aoberlin

Totally understand. It is much easier to pull kids into your school then some random place outside the school system. Before CoVid I had a little over 100 beginners in my youth club for last couple years then CoVid locked us out.

All good stuff. Just know the goal of The Fort is to find new wrestlers also. Are plan is to have a beginners club year round and find new wrestlers. We have actually already had a couple go from new to training in the advanced club.

Let's not forget we have a pandemic going on and this is the biggest contact sport there is so that can affect numbers for sure. Personally I thought I would make the nicest facility I could and open the doors and wrestlers would just flood in. (Not the first or last time I will be wrong) That hasn't been the case no matter what our social media shows. It has been an absolute grind since we opened in July. I have broken down more than once asking "what did I do"? I have been the only person in the place just hoping someone would show up for an open facility or a meet the coach. We located The Fort in a central location that is near I69 that would technically be in North Side's school district. For anyone that is from the area knows the "08" and the personalities that come with it. My best friend and my wife are both "08"ers. To me it is about charisma, relationships, and changing the culture of the sport. Let's be honest society is not going the direction of wrestling as far as what is being taught as acceptable. We want to focus on the word "fun" all the time in all sports. I have told my coaching staff to quit using the word "fun" with wrestling. I can't count how many times I have had kids quit wrestling because it is no longer "fun". If you want fun go "play" golf. This sport is an absolute grind and a heart breaker. But..... it is the most rewarding and life building sport there is. That is what needs to be presented from the start. Those are the conversations we have to have with parents and wrestlers. Truly get to why we personally love the sport and why they should also. That was my goal for Meet the Coach. Then..... make it cool. Kids want to do things that are cool and they can be proud of. Also don't forget that moms are the ones that do the scheduling and will dictate if their child is going into a safe environment. So cater to the moms and make everything you do professional, transparent, drama free, clean, and as safe as possible. Then on top of that be consistent with your communication and schedules. Don't stray from those because they matter. Everyone has a schedule and we need to respect that. I had multiple times I didn't cancel something even though I knew no one would be there because consistency matters. In the end though, from a facility stand point, time and funds are the tough ones. Having a place outside a school system with showers and adequate mat space is flat out expensive and a huge risk. Hence why club sports aren't free. With that said I have been giving away a ton of stuff while trying to get this thing off the ground, although one thing I learned a long time ago, if you give something for free the value on it is totally lost to kids and parents. You have to find that goldy locks price. I honestly don't know if this venture I am doing will work but man I love this sport and what it has done for me. I also love seeing what it does for individuals we just need to make sure they know it is honestly about the journey and not the destination otherwise they can leave the sport salty and heartbroken. If they understand that at a young age they will be light years away from where I was.

The first thing I tell wrestlers and parents that they need to do is truly accept that you will lose, probably for a quite a while a ton. After that reality is accepted then we can get to work on actually making you or your child a wrestler.

Very well said @Mattyb. It’s just the truth. Seasonal wrestling only is pretty much finished. Unless you are freak athlete and probably in a heavier weight class. The wrestlers that we had over the summer in our Hammers club went 33-2 this weekend. That’s directly from months of putting in work in the off-season. With that said you are also right on how wrestling now reflects life even more. Good things come to those that are willing to put in the work and embrace the long grind. Honestly The Fort is really here to help and the exciting part is the buy in from all the local coaches. That to me is the most important part.

Gateway to State baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Any teams that have a couple points left can try and join us this weekend at Homestead's Thanksgiving Duals. I just had an opening with with Northridge making Football state. Email me at aoberlin@fortwrestling.com

Any chance it is a Kokomo kid you are thinking of and he is an eighth grader this year?

Tis why we wrestle. Just hope everyone's teams stay healthy this year.

Looks good. I can tell you this much I am a Cornewell fan. Good hard working wrestler.

I'll bite. Name the SAC wrestlers you would like ranked. Since the rankings aren't out yet this will give us some discussion.

His foot sweep could use some work. Other than that great kid and wrestler.

Not sure why no one listened to me. I had some inside knowledge. I would have liked to see Angel land him also.

Ohio

Ohio State.

All I know is I would not try to catch them if they were flying out of bounds wrestling each other.

I didn’t think wrestling season stopped?

I am a huge fan of crowdsource editing!

Looks to me like wrestling season is about to start. "Let it begin!"

You can add Nick Lee to that list since it was his last High School year.

Legacy Wrestling Camp Legacy Wrestling Camp is a motivational, inspiring, and high level wrestling camp that focuses on fundamentals. Who: Advance 5yr. through College Cost: $150/wrestler or $25/session (Use Code: "BRINGAFRIEND" and knock $75 off) Team discounts are available contact info@fortwrestling.com When: October 15th-17th Camp Schedule: Oct. 15th 5:00pm-7:00pm (Motivational/Inspiring Intro & Drill) Oct. 16th 10:00am-12:00pm (Technique/Live) 12:00pm-1:00pm (Lunch) 1:00pm-3:00pm (Technique/Live) 3:00pm-4:00pm (Motivational Break) 4:00pm-6:00pm (Technique/Live) Oct. 17th 10:00am-12:00pm (Motivational/Inspiring Outro & Drill/Live) *Proceeds of this camp will go towards De’Alcapone Veazy fund for the Pan American Championship in Mexico City as he represents USA. Clinicians: Gralan Early-Director Indiana Tech University Head Assistant Coach 2011-2021 Coached/Mentored 36 NAIA All-Americans, 6 National Finalist & 5 National Champions 2019 UWW World Bronze medalist 2018 Indiana Kids Cadet/Junior Coach of the Year 2018 US Open FS Master 2nd Place 2018 US Open FS Senior DNP Div. I Northern Illinois University H.S. All-American H.S. Career 149-9 Indiana State Champion & 3x state placer 1st, 2nd & 4th Eric Early Sr.-Asst. Director Indiana Tech University Club Coach Coached IHSAA State Champions and placers Warrior Elite Wrestling Club Coach Indiana Kids Cadet/Junior Coach Div. III Manchester University Indiana State Champion & 2x state placer 1st & 4th Erique Early Jr. 2019 NAIA National Champion 133lbs 2018 NAIA National Runner-Up 133lbs 2x SAC Conference Champion SAC Outstanding Wrestler H.S. Indiana State Champion & 2x state placer 1st & 4th Mitch Pawlak 2016 NAIA National Champion 125lbs 2017 NAIA National Runner-Up 133lbs 4x NAIA All-American Michigan State placer Sawyer Miller 2019 NAIA National Champion 125lbs 3x NAIA All-American H.S. Indiana State Runner-Up Connor Gimson 2021 NAIA National Champion 133lbs 2020 NAIA 7th 133lbs 2x NAIA All-American H.S. Indiana State placer 5th Eric Vermillion 2021 NAIA National Champion 184lbs 2020 NAIA 8th 184lbs 2x NAIA All-American Ohio State placer You can sign up here: https://fortwrestling.pushpress.com/open/event/cal_6f4d4832f68fca?framed=0https://fortwrestling.pushpress.com/open/event/cal_6f4d4832f68fca?framed=0

Love it. Joining now.

This is also my opinion. Except I was thinking 10 months out of the year. Yes wrestlers need to take a break too prevent burn out but in my opinion it needs to be on their own timeline.

Communication is key for sure. Then it is a case by case basis of how the kids are doing. The fellowship part is huge also. Good stuff.

Well done Mattyb!