Wrestling good sport to boost a kids self-esteem: RCMP

SACKVILLE
By Yvette d'Entremont - The Weekly News
RCMP Cpl. Mike Lidstone is used to the startled looks he receives when he's at a school dressed in his full Mountie uniform.
That's because he's also wearing bright blue wrestling boots and is wrestling students on the mat.
The Sackville resident works at the RCMP's Windsor detachment and is a passionate wrestling coach and advocate for the sport. He became actively involved with wrestling more than a decade ago while living in British Columbia and he hasn't looked back since.
Youth violence, drugs
"As a police officer, many experts say one thing that's most common amongst those involved with youth violence and drugs is low self-esteem," Lidstone said. "If you can boost their self-esteem through sport, you can get them to avoid those negative involvements. Wrestling for me is the best sport I've seen for boosting kids' self-esteem."
Lidstone said wrestling is ideal because males and females, as well as smaller and larger youths, can participate in varying weight categories. In addition, those with few financial resources don't have to worry about forking out money on expensive equipment.
"All they have to do is show up in a pair of shorts and a T-shirt, eventually get a pair of wrestling boots, and they're good to go," he said.
In addition to helping implement wrestling festivals and tournaments in British Columbia and Ontario, Lidstone is responsible for spearheading the annual Atlantic High School Wrestling Festival.
366 students
That RCMP-sponsored event attracted 366 junior and senior high school students from across the Maritimes to Sackville High last weekend. Last year's inaugural event was hosted at Citadel High. Lidstone said Sackville High will become their regular festival venue because it boasts the largest high school gym in HRM.
"This is the largest tournament of its kind east of Toronto, and it generates a whole different level of excitement for the sport," Lidstone said. "By participating, these kids get the opportunity to get first-hand expertise of a large, grandiose tournament with lots of excitement and they see to what level the sport can go."
ydentremont@hfxnews.ca