We have a full developmental program with appropriate training for wrestlers from beginner to novice to advanced in this age group (4th, 5th, & 6th grade). Our wrestlers are graduated appropriately based on their development. Everyone will progress at a different rate. We get our beginner/novice wrestlers competing as soon as they’re displaying proficiency in executing necessary skills and exercising mental fortitude (we do specific things in training for this). We have a 6th grade and under national duals team that we put together from our roster. This team is highly competitive. We provide appropriate competitions and training that allows our beginners and novice wrestlers in this age group to climb the ladder to have the opportunity to wrestle at the national level and make our national dual team.
Strength training is an absolute necessity in our program. We are developing wrestlers to train for and compete at the national level. It is ethically wrong to allow our wrestlers to do that unprepared. All the wrestling skills in the world won’t defeat a significantly more physically dominant wrestler. We must have BOTH. There is a great deal of psychological confidence that comes with being physically strong. Confidence is a huge part of the mental development that we cultivate here and strength plays a huge role in that. In this stage of development, we continue to make progress on what’s been previously built by continuing light resistance training mixed with bodyweight training. With light weight, they will learn basic barbell, dumbbell, and kettlebell movements that will help them grow into strong and more physically developed bodies.
When everyone else is sleeping in on their Summer break, our boys and girls are turning into men and women at 6:30 in the morning. This program displays the people who are extremely committed to self-improvement. Everything about it is uncomfortable. This is where weaknesses get exposed and the real ones emerge. All ages are welcome. Leadership roles are assigned to, and required of upperclassmen.