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2024 GRECO - FREESTYLE PROGRAM REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

 

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.

FREESTYLE COACH: SEBAS SWIGGUM

Sebas is currently a red shirt senior wrestler for the University of Minnesota where he has compiled an 18-23 career record for the Gophers.  A graduate of Apple Valley High School, he was a MSHL State Champion in 2019 and a three year State place winner.  

FREESTYLE COACH: DEVIN FITZPATRICK

FitzPatrick closed his St. Cloud State career in outstanding fashion in 2021, earning All-America honors for the third time in his career after placing third at 165-pounds at the NCAA Championships in March. He additionally closed his career as a three-time All-Conference selection, earning First Team honors in 2019-20 and second team honors in both 2020-21 and 2018-19. The senior from Mahtomedi, Minnesota posted a 7-1 record at 165 pounds with two wins by pin and two bonus point wins. FitzPatrick ranked second on the team in points earned in 2020-21 and spent the majority of the season as the No. 1 ranked wrestler in his weight class. He was crowned regional champ at 165 pounds at the Super Region V competition in late February

A 2016 grad of Mahtomedi H.S., where he wrestled for coaches Joe Leif and Matt Oswald...6X letterwinner in wrestling...183-38 career record...5X state qualifier...5X All-Conference....4X section champ...3X state place winner...2X state finalist...a three-year captain in high school for wrestling...4X letterwinner in lacrosse...2X First Team All-Conference and 2X First Team All-Section in lacrosse...2X lacrosse captain...helped team finish fifth in state during junior season of lacrosse...3X letterwinner in football and a first team All-Conference award recipient.

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. 

MIKE HOUCK: Guest Coach – Session 2

Mike is the first American to win the Greco-Roman world gold medal and is the former National Coach for USA Wrestling Greco-Roman. Under his coaching tenure, the United States finished in the top 10 in the world four out of five years, won the Greco-Roman competition in the Pan American Games for the first time ever and brought home six World or Olympic medals.  Mike is a member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

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.

The Guillotine Youth Tournament Calendar 2023-2024

Click above to view all of the Open tournaments in the area and National Tournament happening! If you have questions- ask any of the board members!



NYWA State Tournament Information

2024 GRECO -FREESTYLE PRACTICE SCHEDULE

SESSION 1 (HIGH SCHOOL)

March 4 - April 3

Monday & Wednesday 6pm - 8pm

SESSION 2 (HIGH SCHOOL & YOUTH)

April 9 - May 9

Tuesday & Thursday 6pm - 8pm

Chanhassen High School 


Stallions K-6 Competition Team

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