Years of sweat, sacrifice ... as well as the love and emotional support of friends and family.
It doesn't hurt to have some financial support, too.
That's the thinking of wrestling and MMA (mixed martial arts) gear supplier Cradle Gear and its Signature Series product line which benefits a number of U.S. wrestlers including Coleman Scott, who will be competing at the 2012 Olympics in London.
Support for top wrestlers
Cradle Gear, based in northeast Ohio, developed the Signature Series which features shirts and shorts for Scott (wrestling freestyle at the 2012 Olympics at 60 kilos), as well as Sam Hazewinkel, Jared Frayer, Spenser Mango, Justin Lester, Adeline Gray, Angel Escobedo, Travis Paulson, Trent Paulson, and Jon Reader, among other Olympians and Olympic hopefuls.
Cradle Gear founder and CEO Jason Gillis (center) with a group of Coleman Scott supporters at the Grapple in the Big Apple held in Times Square (Photo/Larry Slater)It's as simple as this: A customer purchases $40 shorts from the Signature Series, for example, and the participating athlete gets $20. This can add up to a significant dollar amount for participating athletes.
"Justin Lester made $5,000 in one day at a fundraising event," said Gillis. "Coleman Scott has made about $45,000 from his gear."
Olympic freestyle wrestler Scott described the mechanics of the Signature Series program for participating athletes.
"We get a check every two weeks," said the former Oklahoma State wrestler.
When asked how much he had received from the program, Scott paused for a moment, then responded by saying, "It's hard to add up in my head because we constantly get payments. I'd say we've gotten at least $10,000 this year."
"They're great at supplying shirts for our fundraisers."
Coleman Scott celebrates with his coaches after making the U.S. Olympic Team (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)You can't buy that kind of support ... or exposure. And that exposure works for the wrestler, for the sport of wrestling in terms of media coverage (especially with the Beat The Streets Gala in America's largest media market), and for Cradle Gear as well.
You are what you wear
Another plus for the wrestlers participating in the Signature Series program: Each has a say in what gear is offered, and how it looks. For example, go to the Signature Series page at the Cradle Gear website, click on Adeline Gray's name, and you'll find Vale Tudo shorts. Athletes can also make recommendations as to colors and other design elements which reflect who he or she is.
"Athletes have input on what things look like," according to Cradle Gear's Gills. "They work with our staff designers to achieve the look they want."
"For example, Jon Reader items have a gladiator theme, while Coleman Scott's are ‘Cowboy Up.'"
Wrestling fans can order the items of their choice online at the Cradle Gear website, or at individual wrestler fundraisers.
How Signature Series came to life
"We have supplied singlets for a number of World Team Trials over the years," said Gillis. "I went to the World Team Trials. I gave away some items. Coleman Scott, Justin Lester immediately came on board."
Cradle Gear produces a variety of products, including bagsThe Signature Series is a natural progression of the Cradle Gear philosophy.
Gillis launched the company to provide quality gear at an affordable price, being aware that many amateur athletes are feeling the financial pinch of high-priced equipment and the "pay to play" requirements for participating in sports in more and more schools. He's concerned that these financial issues are putting up barriers to shut out some athletes.
In addition to his concerns about participation costs, Gillis is aware of the financial challenges specific to amateur wrestlers.
In an October 2011 interview with InterMat, Gillis said, "Amateur wrestling is one sport where athletes don't get much in the way of financial compensation, unless they win medals at the Worlds or Olympics, or go into professional MMA."
That was the impetus for the Signature Series and how it shares a portion of proceeds with participating wrestlers.
Gillis is even concerned about making the program more rewarding to the participating athletes.
"We're trying to pick no more than two or three wrestlers per weight class," said Gillis.
In summing up the basics of the Signature Series, Gills said, "It's a way for fans to get cool-looking, quality gear at a good price, and benefit our athletes at the same time."
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