Our Model

Grit- n. Firmness of mind, invincible spirit, unyielding courage or fearlessness, fortitude.
Gratitude- n. The quality of being thankful, readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.

Grit and gratitude forge the backbone of greatness.

Grit

is the #1 indicator of both academic and career success. The problem with society today is that adults are so afraid of letting our children fail that we do not allow them to develop the most important character trait. Our team, The Grit Grizzlies, believes that the process is more important than the product. We realize that it is not about the outcome, but about giving it everything you have, and that you can take pride in what you do. We believe that the sport of wrestling is the absolute best tool to build grit.

Gratitude

means that we think less about ourselves and more about others. We focus on the opportunities we have. Grizzlies believe in the power of gratitude. We count our blessings and make our blessings count. True gratitude is based on all things- success and failure. To be truly grateful, we must maintain that mindset regardless of the outcome. Our driving force is to repay those that love, invest, and believe in us. This attitude of gratitude helps us get the most out of what we have, and gives us peace of mind, and happiness. Greatness cannot be achieved without gratitude.

Whatever we start, we finish.

Grizzlies will never quit. The problem with quitting is that it becomes a habit, and it will affect others you care about. Later in life when you have a family and people that depend on you, it will one day affect them. Life is a blessing and a gift, and we will strive to get the most out of ourselves, and everyone around us, every single day.

Success breeds success.

Our students have tremendous potential. Passion and success are contagious, and the students will follow the examples set before them. Our team of coaches and administrators from across the Western MA region have spent their entire careers proving this. We now stand shoulder to shoulder to make a greater impact on our community. We are building partnerships with community leaders and stakeholders. We believe it is long overdue. The educational gap will be narrowed, and we will build champions!

Four- Pronged Approach to Achieve our Goals

Academic Support

Our academic coaches provide our students with the type of extra help that is often overlooked. We teach our middle schoolers the vital importance of study skills and organization which will prepare them for success in high school and beyond.

Wrestling

Wrestling is the key vehicle we use to drive our mission. There is no better activity to teach young people what it takes to be successful in life. Like the legend Dan Gable once said, “once you’ve wrestled, everything else in life is easy”.

Fitness & Wellness

We provide our students with a strong curriculum on healthy eating and lifestyle habits. Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer in the United States. We believe education is the key to change and it starts with our students. They will learn what a healthy diet consists of and the importance of exercise. Our High Schoolers also can take it a step further in our strength and conditioning program.

Community Service

Gratitude is action. The Grizzlies will be volunteering in the community and helping raise money for other foundation fundraisers. The power of gratitude cannot be overstated, and we believe there is no better way to express our gratitude than by giving back to our own community.