What equipment does my wrestler need?
Wrestlers should arrive ready to practice wearing athletic clothing (T-Shirt/Shorts) Many of our wrestlers find it comfortable to wear long sleeves, compression gear and tights (leggings) either alone or under their shorts. For the safety of all participants as well as maintaining the integrity of the mats and equipment, we require practice clothes be void of any snaps, suppers, buttons, etc. Wrestling shoes and headgear are strongly encouraged and may be purchased through our apparel order prior to the start of the season. The following links are a great place to look for new and slightly used options:
https://stores.dickssportinggoods.com/mn/maple-grove/299/?seo=localpack
https://www.scheels.com/store?StoreID=056
https://www.playitagainsports.com/
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/
Additionally, you may finds posts on our Facebook page by families selling equipment. The team also has a small stock of shoes that have been donated by current and previous families. Please contact Dayna O'Brien: [email protected] if you would like to inquire if we have your size. First year wrestlers are welcomed to attend wearing clean, well fittings socks before investing in shoes.
I know nothing about wrestling. How do we get started?
No experience is necessary! During the Parent Information meeting we will deliver information regarding all aspects of a typical wrestling season. Wrestling is a unique sport where the athlete and their family can determine their level of involvement or participation based on factors such as: age and attention span, interest level, physical comfort, confidence, and/or interest and dedication. Wrestlers have the opportunity to attend weekly scheduled practices and a calendar of weekend tournaments. Your athlete may be invited to attend various specialty practices including a weekly team practice. This is in addition to the weekly scheduled commitment and completely optional.
Will my wrestler participate in tournaments?
We encourage all wrestlers to attend at least one tournament during the season; our Big Lake event being a favored option. Our home tournament is Saturday, January 27, 2024. This is an ideal event for any wrestler to instill confidence while being surrounded by teammates, friends, and their community.
Open tournaments are available almost every weekend throughout the season and wrestlers are welcome to attend as few or as many as they want. All tournaments are posted on The Guillotine (https://theguillotine.com/) Announcements will be made weekly during practice to inform families where to expect coaches that weekend. Attending these tournaments and wearing your Big Lake singlet offers your wrestler the opportunity to have a coach on their mat as well as the support of many of their teammates.
If your family is new to the sport you may choose to begin by attending a tournament as spectators. This is a great way for your athlete to feel included by hanging out with competing wrestlers, without the pressure of performing.
What if my wrestler enjoys competing and wants to challenge themselves?
Midway through the regular season you'll begin hearing about individual events such as MN/USA State, NYWA State Tournament, and Jaycee State Tournament. These are weekend-long events taking place in March/April in Rochester, MN. These events are attended by wrestlers who have individually earned a spot to compete based on points, ranking, or through achievement at the district and regional levels.
In addition to individual level competition, we have a team within our association. This team is comprised of 15 standard weight classes with wrestlers competing against each other for a Varsity spot on the roster. The act of competing against your teammate(s) for a spot is referred to as a Wrestle-Off. Participation in Wrestle Offs is optional and never required. A complete description and rules will be reviewed during the parent meeting as well as throughout the season.
Mini Duel/JV events are team style events for wrestlers who are interested in the "duel team" experience. Our coaches work with the opposing team to match up wrestlers based on weight and experience, affording your wrestler the opportunity experience team competition. These events provide a live action experience for wrestlers who are: interested in pursuing a spot on the varsity roster, interested in team competition but do not want to travel, and those who may be nervous /experience anxiety with a high number of spectators. There are no "wrestle offs" for our Mini Duel/JV Events; all wrestlers are encouraged to participate, and coaches do their best to set up a match for every confirmed interest.