Boone McLaughlin is passionate about wrestling.

He wrestled and his three adult sons wrestled when they were young.

He would like to see children get into the sport.

“They used to have it at Eufaula High School, but the year I started school they stopped the program,” McLaughlin said.

“I’ve made all three of my boys wrestle since they were five. My youngest boy, he went to college and wrestled and became a state champion, but it helped him in everything he did. Mental tough- ness, it helped them in their football. My middle boy was state running broad jump champion at Kiowa. My oldest boy was a phenomenal football player. I think he had 3,500 yards rushing his senior year. He went to TU for one year and went to Missouri Southern for two years and then went to the Navy,” said McLaughlin.

“So, it helps you in everything. I think it helps you in life. There’s times that things are going to get tough, so, you know, are you going to toughen up, or are you just going to lay down and cry.”

McLaughlin now lives in Owasso but spends a lot of time in Eufaula.

He says kids are soft these days, spending all their time on video games.

He said before he divorced, he had 60 acres and a barn, a little fort he built for them on a pond. They had horses and cows, five different kinds of motorcycles, two four-wheelers, a golf cart, a go cart.

“I’d come home tired from work and they’d be playing video games,” he said.

He’d kicked them out and said don’t come back till dark. If they were hurt, he told them, come back in if you’re bleeding but if it’s a scratch stay out.

McLaughlin has a number of businesses that take him all over – he has A&C Barn Builders and does plumbing, among other things.

As busy as he is, he decided he wanted to pass along the lessons he taught his sons to other kids.

To that end he has begun the Lake Legends Wrestling Club, not to be confused with Eufaula Ironhead Wrestling Club, which has been around a while.

McLaughlin is so enthusiastic about starting his wrestling program he has spared no expense, which is enormous.

Mats, uniforms, shoes.

“There is no tuition. I pay for everything. If a kid doesn’t have shoes, I will buy him a pair. The only thing is, if he takes the shoes he has to practice,” McLaughlin said.

McLaughlin is also paying a coach.

Former OSU champion wrestler Reece Witcraft, who lives in Broken Arrow, will be in Eufaula Mondays at 5:30 p.m. and Thursdays at 6:15 p.m. at the Free Will Baptist Church on Birkes Road, until he can find a permanent location.

“He wrestled with my son on some teams,” McLaughlin said.

He started the club last year. For a while the club met in the former Family Dollar Store near Nichols but it was too expensive.

Those interested in joining Lake Legends should call McLaughlin at 918-693-1110.

The start date is Nov. 3 at 5:30 p.m.

Then on Thursday from 6:15 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Nov. 6.

The start dates are going to be November 3rd which is going to be on a Monday. Practice will start at 5:30 p.m. that week. Gymnastics from 5:30 p.m. to 6:15 p.m..

Thursday, they will start wrestling practice at 6:15 to 7:30 p.m.. Every Monday and Wednesday at 5.30 p.m., there’ll be 45 minutes of gymnastics and then there will be an hour and 15 hour and 20 minutes of wrestling.

Thursdays are going to be just straight wrestling, starting at 6:15 p.m. Nov. the 3, the OSU coach, he will not be there on Nov. 3. That day, there will only be gymnastics.

“We’re going to do a little bit of preliminary wrestling and talking with the parents and then we’ll start true practice. That’ll be the third, fourth, fifth, the sixth, at 6:15 p.m., Thursday, and then every Monday and Thursday. This Is going to be at the Freewill Baptist Church, which is right next door to Dunn Country Chevy,” McLaughlin said.

Eufaula Ironheads Wrestling Club’s motto is to foster discipline, sportsmanship, and excellence in young athletes. Their mission is to develop strong, confident wrestlers through training and teamwork. To join Lake Legends Wrestling Club call 918-693-1110 There is no charge. Start date is Monday, Nov. 3 at 5:30 p.m. Next date is Thursday, Nov. 6, at 6:15 p.m.