Freestyle wrestling star Chase Pami speaks to a class of Denver high school students about life traits needed for success.

USA Wrestling athletes, coaches and staff participated in a special Olympic-themed education program at a public high school in Denver, Colo. on Friday, January 6. 

A Team USA delegation of 11 made the drive from the U.S. Olympic Training Center an hour north to CEC Middle College, a special career education high school within the Denver Public Schools. The facility is only a few blocks from Sports Authority Field, the stadium where the NFL Denver Broncos play.

The entire school is focusing this year on “What it Takes to be a Champion in Life,” using the Olympic Games and the U.S. wrestlers as examples of what it takes to succeed. Darryl Miller, a teacher at the school and one of USA Wrestling’s most active athletic trainers, helped organize this program, which kicked off with the day-long visit from the Team USA wrestlers.

“We tell these students every day the importance of being a champion in life,” said Miller. “We want to empower these kids, whatever discipline they choose. We felt that with the 2012 Olympics coming up, what a wonderful theme this would be for them.”

There are banners about this program in the school, with USA Wrestling and Olympic Training Center logos. In addition, an Olympic word wall, with 30 different words which describe championship traits, is central to the project.

“We are hoping working with our Olympic athletes who embrace all of these characteristics that the students can realize that they can make a difference by taking some of these characteristics and applying them to their lives,” said Miller.

VIDEO: Darryl Miller talks about Olympic program at school

Team USA consisted of men’s freestyle wrestlers Phillip Simpson, Chase Pami, Moza Fay, Wynn Michalak, Derek Moore, Nathan Burak and Ryan Marble, women’s freestyle wrestlers Adeline Gray and Melissa Simmons, plus National Freestyle Developmental Coach Bill Zadick and National Teams Director Mitch Hull.

There were two assemblies held during the day, kicking off with introductions during the morning, and a live wrestling demonstration at the end of the day.

The wrestlers were also split up into eight different classrooms, speaking directly to groups of students on a specific topic. Students rotated four different times, giving them an opportunity to hear from a variety of the wrestlers as well as to learn about a number of different topics.

“We are here to tell you what has helped us get there and what helps us to develop as a person and athlete. These are the same things you can use. It is no different. Whatever you want to be successful in, the same traits we are using are the same things you can carry over and use to be successful,” said Simpson, whose topic was about sacrifice.

VIDEO: Phillip Simpson talks about sacrifice

Gray was a huge favorite of the students, since she grew up in Denver and attended one of the middle schools in the district. Gray received loud ovations at both assemblies held during the day, as well as in her individual classroom speaking appearances.

“We are here to talk to you about those words on the Olympic wall and what these words mean to us,” said Gray, whose topic was a positive environment. “Find those people in your life who are good, who make you feel good, who put you in a positive setting and make those people who you hang out with. You guys can be amazing. Take that potential and tap into it.”

VIDEO: Adeline Gray talks about positive environment

The students and faculty of the school were excited about the visit by the wrestlers, spending additional time talking to them and posing for photos and videos.

“These men and women are such good examples of solid characteristics such as integrity and hard work. That persona is displayed by them when they speak. These young high school kids have never rubbed shoulders with true champions like our U.S. wrestlers. You can see the excitement in these kids,” said Miller.

THEMAT.TV: See talks from Simpson, Gray, Fay, Michalak, Simmons, Burak, Miller