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McLaughlin's Love of Wrestling Sparks Growth in PAWS Program

By Bill Alden

The direction of Mark McLaughlin's life changed dramatically when he competed in a recreational wrestling club in Milburn as a youngster in the 1970s.

Athletically, his experience with the club laid the foundation for a glittering wrestling career at the Pingry School and then at the College of William and Mary.

McLaughlin, who is in the wrestling Hall of Fame at both schools, was the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) champion at 142 pounds in his senior year in college in 1988.

In the classroom, the discipline and persistence McLaughlin developed through wrestling helped him get through the Medical College of Virginia and become a successful brain and spinal surgeon.

When Dr. McLaughlin moved to the Princeton area two years ago from Massachusetts to join the Neuro-Group in Lawrenceville, he decided that he wanted local youths to have the benefit of the same lessons he learned at Milburn and he signed on to be a coach with the Princeton Amateur Wrestling Society (PAWS).

The energetic McLaughlin, 38, whose three sons participate in PAWS, quickly became a driving force in the group, which is a program of the Princeton Recreation Department and had been run by Princeton University wrestling head coach Michael New.

With McLaughlin taking a leading role, PAWS has become one of the quickest growing recreational athletic programs in the area, going from 19 wrestlers in 2001 to nearly 50 this season.

For McLaughlin, spearheading the recent success of PAWS, which is open to boys and girls in grades 3-8, has been a labor of love.

"I have a pure love of wrestling," said McLaughlin, a Skillman resident who estimates that he puts in an average of 10-15 hours a week on PAWS during its season which runs from November through February.

"When I contacted Mike New and told him that I wanted to get involved with my kids, he said 'I've been waiting for a guy like you.' I walked into a turnkey operation."

To McLaughlin, the mission of PAWS doesn't end with teaching the participants takedown moves and half nelsons.

"We teach the kids about wrestling, imparting the basics of the sport," explained McLaughlin, who notes that he considers his club coach John Serrutto one of the five most influential people in his life. "But more importantly we teach them about being fit, being a sportsman, and developing discipline."

The PAWS program meets Tuesday and Thursday night in the Princeton wrestling room in the bowels of Jadwin Gym for 1 1/2 hour practices.

The sessions consist of a 15-minute warm-up, 15 minutes of drills, 30 minutes for teaching new moves and drilling old moves, 15 minutes of live wrestling and 15 minutes of games.

On Saturdays, PAWS wrestlers participate in competitions among themselves or with other clubs. The program is affiliated with the Mercer County Youth Wrestling League

In assessing the program's recent surge, McLaughlin points to several factors. "We have a good balance of technique and fun," said McLaughlin, who proudly notes that the club had seven champions and seven second-place finishers in the Mercer youth wrestling championship meet. "I try to organize it well and get the parents involved. We've had good word of mouth help from the kids and parents."

The program aims to accommodate both kids who just want to learn the sport and those who are looking to become champions.

"Some kids are just there to become recreational wrestlers and that's great," added McLaughlin. "We also have a group of kids looking to become better wrestlers in high school and maybe compete at college. I think the goal is to get kids exposed to wrestling and give them the opportunity to compete at the next level if they choose to do so."

And who knows, competing in PAWS may add to the ranks of surgeons. "I see a lot of similarities between wrestling and surgery," added McLaughlin. "I still go into a locker room every day and put on a uniform and fight an opponent - disease."

With what McLaughlin has gained through wrestling, he is better prepared to carry on that fight.