To be a non-profit organization offering all participants, whether new or experienced, a comprehensive and inclusive opportunity to learn the fundamentals and values of wrestling in a fun and supportive environment

To ensure all wrestlers have the opportunity to compete and grow, in practice and throughscheduled events, underthe guidance of qualified coaches

To provide financial support to the Chaska/ Chanhassen wrestlingprogram. 2019-2020 Stallions Wrestling Team

Our wrestling team is comprised of PK-6th graders in the surrounding community. We serve kids from all elementary and middle schools, private and public, in Chaska, Chanhassen, Carver and Victoria.

2019-2020- 64 Wrestlers 5 - Pre-Kindergarten9 - Kindergarten14 - First Graders11 - Second Graders6 - Third Graders5 - Fourth Graders5 - Fifth Graders8 - Sixth Graders

Darin Bertram –Youth Head Coach▪ 12 years as Stallions Youth Wrestling Head Coach!▪ Herman High School (Wheaton, MN)

▪ 3x State Champ (1996-98) with a career varsity record of 177-8▪ Augsburg University –

▪ NCAA Champion – Junior, Career NCAA DIII record of 132-15 (12th best in Augsburg history), 4x MIAC Champion (1 of 10 wrestlers ever), 3x All American, National runner-up - Freshman and Sophomore

Steve Polakowski –Youth Assistant Coach▪ High School (Libertyville, IL)

Four-time letter-winner in wrestling • Three-time All-Conference honoree (2012-14) • 2014 All-State • Asics Freestyle Nationals All-American in 2013 • Coached Dale Eggert • Senior year at Libertyville finished with a 45-2 record and finished as the runner-up in the state of Illinois

▪ University of Minnesota Graduated, wrestled 4 years . Career record 39-25 ▪ Highlights: Two-time letter-winner ('16, ‘17), Picked up a win in his first career dual

appearance, a 7-1 decision over Michael Beck (Maryland), Finished one match shy of placing at 2016 Southern Scuffle, his varsity debut, During his redshirt season (2014-15), was the only Gopher to win open tournament titles at two different weights: Daktronics Open 125-pound champ; Wisconsin Open 133-pound champ.

Erik Rogness - StormHawks HS Head Coach

▪ 7th season as Chaska/Chan Head Coach (previously Robbinsdale-Cooper -3 seasons)

▪ Buffalo-2x State Qualifier

▪ Saint Cloud State University-4-year starter, 3x academic All-American, Team Captain, Member of National Runner-Up 2010.

Cabe Miller – HS Assistant Head Coach

▪ 11th Season as Asst. Coach

▪ 2007 Chaska Grad and State qualifier in Senior yr, 5-year varsity wrestler.

▪ Previously Middle School and Stallions Youth coach.

Jeff Higgins – StormHawks HS Asst Coach

▪ 11th Season as Asst. Coach

▪ Chisago Lakes - 3x State qualifier with a 4th place finish in 1984

▪ Previously Middle School head coach.

▪ 8 years+ of HS referee experience.

Trent Butcher– StormHawks HS Asst Coach

▪ 3rd Season as Asst. Coach

▪ 2013 Chaska Grad and 3X State qualifier, 3rd place Sr year,

▪ Southwest Minnesota State University –3X Academic All- NCIS team

December January February March April

Practice, Team, Open Competitions Extended Season Wrestling

NYWA State Tournament (Individual &

team)

• Season Dates:• Early Season – Nov 1oth– Feb 9th• Late Season – Feb 11- through 1st week April (State Tournament)

Chaska/ChanTournament

This year will look a little different due to Covid-19Our Ideal Practice Scenario:

1. Coach Darin & Coach Steve lead large group2. Wrestlers are broken into Pods of 4 kids based on

weight/experience/age to practice moves taught in large group (they’ll stick with these partners most of the season)

3. Early group will have 1-2 “parent coaches”/Pod to help facilitate moves just learned in practice (Room Capacity of 40 athletes and coaches)

4. Late group is made up of 4th-6 graders (and a few experienced younger wrestlers) too. We ask if your child is 4th grade or above, they are dropped off at the wrestling room door.

