Do I need to bring my own mat?

No—GNE Fitness can provide you with one.

How intense are the practices?

Wrestling practice is one of the most challenging of all sports workouts. It exhausts an athlete both mentally and physically.  Wrestlers are challenged to push themselves physically in terms of strength conditioning and endurance. In fact, some athletes use wrestling as a tool within their conditioning. In wrestling you get cardio, strength, endurance, and agility workouts all in one practice. A fully conditioned wrestler is one of the most highly conditioned athletes in ANY sport.

Through wrestling kids develop strength, balance, flexibility, endurance, and most importantly confidence in their abilities. These attitudes are the basis of all competitive sports. Exposure to wrestling will help your child excel in other sports such as soccer, football, track, and much more. 

What is headgear and is it required?

Headgear is designed to protect the wrestler’s ears. If headgear isn’t worn “cauliflower ear” may result. Headgear is not mandatory but is strongly recommended by our coaches. To acquaint a child with wearing headgear parents are encouraged to enforce the use as soon as the child starts wrestling. Headgear can be purchased from Dick’s Sporting Goods or at All American Wrestling Supply.

What is cauliflower ear?

Cauliflower ear occurs after someone gets a hit or repeated hits to the ear. Wrestlers and boxers are more likely to have cauliflower ear because their ears may be hit while they’re in a match. These blows can damage the shape and structure of the outside of the ear. For cauliflower ear to form, the ear has to be struck hard enough for a large blood clot (lump of blood) to develop under the skin. Another way cauliflower ear can happen is when the ear’s skin is stripped away from the cartilage, the flexible material that gives a normal ear its shape. Wearing the right headgear when playing sports, especially contact sports, is a must.

Is youth wrestling just for boys?

No, it’s a co-ed sport!

I play football/fall sports. Can I start late?

Yes!  We have football players and other athletes on the team every year. We will always review the basics.  You can start practice as soon as playoffs are over. But if you can make it on a night off you should try.  The more time on the mat the better. 

When are the competitions?

Wrestling tournaments are typically held on Saturdays. Ages 5-10 will compete in a morning session that will last from approximately 8:00 am – 12:30 am and ages 11-14 will last from approximately 12:30 pm – 5 pm. There are beginner tournaments for 1st and 2nd year wrestlers on Sundays. There will also be opportunities for middle school wrestlers to travel out of state this year. You can find a list of which tournaments we will attend as a team on our Schedule page.

What is an official weigh-in vs. a non-official weigh-in?

An official weigh-in is at all league-sanctioned events with the exception of the Turkey tournament, Tough Guy tournament, and Holiday tournament. Those three do not count toward official weigh-ins. It becomes important at the end of the season when postseason tournaments start. Wrestlers must have at least three official weigh-ins at their weight class to compete at that weight in post-season tournaments.

At what age should kids become involved in wrestling?

Our club includes athletes of all ages, from 1st to 8th grade. If 1st grade sounds too young, please note that many clubs start wrestlers as young as three and four years of age. These wrestlers can be seen at tournaments in the “Tot” division. The older 7th and 8th graders have the option of wrestling careers with the club, the middle school, or both.

Some parents feel that wrestling is too intense for young kids, and that it is better suited for post-pubescent teenage years. However, denying a child the opportunity to participate in wrestling until high school greatly reduces their chance of success.

There is no easy way to know when a child is mature enough to participate in a new sport. Some might be ready at three, while others might not develop an interest in wrestling until their early teens. The best approach is to introduce kids to the sport at a time and pace that is consistent with their interest level, backing off when necessary, and allowing more participation as their interest grows.

Is wrestling a dangerous sport?

Several studies have been conducted in recent years that show wrestling to be safer than many more common sports including football, ice hockey, and gymnastics.  Most notable in these reports is wrestling’s low percentage of serious, permanent, and life-threatening injury in relation to other sports. A quote from USA Wrestling Club has the following to say about the risk of injury in wrestling:

“Wrestling is a contact sport and injuries will occur. As would be expected, wrestling has more injuries than tennis and swimming, but most injuries are minor, consisting of sprains and strains. Wrestling has fewer serious injuries than football, basketball, or ice hockey. There is a lesser chance of getting seriously hurt when wrestling than when riding in a car, skateboarding, or riding a dirt bike.”

What if we cannot afford the fees?

We don’t want to turn anyone away because the fees cannot be met. If you need financial assistance let a coach or an officer know. We keep all situations confidential.

What is a round robin?

A round robin is a competitive tournament that places wrestlers into groups of four. They wrestle each other once, getting three matches with no elimination. The match ends when time runs out after the third period or when there is a pin.

Are there any sponsorships available?

GNE Fitness is happy to give back and send select individuals to summer wrestling camps, as well as state and national tournaments. We may also assist in the purchase of equipment and uniforms (t-shirts, shorts, singlets, etc.). To learn more about current scholarship opportunities, please contact our team directly.