In a small gym at Granite City's Coolidge Middle School, kids as young as 4 prepare for high school glory.

On top of red mats that blanket the floor, dozens of youngsters try to take down wresting partners at a practice of the Granite City Wresting Club. To protect the young Warriors, the bottoms of the walls are shrouded with more red mats.

Coach Dan Robinson shouted instructions to attentive young wrestlers around the room. "Be a good partner ... Put your chest in ... All right guys. We're going to do this over," he cried.

The techniques of the 80 or so 4-14- year-olds in the club may be rough. But coaches for the Granite City High School Warriors wrestling team pin their future on the group.

High School Principal Jim Greenwald, a former high school athletic director, estimates that about 95 percent of all the members of the high school team started with the wrestling club. "By the time they come to high school, they're very seasoned," he said.

One of the club's alumni is George Kirgan, now assistant coach of the high school wrestling team. "It gave me the tools to be successful (on the wrestling team) in freshman year in high school," Kirgan said.

Kirgan notes that the wrestling club in recent years has placed 12th and sixth in state tournaments of the Illinois Kids Wrestling Federation. In 2000, it took first.

Among the potential high school players in the club is Coleton Martin, who turned 7 on Jan. 13.

During a recent practice, Coleton kept the pressure on an opponent. He said the practices are tough, but when he wins, "I feel good."

Kids practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays from November to March. Those 12 and over also practice Wednesday nights at the wrestling room of Granite City High School.

Coleton's mom Nicole Martin, 33, loves what the club's done for her son.

It's helped Coleton, who has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, stay focused, said Martin, a stay-at-home mom. "It helped him follow rules, discipline, structure."

In practices, Coleton can spend time with his uncle, Nick Patrick Jr., 30, a volunteer for the club. He started with the club when he was 4 and wrestled for 12 years.

"It makes you stronger," Patrick said.

Dan Robinson, the club's head coach, said: "Our goal is to teach them about life."

"It gives some nice fundamentals," said Robinson, 29, a carpenter. He wrestled for the Granite City High School team from 1996 to 2000.

The coaches are careful not to overdo things and injure the kids, Kirgan said. "The key would be to make it fun," he said.

Contact reporter Jim Merkel at 618-344-0264, ext. 138