Program Overview
PROGRAM OVERVIEW:
The program will run from March 4th through May 9th; a total of 18 practices for wrestlers currently involved with a high school program and 10 total practices for wrestlers involved in the youth program.
Practices will be Mondays and Wednesdays from 6pm to 8pm in the Chanhassen High School wresting room from March 4th through April 3rd. There will be no practices on 3/25 or 3/27 during spring break. Youth wrestlers will join the practices in the second session starting on April 9th running through May 9th. For this session, the practices will shift to Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6pm to 8pm.
Each practice will contain one hour of Greco practice and one hour of Freestyle.
Costs are $175 for both sessions and $100 for the youth session. 50% discount for additional siblings beyond the first registration.
LEAD COACH: JOHN WECHTER
John wrestled for Michigan State University from 1998 - 2003 where he had 67 career wins and placed sixth in the Big10 tournament in 2002. In Greco, John was the 2013 US National Champion, 2014 US world team alternate, a member of the US National team in 2014 and 2015 and a three time US Olympic trials qualifier.
YOUTH COACH: JOSH BERG
Josh is a 2012 Graduate of Pewaukee, WI High School where he was a four-time state qualifier and a one-time state place winner. In his high school career, Josh amassed 156 career wins. As a 2017 Graduate of St Cloud State, he was a five-year member of the wrestling team where he was team captain and member of two national championship teams.
WHY FOCUS ON GRECO & FREESTYLE?
Technical Advantages:
Expand your skillset: Freestyle and greco introduce new attacks, throws, and transitions unavailable in folkstyle. By learning these, you become a more unpredictable and versatile wrestler, forcing your folkstyle opponents to adapt.
Sharpen your basics: Freestyle emphasizes explosive takedowns and quick scoring, while greco focuses on upper body throws and control. Practicing these styles refines your basic techniques like hand fighting, footwork, and balance, ultimately making you a more efficient wrestler in all styles.
Elevate your mat awareness: Freestyle and greco have stricter out-of-bounds rules, forcing you to utilize the entire mat and develop a better sense of space and positioning. This awareness translates directly to folkstyle, where strategic mat use can be a game-changer.
Mental & Competitive Benefits:
Increased mental toughness: Freestyle and greco tend to be faster-paced with quicker scoring changes. Training in these styles builds resilience and confidence in your ability to bounce back from adversity, a valuable trait in any style.
Exposure to high-level competition: Many top folkstyle wrestlers compete in freestyle and greco tournaments, putting you up against a wider range of skilled opponents and challenging your abilities in new ways. This exposure sharpens your competitive edge and keeps you motivated.
Gaining strategic insight: Studying different wrestling styles allows you to analyze opponent weaknesses and identify potential counters. This tactical knowledge empowers you to exploit your opponent's limitations and develop specific game plans for different types of wrestlers.
Overall Improvement:
Become a more complete wrestler: By incorporating elements of freestyle and greco into your training, you become a well-rounded athlete with a diverse skillset. This makes you less predictable and more challenging to beat in any style.
Boost your long-term potential: Cross-training in different styles strengthens your overall athleticism, flexibility, and endurance. This can lead to sustained improvement in your folkstyle performance and a brighter future in the sport.
Ultimately, having knowledge of greco and freestyle wrestling is an investment in your development as a folkstyle wrestler. It pushes your boundaries, sharpens your skills, and opens up new possibilities for success.