FORT BENNING, Ga., (Dec. 18, 2013) -- Chances are, if you go to Briant Wells Field House on Tuesday and Thursday evenings you will find a group of boys and girls, from first through eighth grade, moving around the mats crouching, rolling, tumbling and duck walking.

No, they are not a gymnastics team, but wrestlers learning the tools of the trade under the watchful eye of their coach, Michael Stull.

The Child, Youth & School Services wrestling team, appropriately named Brawlers, meet twice a week to learn about wrestling and get young grapplers accustomed to what it takes to be a good wrestler, Stull said.

"Some of that is having good mobility in your joints and muscles and developing muscles that most starting out don't have," he said. "Some of it's gymnastics, some of it's athleticism, but a lot of it is technique. What we're trying to get the kids use to is good wrestling technique."

Stull said one key is being able to teach his wrestlers what it means to be in a position to be a good wrestler and what it takes to be successful.

"We start off every practice with some light conditioning, stretching and some warm ups," he said. "Stretching is an important part of injury proofing. Their young bodies need to be accustomed to being in awkward positions and falling on the mat … then we do some tumbling. Tumbling is a big part of a good wrestlers' ability … it's part of being able to be successful."

Stull said the gymnastics part of the team's training involves somersaults, back rolls, shoulder tucks, front rolls and walking on their hands. The team also does strengthening exercises such as neck bridges to increase the strength in the neck, push ups, sit ups and other exercises that help build muscle the wrestlers may not have at this time.

But, there are also other benefits wrestling brings to a participant, he said.

"You need to be disciplined to be a good wrestler," he said. "So, a lot of it is self-discipline and work ethic. Accountability is another aspect of it. As a wrestler matures, you find out pretty quickly that no one else is out there on that mat with you. When you step out there on that mat you find out about accountability and what you have done in preparation for that match."

The team currently consists of 10 wrestlers with many different experience levels, Stull said.

"We have a small group this year," he said. "It's limited due to the fact we have only one coach, but I would welcome anyone qualified person who can coach to assist and get them back into the sport they love. (The sport) gave me a lot as a young adult and I was excited to get back out on the mat with these guys and teach them a little bit of what I know and give back to the sport that gave me so much."

Currently, Stull said there is one more tournament planned for the team.

"Most of the competitions during the winter season are for middle aged school kids," he said. "USA wrestling starts at 6 years old, but what we have available here in the Columbus area is for sixth, seventh and eighth grade."

The next tournament is set for Jan. 18 at Columbus High School.

"More and more opportunities will start to come up as we progress here," he said. "And, I'm talking with some of the coaches here within the community to line up some exhibition matches for some of our younger kids."

If you would like to assist Stull, stop by CYSS, and fill out an application. A background check is required as part of the process. Once the application is filled out and the background check completed, the certification process will be completed by CYSS.