History
The Howell System Wrestling Camps were first conceived in 1987, when Dicky Howell came home to Delaware for the summer, after competing at the NCAA wrestling tournament for Lock Haven. He was working at camps around the Mid-Atlantic region and decided to use his family resources to start his own camp for young wrestlers in Delaware. Dicky called the first camp “Here’s Howell Wrestling Camp” and held it at his alma-mater, Newark High School. It was a big hit! Over 80 campers participated in this week-long day camp.
Since then, the camp has gone through growth and changes. But the core values of the camp have remained steady. In 1996, Kurt Howell joined his brother In running and promoting the camp. The Howell’s designed a technique curriculum that is unique to the Howell Camps. This systematic approach to teaching and learning technique is unique to the Howell System Camps.
The Howell brothers began to invite some of the World’s best wrestlers to the camp to teach as featured clinicians. Some of the greats that have graced Delaware’s longest running camp are: Olympic gold medalist and WWE star, Kurt Angle, Olympic Gold Medalist, Kendall Cross and World Champion Sammy Henson.
To accommodate the growing demand of the camp, the Howell brothers began to run the camp at the University of Delaware and use the dormitories for overnight facilities. Rising costs at UD forced the Howell’s to seek other venues for the Camp. For two years, the Camp graced the campus of St. Andrew’s private school. Then the camp moved to the nearby West Nottingham campus in Maryland. After the Ripken brothers cornered every available summer week, the Howell Camp was moved to Eastern University in PA. During those years, the average camp attendance was nearly 150 per week!
After two years in PA, the Howell’s decided to scale down the volume of campers and make it more accessible to Delaware athletes. In 2009, the Howell Camp came back to Delaware, and has since been held in the Smyrna School District. Out of State campers have been accommodated by local wrestlers hosting wrestlers overnight.
Since its original conception, brother Brad has joined the forces in directing the camp. And, more recently, second generation Howell family recruit, Ryan Howell-Conkey is infusing the camp with new life. Ryan has participated as a camper and coach since 1997. His participation at the Howell System Camps makes him the “longest continuous running Howell System Camper”.
Through the last 37 years of moving and changing, the Howell family has remained consistent in their commitment to their goals of giving each individual camper a quality experience. Both Kurt and Brad Howell are Hall of Fame coaches. Their experience alone makes the camp a must for any young athlete. But the Howell’s determination to bring quality coaches into the camp, committed to the same goal, sets this camp apart from all others.
It is rare to enter a tournament in Delaware or Maryland when you won’t see dozens of former campers wearing the Howell Camp t-shirts. You may also see one or two of the highly coveted “Camp Champ” shirts. It has been said that every wrestler that finishes prep wrestling in The Howell System Wrestling Camps were first conceived in 1987, when Dicky Howell came home to Delaware for the summer, after competing at the NCAA wrestling tournament for Lock Haven. He was working at camps around the Mid-Atlantic region and decided to use his family resources to start his own camp for young wrestlers in Delaware. Dicky called the first camp “Here’s Howell Wrestling Camp” and held it at his alma-mater, Newark High School. It was a big hit! Over 80 campers participated in this week-long day camp.
Since then, the camp has gone through growth and changes. But the core values of the camp have remained steady. In 1996, Kurt Howell joined his brother In running and promoting the camp. The Howell’s designed a technique curriculum that is unique to the Howell Camps. This systematic approach to teaching and learning technique is unique to the Howell System Camps.
The Howell brothers began to invite some of the World’s best wrestlers to the camp to teach as featured clinicians. Some of the greats that have graced Delaware’s longest running camp are: Olympic gold medalist and WWE star, Kurt Angle, Olympic Gold Medalist, Kendall Cross and World Champion Sammy Henson.
To accommodate the growing demand of the camp, the Howell brothers began to run the camp at the University of Delaware and use the dormitories for overnight facilities. Rising costs at UD forced the Howell’s to seek other venues for the Camp. For two years, the Camp graced the campus of St. Andrew’s private school. Then the camp moved to the nearby West Nottingham campus in Maryland. After the Ripken brothers cornered every available summer week, the Howell Camp was moved to Eastern University in PA. During those years, the average camp attendance was nearly 150 per week!
After two years in PA, the Howell’s decided to scale down the volume of campers and make it more accessible to Delaware athletes. In 2009, the Howell Camp came back to Delaware, and has since been held in the Smyrna School District. Out of State campers have been accommodated by local wrestlers hosting wrestlers overnight.
Since its original conception, brother Brad has joined the forces in directing the camp. And, more recently, second generation Howell family recruit, Ryan Howell-Conkey is infusing the camp with new life. Ryan has participated as a camper and coach since 1997. His participation at the Howell System Camps makes him the “longest continuous running Howell System Camper”.
Through the last 37 years of moving and changing, the Howell family has remained consistent in their commitment to their goals of giving each individual camper a quality experience. Both Kurt and Brad Howell are Hall of Fame coaches. Their experience alone makes the camp a must for any young athlete. But the Howell’s determination to bring quality coaches into the camp, committed to the same goal, sets this camp apart from all others.
It is rare to enter a tournament in Delaware or Maryland when you won’t see dozens of former campers wearing the Howell Camp t-shirts. You may also see one or two of the highly coveted “Camp Champ” shirts. It has been said that every wrestler that finishes prep wrestling in Delaware since the 1990s has been influenced by the Howells in some way. Whether it’s through their camps or their commitment to volunteer to coach and promote all summer and spring programs, the Howells have dedicated countless hours to creating a positive atmosphere and a quality experience for wrestlers of all levels at the Howell Camps.