Practice on Tuesday and Thursday Nights Beginners 615-7:15pm Advanced 7:30-8:45pm

▪ Early Group –▪ Early group- We NEED your help with instruction; at practice and in-home.▪ Only 1 “parent coach”/child for the earlier group – we want the littlest kids to have parents available▪ We ask you drop your child off at the wrestling room- if you prefer to say, we need you to help with Pods▪ We must maintain our capacity requirements of 40 total coaches and wrestlers.▪ Sign up coming out this week

▪ Late Group- Very limited “Parent Coaching”▪ Help with Temp checks▪ Parent contact if a wrestler needs parent

▪ GroupMe – Download it! We’ll have an Early and Late Group GroupMe so if you’re waiting outside and your child needs you, we’ll contact you ASAP!

▪ Masks Required by Coaches, Wrestler and Parents while in the building and during practice. Wrestlers can take them off once they are ready to begin practice.

▪ Temp Checks- Coaches, Athletes and Parents must have temperature checks prior to each practice. If it’s above 99.9, the athlete and/or parent will not be admitted. Please do a pre-check at home for you and your child.

▪ Siblings cannot attend practice (unless they are part of the program)▪ Parent’s must socially distance 6 ft when dropping off/picking up▪ Child’s Gear Bags/Coats- Space 6’ apart from others.

We need to do everything we can to maintain social distancing rules to keep our program going!

Fundamentals for Wrestling Success1. Takedowns (single leg, double leg)2. Breakdowns (chop bus, far arm near lace)3. Pinning Combinations (half nelson, cradle)4. Escapes (wrestling from bottom, sit-out, stand-up)5. Defense (defending a takedown, sprawling, pinning combo)

Nov-Feb Focus▪ Teach tried and true techniques▪ Compete via Gameplay, Relays, etc.▪ Drill extensively▪ Live wrestling▪ Post competitions, ID challenge areas and work to improve upon those as a group.

Most Important of All: ▪ Learn to compete, individually and as a team.▪ Learn to win and lose▪ Have FUN!

Typical Folkstyle Match

▪ Three, 1-minute periods▪ Period 1: Both kids start on their feet▪ Period 2: Flip coin for choice (up, down , both up or defer)▪ Period 3: Other child gets choice

▪ Scoring▪ 2 points for a takedown (top control)▪ 2 points for “reversal”▪ 1 point for “escape”▪ 2-3 points awarded for exposing back to mat (near-fall)▪ Match ends early with pin (shoulders on mat), technical fall (15-

point lead), or time expiration.

Ask Questions! It’s much more fun when you know what is going on! We promise, you’ll get it!

▪ We strongly encourage:▪ 1) Show up to practice as often as possible

▪ 2) Compete at Open Events

▪ Yet…involvement is an individual choice.▪ Some kids only practice, others wrestle 50 matches/year

▪ We believe, with the right mindset, competing will enhance your experience and love for the sport over time.

▪ All open tournaments in MN and surrounding area listed on The Guillotine website: http://theguillotine.com/wp/the-guillotine-open-tournament-calendar

http://theguillotine.com/wp/the-guillotine-open-tournament-calendar

The outlook for Open Tournaments is uncertain due to Covid-19, however we are working on opportunities to give your children a chance to compete.

Register/pay @ entry (nominal fee - around $10 per wrestler) Go to weigh-ins (there is no “making weight”) Go to the stands, eat, kids warm up together. Announcer will call kids to “staging area” by grade.

▪ Kids are grouped by age, grade, experience and ability (you can document all at registration ie. ability/experience)

▪ NOTE: Parents can be @ both staging AND mat side wrestling. Kids are then taken in groups of 3-4 to a mat to wrestle

▪ Pre-K and K 1st, then 1st grade, 2nd and so on.

▪ A coach or experienced parent will be there as well.

▪ If your child is K-2, you will be in and out in a couple hours

▪ Tournaments usually last 4-6 hours start – finish

Wrestling for team is about the TEAM.

▪ Each position is earned by the best Stallion wrestler at that weight, regardless of age.

▪ We wrestle to win but are thoughtful of our make-up.

▪ Team events are PK-6th but not organized by grade. (ie. a 70lb K could face a 70lb 6th)

▪ Coach may move wrestlers up a class based on match-up. 100% coach’s discretion.

