Wrestling Season FAQs
How long is the season?
The folkstyle wrestling season kicks off approximately one week after football season concludes in November. Leading up to this, the team engages in wrestling practice, hits the weight room, or runs on the track during the wrestling offseason. Wrestling season ends in February with the state championship. Some wrestlers also participate in Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestling with a club team, although these styles are not formally part of the high school program.
How often do we practice?
Beginning in November, in addition to the wrestling period, there will be mandatory after-school practices. Practices usually run Monday through Friday from approximately 4:20 to 5:45 p.m. Fridays/Saturdays are usually tournament days and there will not be practices on those days. Many wrestlers also practice with a wrestling club and will practice 3 times a week. After school practice is mandatory. The first day of after school practice is expected to be November 11th, 2024.
What is the structure of practice?
Warm-up/Stretching: Typically involves a few laps of running followed by various bodyweight exercises such as bear crawls, crab walks, and somersaults, etc.
Shadow Wrestling/Partner Practice: Wrestlers perform individual drills based on coach instructions, then pair up to review and refine previously learned techniques.
Live Wrestling: Wrestlers engage in full-speed wrestling matches lasting 3-minute rounds, focusing on takedowns, escapes, and pinning techniques.
Cardio: Includes activities like sprints, bear crawls, and other endurance-building exercises.
Team/Parent Communication:
The wrestling schedule can be quite flexible, so wrestlers must regularly check the SportsYou app for the latest updates and relay this information to their parents. Communication between coaches and parents will be minimal.
When do we wrestle?
The schedule will be posted at the beginning of the season but is subject to change.
Tournaments typically span the entire day. Wrestlers are expected to make up missed schoolwork but will not be marked absent. JV typically competes on Fridays, while Varsity competes on Saturdays, with occasional weeknight tournaments. Wrestlers may need to arrive as early as 5 a.m. or remain as late as 10 p.m. at the school, depending on the tournament schedule.
Each week, no wrestler is guaranteed a spot to compete. To ensure the team achieves optimal results, wrestlers will participate in a weekly 'wrestle-off.' During these matches, wrestlers in the same weight class engage in live matches simulating tournament conditions. The coach retains final authority in determining the lineup each week, considering the outcomes of the wrestle-offs, participation during class and after-school practice, and overall attitude of the wrestler. A negative attitude from any wrestler can impact the entire team dynamic. The coach's decisions are ultimately aimed at what is best for the team.
During an individual tournament, your wrestler may not know their exact match time. Brackets will be created and can be followed live on Track Wrestling. We strongly recommend attending the entire tournament to ensure you do not miss your wrestler's match.
Dual tournaments allow only one wrestler per weight class. These tournaments are typically much shorter. We recommend attending the entire tournament to ensure you do not miss your wrestler's match.
School Holidays/Breaks
During Thanksgiving and Christmas break, we'll continue practicing and participating in tournaments despite school being on break.
Meals
Water will be provided at all tournaments. The booster club will provide meals for overnight tournaments. We will provide breakfast tacos for full day tournaments and dinner for at home dual tournaments. Your wrestler is encouraged to pack their own healthy meals and snacks to eat throughout the day. Please note that usually there will be concessions available for your child to purchase food. While options will be provided, we advise that these may not align with the nutritional needs of our athletes.