Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ: FAQ

Why Wrestling In Minster?

My familiarity of this sport started back in 1967 and has transformed me from an actual wrestler to a wrestling parent, to a wrestling coach, to an OHSAA and NCAA wrestling official, and now waiting anxiously as a wrestling grandparent. I have been blessed with the understanding that wrestling is much more than a sport, it is a lifestyle. Wrestling has been invaluable to my life and has made such a difference in the quality of my life.

For one to understand the importance of wrestling, you have to somehow be personally connected with it to see the value of it. All sports teach us to be a team player not only at the time, but throughout your whole life. Wrestling transforms individuals through the struggles they have to go through day in, day out. Wrestling levels the playing field by giving all participants an equal opportunity.

High School Wrestling has 14 weight classes from 106 lbs. to 285 lbs. Junior High is 16 weight classes 80 lbs. to 245 lbs., so all students of any size have an opportunity to compete.
Youth wrestling participants are pared by age, weight and experience.
Historically, wrestling is a “blue collar” sport that attracts student-athletes from diverse socio-economic backgrounds.
Wrestling is one of the few sports that provides opportunities for the blind and physically handicapped
Wrestling ranks 1st for being the sport for 1st generation college students of the NCAA Sports.
Wrestling ranks at the top of NCAA sports in the opportunity for minority athletes.
Wrestling truly makes lifelong friendships.

Nationwide in 2017-18 boys wrestling grew to 274,564 an increase of 760 from the year before. That’s 10,775 schools which was an increase of 146.

In 2018-19, boys high school wrestling grew to 247,441 athletes, an increase of 1,877 athletes from last year. Among the top 10 participation sports for boys, wrestling saw the third biggest increase, behind only track and soccer

There were 21,124 girls’ participants in 2018-19, an increase of 4,562 athletes from the year before. A 27.5% increase from last year, easy to see why this is the fastest growing sport in the nation.

In Ohio alone the amount of girl wrestlers has double since 2018-19 with more than 500. The girl’s teams went from 30 to 61 in the 2019-20 season.The Girls State Championships that are at Hillard-Darby High School are being sponsored by the coach’s association under the guidelines of the OHSAA rules. The OHSAA commented that this year they are getting their feet wet as they are holding hands with the Coach’s association during the 2019-20 season.

The Ohio Athletic Committee OAC are hosting the 2020 Girls State Championships at the new Covelli Center in Columbus in March 2020 for Grade school – high school contestants.

Wrestling coaches throughout the state all have one thing in common. They are creating family atmospheres which give a sense of belonging to many young men and women who do not have that at home. They become father figures and confidence builders. During my fourteen years of coaching in wrestling I have seen Coaches make sure kids have had transportation to and from practices and meets. I have seen them take young men to wrestling camps which gave confidence, a sense of responsibility, and accountability. I have even observed coaches provide wrestling shoes, shorts, and t-shirts to less fortunate kids over the years.

Did you know that eleven United States Presidents have wrestled, four Senators have wrestled, two white-house staff have wrestled along with other entertainers, scientists, authors, astronauts, business and military leaders?

Wrestling in the Minster School District would coincide well with our supported sport culture and would only enhance other sports. Wrestling is one of the few sports where a child’s foot speed, ball handling skills, hand-eye coordination and size do not matter.

While football, soccer, or baseball all require players to consider what others might do, where others are, and what they need to do in response to anything others might do, wrestling is more instinctive and is coached at an individual level.

Like many others in this great sport would say I would not be where I am today if it were not for wrestling. I’m a true to life example of that statement. This is why it is so important to me that the youth of Minster have this same opportunity.

-David Friend

Why Should Kids Wrestle?

10 Reasons YOUR Child Should Wrestle

Anyone Can Do It– You are grouped by age and weight, so it doesn’t matter if you are small, short, tall or big. Every size and shape have a style that can be successful. Wrestling is one of the few sports where a child’s foot speed, ball-handling skills, hand-eye coordination and size do not matter.

Everyone Gets To Participate– Unlike team sports, there is no riding the bench. No politics or favorites. Every wrestler has a chance to participate and compete.

They Learn Valuable Life Lessons:

Personal Accountability– When you win, it’s because you did it. No one else takes credit; no one else to blame.
Persistence– Today’s generation on-demand technology has conditioned kids to turn off their games if they die or change the channel if they don’t like a show. Wrestling puts you in situations where you have to dig in and fight to reap the rewards. It’s all you in a wrestling match and there’s an incredible feeling of getting your hand raised when winning a hard fought match.
Learn How to Handle Adversity– In every match someone will win and someone will lose. Losing in a team sport is disappointing but it’s different when it’s only you. In wrestling, you learn how to lose gracefully and more importantly, how to quickly put it behind you and work hard to improve for the next match. You approach defeat as a part of the learning process.
Humility– Nothing teaches humility better than 1-on-1 sports. Winning and losing in a 1-on-1 setting brings humility. There is nowhere to hide and no one to blame but yourself. All wrestlers will lose at some point and doing so in these conditions teaches humility. Hard work and discipline are two keys to success in wrestling and both teach humility.
Discipline– Wrestling is discipline. Repetition of drills, hard work, and continually doing the best thing instead of the easiest thing is discipline. Wrestling requires postponing instant “wants” to gain something more valuable long term. It takes discipline and focus to reach goals.
Confidence– Confidence is built through accomplishing hard things. Praise is fine, but only lasts for so long. When you master a skill, score with a move you’ve been practicing or win a match over a tough opponent, it’s because of the work YOU put in.

Foundation Sport– Many get into wrestling because they are football players or in other sports and they want to improve their skills. Wrestling improves body awareness, balance, coordination and the ability to control someone else. And lastly, it builds a mental grit you won’t find in other sports.

Energy Outlet– Kids have a ton of energy and they need a way to channel it. Wrestling practices and matches are non-stop with no downtime.

Camaraderie- Adversity has a way of bringing people together, and due to the challenges that a wrestler faces on a daily basis in practice and competition, the bonds between wrestlers become very strong.

Economically Reasonable– All you need to get started are some wrestling shoes, headgear (optional), a singlet and some workout gear (shorts and T-shirt). Minster Wrestling Club’s membership fees will be some of the lowest in the Miami Valley Kids Club area, due to sought after donations. Making friends with other families and sharing rides to tournaments is an awesome experience will also be a budget saving tactic.

Toughness– Wrestling is a physical, contact sport. You learn that sometimes you just get poked in the eye. Physical and mental toughness go hand in hand. You learn that a little pain or struggle is part of the process of doing great things.

Roadmap to Success– Wrestling is the perfect example of what it takes to be successful in life. Goal setting, hard work, determination, focus, love of challenges, love of competition, confidence, being coachable, mental toughness, discipline, creativity, team work and accountability.

Fun– It’s fun to win, it’s fun to compete and it’s fun learning and executing new moves. While it’s an individual sport, there’s a special bond that wrestlers will always have.