Starting on Wednesday, Marcus LeVesseur worked with elementary and middle schoolers at the Rolling Thunder Wrestling facility for an overnight camp that runs until 5 p.m. on Thursday.

“It feels really good that I’m in this position,” LeVesseur said. “It’s a blessing to be here to pass the torch on to the next level and the next generations.”

Born and raised in Minneapolis, LeVesseur attended Roosevelt High School and Bloomington Kennedy High School, where he was a four-time state champion with a 141-match win streak headed into college and still holds the state record for high school wins. LeVesseur attended Augsburg College, where he recorded aa 155-0 record, one of three college wresters to win every match, and helped the college win three DIII National Championships. LeVesseur started his MMA career in 2003, putting up a 22-7 record and also fought in three UFC events in 2012, winning one.

LeVesseur said that he was happy to pass on some of the skills he’s learned throughout the years.

Staff photo by Ari Selvey Marcus LeVesseur speaks with a groupd of youth wrestlers during a wresting camp at the Rolling Thunder Wrestling Facililty on Wednesday.

“Wrestling has evolved so much over the last five, 10, 15 years,” he said. “From scrambling to just wrestling schools and academies where high-level technique is being shown day-by-day by high-level coaches. For me to be here with them and share the space is a true blessing. I enjoy it a lot.”

LeVesseur said that one of his main goals was to help the young wrestlers be able to work outside their comfort zone.

“If I can add something to what they’re already doing that’s successful, then it’s a big win already,” he said. “But a lot of times as athletes, we get ingrained in our way of doing things. It’s difficult to accept new things, because it’s a change of some sort. To get them to open up their minds and not be so shut or closed — just welcome a new concept, a new scheme, and challenge themselves to try to master it. If they’re able to, that’s another toolbox in the set. I do my best to challenge them to think about, ‘How can I build more options and do better.'”

Another focus was to improve athleticism and teach techniques that could be practiced alone without the need for a partner.

“I’m helping them become better listeners, but then also just better athletes,” LeVesseur said. “I’m helping them move better, I’m helping them learn to explode and use speed and power, but also control their overall surroundings. A ton of body space and awareness, balance and coordination will be upgraded for all these athletes. It’s my job to help them move more efficiently with functional movement sets and controls. From that point, what they do well is going to be way better.

Staff photo by Ari Selvey Marcus LeVesseur explains a technique to two youth wrestlers during a wresting camp at the Rolling Thunder Wrestling Facililty on Wednesday.

“I’m not here to change their style whatsoever, or their concepts of their schemes, I’m here to help you highlight them more. If your balance is increased and gets better, or if you can rotate 180 degrees or 270 and still be able to keep your speed and control you body over and over again, you’re building on a solo skill set that you can work and improve on your own.”

LeVesseur said that being able to work alone is important for those who want to constantly improve their skills.

“You don’t need a partner,” he said. “Wrestling is a partner sport for the most part, but how do you get better on your own? I’m adding some value from solo drills that they can do in the backyard on a not-so-hot day, and they can work these concepts that improves their speed which improves their shots. A lot of times, if you can improve your speed and your shots, you score more points and you build your self esteem, self confidence, and that’s the beginning of the snowball.”