PARENT’S QUESTION AND ANSWER
Question:
How are the Wolves affiliated?
Answer:
The Wolves Wrestling Club is a fully endorsed and affiliated Illinois Kids Wrestling Federation organization. The Wolves became an IKWF chartered club in July 2006. The head coaches and administrators of the Wolves have been involved with the IKWF since 2003.
Also, we are affiliated with USA wrestling (same organization for US Olympic Wrestling athletes).
Question:
I have not registered, but I would still like to participate with the Wolves. What can I do?
Answer:
Registration is now open. Please refer to the information on our home page. You may also send your request to admin@wolveswrestling.org.
Question:
What are the Wolves Coaches' Credentials?
Answer:
The head coach - Trey Breeden - After wrestling at Lundahl Junior High and Crystal Lake South High School, Coach Breeden joined the United States Marine Corps. In addition to regular Marine duties he participated on and coached the Camp Pendleton Wrestling Club, placing 3rd in Greco at the All-Marine tournament in 1990. After his return to the Chicago area, Coach Breeden began volunteer coaching for the Chicago Park District and YMCA wrestling programs. In 2002 he began coaching at the high school level eventually becoming the Head Coach at Prairie Ridge High School where he coached until 2010 in that time they produced a state champion, 2 state runner ups and several other state placers and qualifiers. In 2011 he resigned as Head Coach to focus on spending time with and coaching his son on the Wolves Wrestling Club.
Other coaches have achieved similar success. We have former Division I college wrestlers, All Americans in Folkstyle and Greco Roman, and former high school varsity head coaches.
All of the Wolves coaches are required to participate in USA Wrestling's NCEP (National Coaches Education Program) and receive certification by USA Wrestling.
Question:
How can I learn more about the IKWF and USA Wrestling?
Answer:
http://www.ikwf.org and http://www.themat.com
Question:
How much does it cost to register with the Wolves?
Answer:
The registration fee for the Wolves depends on which level you choose to compete. Beginners pay $195 and advanced wrestlers pay $295. This fee includes the USA Wrestling insurance card and a practice uniform. It also includes use of a competition uniform which will be turned in at the end of the season. It also includes entry fees to weekend tournaments plus one night hotel stay for any wrestler attending a state series tournament.
Question:
What does my child need for the first day of wrestling?
Answer:
Your child should come in a pair of shorts, t-shirt, wrestling shoes (or gym shoes if you do not have them yet) and headgear. We have some "recycled" shoes that have been donated to the club that you are welcome to, however, we can not guarantee we have your size.
Wrestling shoes and headgear can be purchased at Play It Again Sports, Sports Authority and Dick's. Be sure to get "YOUTH" sizes.
Question:
Is there an additional fundraising requirement?
Answer:
Yes. This year we conducting a Raffle Ticket fundraiser to raise the necessary funds to keep the club's registration fee low. Participation by all members in this fundraiser is mandatory.
Question:
Are the Wolves coaches paid?
Answer: No. The Wolves is a 100% volunteer run organization. We are also an IRS designated 501c(3) Charitable Organization and an Illinois based Not-For-Profit Corporation.
Question:
What size is the club?
Answer:
To ensure safety and maintain a desirable coach-to-wrestler ratio will be limited to approximately 70 wrestlers.
Question:
What if my child has never wrestled?
Answer:
The Wolves welcome all kids to join and experience the sport of wrestling. The coaching staff prides itself on the development of new wrestlers and looks forward to introducing this sport to a growing number of kids every season.
The practices and strategy in the wrestling room reflect the overall mission of the club, to provide kids an environment in which they can learn key values that will stay with them through life, and at the same time propagate interest and a love of the world’s oldest sport.
The Wolves coaching staff focuses on the needs of young wrestlers at different ages and skill levels, and practices are structured accordingly.
Question:
When and how often will the Wolves practice?
Answer: Depending on the skill and experience level of the wrestler, the practices will be 2 or 3 nights per week. Visit our web site for the link to our practice schedule and location. The link can be found on the left hand side under “Practice Schedule.”
Question:
Where are the practices?
Answer:
Practices are held in the Prairie Ridge High School wrestling balcony for the Reds on Mondays and Prairie Grove Elementary School on Tuesdays (Gray), Wednesdays (Red and Gray) and Thursdays (Gray).
Question:
Will all the kids be in the same room during practice?
Answer:
No. We split the wrestlers into age and skill appropriate levels that provide a very safe, managed, and well supervised atmosphere. The coaching staff is extremely qualified and experienced and is dedicated to providing a safe and excellent environment for young wrestlers.
