doesn’t that feel good?”