▪ May coach kids to “not get pinned” vs win.

Wrestle-offs

▪ During practice, the week prior as necessary (usually Thursday).

▪ 1st opportunity is a “best of 3”. Future = coach’s discretion but often 1 match challenge.

All-day events. Typically 3 duals per tournament. Entry fees paid by Stallions Club

Weigh-in as team (45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 84, 88, 93, 102, 115, 130, HWT) + 6 alternates.

▪ Committed wrestlers MUST attend and make weight.

▪ All do their best to get alternates matches. Usually works out.

Scoring

▪ 6pts pin, 5pts TF, 4pts Major, 3pts Win. 6pts Forfeit.

▪ Paid coach(s)▪ Long season, lots of practice and opps to wrestle▪ 40% Discount with Adidas partnership▪ Wrestling gear, other apparel for purchase brought to

room at beginning of season▪ Home matches during practice hours vs other teams▪ FREE Stallions T-shirt▪ FREE Stallions tourney wrestler admission▪ FREE home HS wrestling admission▪ FREE Stallions Night @ HS Wrestling meet▪ FREE Team Opportunities

Camps▪ November Winter Camp (Free)

Regular Season▪ Mid Nov – Early Feb▪ Cost: $225, max family fee $350

Extended Season▪ Feb – 1st weekend April ▪ Preparation for individual Districts, Regions and State▪ Note: NYWA State tournament is in Rochester▪ Cost: $50 (don’t worry about until mid-February)

Wrestling is:▪ the oldest sport on earth - cave drawings date back to 3,000 B.C.

▪ one of the original sports in the ancient Olympic Games in Greece

▪ a builder of determination, diligence and perseverance.

But what you really need to know:▪ Wrestling is both an individual AND team sport

▪ The schedule is flexible, and the level of commitment and activity is up to you and your child.

▪ Most importantly . . .

The art of living is more like wrestling than dancing – Marcus Aurelius

PHYSICAL MENTAL/EMOTIONAL

•Agility and Quickness•Balance (Body Control)

•Coordination•Flexibility

•Core Strength•Endurance

•Explosiveness•Controlled Aggression

•Value of Practical Nutrition and Exercise

•Emotional Intelligence/Attitude•Self-Confidence

•Humility•Discipline/Accountability (self and team)

•Work vs Reward Ratio•Overcoming Obstacles/Fears

•Trying is Winning / Failing is NOT Losing•Preparation

•Exclusivity (the “few”)

INTANGIBLE

•Anyone can do it!•NO height or body shape reqs, 40 yd dash times, off-season reqs

•Financial demands are tempered.•The discipline and intensity prepares your child for life (in academics, work, family)•It channels the aggressive child’s tendencies, and cultivates the more passive child’s.

•It’s a GREAT cross-trainer for ALL other sports!

Welcome! We’re excited your child is here!

Wrestling Is Fun!

Questions?

There are no losers in wrestling, just winners and learners. - Unknown

Once you’ve wrestled, everything in life is easy. – Dan Gable

https://www.stallionswrestling.org/

Wrestling Basics Explained▪ http://www.iahsaa.org/wrestling/Folkstyle_Wrestling_Basics_Phil_Henning.pdf

Guillotine▪ http://www.theguillotine.com/

Our website▪ http://www.stallionswrestling.org/

NFL Players That Wrestled▪ http://www.hammondwrestling.com/nflwrestlers.shtml

http://www.iahsaa.org/wrestling/Folkstyle_Wrestling_Basics_Phil_Henning.pdfhttp://www.theguillotine.com/tourncal.htmlhttp://www.stallionswrestling.org/http://www.hammondwrestling.com/nflwrestlers.shtml

2020-2021 BoardWebsite: www. Stallionswrestling.org

Amie EngelsGreg LarsonJamie NicholasFred RodgersTabby MeidlMattie SilvermanKristen BartleyJason CallinLucas TollefsonKelly LoosbrockErik Rogness

PresidentCommunications DirectorTreasurerCoaching & Competition LeadApparel CoordinatorVolunteer CoordinatorSecretaryWebsite DirectorFundraisingMember At LargeHigh School Wrestling Coach