Question:
What is the relationship between the Wolves and Prairie Ridge High School?
Answer:
The Wolves Wrestling Club supports Prairie Ridge High School wrestling and the Prairie Ridge wrestling coaching staff and wrestlers support the Wolves Wrestling Club. Prairie Ridge HS is the host site for the Wolves WC Interstate Batteries Classic tournament, and is the "home base" for our club. It is not a requirement that the members of the Wolves live within the Prairie Ridge HS boundaries.
Question:
Are the practices hard?
Answer:
Yes. Your child will come home from practice sweaty and tired. He should take a hot shower with soap right away after every practice. He will sleep very well the first few weeks of practice.
Question:
Can I wrestle for my middle school and for the Wolves?
Answer:
Yes, up to the start of the IKWF state series.
Question:
What about the tournaments?
Answer:
The IKWF divides the wrestlers into 5 categories:
Tot: 6 years old and under
Bantam: 7 - 8 years old
Intermediate: 9 - 10 years old
Novice: 11 - 12 years old
Senior: 13 - 14 years old
Wrestlers of advanced skill may choose to wrestle in a higher division under the consent and guidance of their coaches and parents.
All IKWF sanctioned tournaments compete only within divisions. Bantams only wrestle against bantams, intermediate only wrestle against intermediate, etc. In some cases, an additional category of Tot is introduced for wrestlers 6 years old and under.
Question:
How many tournaments or matches will the Wolves wrestle?
Answer:
Advanced wrestlers may choose to wrestle in about 20 tournaments. Beginning wrestlers may choose to wrestle in about 8 tournaments.
Question:
How do they group the kids at wrestling tournaments?
Answer:
The kids are first separated by years of wrestling experience (first and second year wrestlers are one group and 2 years and above is the second group), then by age and then by weight. We do our best to match the kids up with kids with similar skills and size.
Red tournaments are for first and second year wrestlers so all new wrestlers should attend those only unless stated otherwise on the tournament listing on the web site.
Question:
What if we can't make it to a tournament we had signed up for?
Answer:
Please contact one of the coaches as soon as possible and let them know you can't make it.
Question:
What time do we have to have wrestlers to tournaments on the weekends and how do they get there?
Answer:
Almost all tournaments require wrestlers to be present to check in and/or weigh in BEFORE 8:00 on a Saturday or Sunday. Parents need to transport wrestlers to the tournaments and bring them home when they are finished. Carpooling is possible, if you know other families with the club or as you get to know them, so not everyone has to drive so early in the morning to every tournament. Other parents can arrive about 9:00/9:30 when wrestling usually begins.
Question:
What do we do when we get to a tournament?
Answer:
Find the check in area and look for the check in table for Wolves wrestling (there will usually be about 4 to 6 teams per check in table). Check in your wrestler at the table and they will direct you to the weigh in and skin check area. Once your done with weigh in proceed to the gym where they will wrestle.
Question:
Is there a fee to get into tournaments?
There is no fee for the wrestlers. That is included in the fees when you joined the club. Spectators pay $3 - $5 for adults. Children typically are free.
Question:
Can my son still attend the tournaments if he is unable to make practices the week before?
Answer:
It is recommended if you are unable to attend practices you should not being going to the tournaments. Practices are more important to the wrestlers development than tournaments.
Question:
How many tournaments would you recommend for a first and second year Red level wrestler?
Answer:
As a first year or second year wrestler, we would recommend you follow the Red tournament schedule attending as many events as you and your wrestler feel comfortable attending. If you attended all the events on the Red schedule, you can expect approximately 15-20 matches.
Question:
Can my son continue wrestling after the completion of the Red season?
Answer:
Yes, there is an additional $100 fee to cover the tournaments and practices. Match ups for wrestlers are important at practice, so in the past groups of Red wrestlers will choose to move up together to the Gray level. We expect that each year 8-10 Red wrestlers will continue on with the Gray level.
Question:
Will the Wolves offer other wrestling opportunities?
Answer:
In addition to individual tournaments, the Wolves also participate in a number of dual meets throughout the year. Dual meets provide the opportunity to experience a team setting in an individual sport.
Question:
Are the Wolves a "Traveling Team"?
Answer:
In other sports like baseball and football, the term traveling team is synonymous with "all star team". IKWF wrestling is not this way. The main forum for competition the Wolves engage in is IKWF sanctioned tournaments. These tournaments are typically hosted by other IKWF clubs and occur on Saturdays and Sundays. These tournaments are usually held in a high school gym. Some tournaments are nearby; others are a little farther away.
