The Laker Freestyle Club (LFC) has partnered again in 2021 with the Gopher Wrestling team in order to bring some of the top wrestling and coaching talent in the nation to our wrestling room for this Freestyle/Greco season.  This year, current Gopher wrestler Brayton Lee and former Laker and Gopher, Rylee Streifel, will lead our  Freestyle/Greco team!  I'm also happy to announce that we again have Hayden Zillmer leading the Greco training.  Hayden has numerous world team accolades and most recently won the 2019 Senior Nationals - US Olympic Trials Qualifier (97kg)!  Our all-star coaches are excellent with the kids and outstanding Freestyle and Greco technicians. They will be coaching at practices, tournaments and at our dual meets. 

We will be kicking off our season immediately following spring break with the first practice on Tuesday April 13th.   We will have two mixed Freestyle/Greco sessions on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and exclusively Greco Roman on Thursdays (6pm to 7:15 K-5 and 7:00- 8:30 MS/HS).   

To ensure we have a strong selection of partners for live wrestling and drilling, we are offering spots in this program to wrestlers outside of Prior Lake and, as such, we would encourage our parents and wrestlers to invite others who you think might have interest.  Please sign up at your earliest convenience.

This year due to covid restrictions the state tournament (as well as all qualifiers) will be held at the MNUSA Training Center in Coon Rapids, MN.  The date for the state tournament has not yet been published but I will communicate that info as soon as it's available.

Timeline

• April 13, 2021 (Tuesday) --  First practice
• April/ May - Freestyle/Greco Tournaments expected most weekends in April and May leading up to MN USA State.  See Guillotine Open Tournament Schedule.
• Apr 30 - May 2 -- MN USA Freestyle/Greco State (CADET and JUNIORS) – Likely at MNUSAW Training Center in Coon Rapids, MN.
• May 7-9 -- MN USA Freestyle/Greco State (14u, 12u, 10u, 8u, 6u and Girls) –  Likely at MNUSAW Training Center in Coon Rapids, MN.
• May 13, Thursday, last official practice
• May 14-16 - Northern Plains (Central Nationals Tournament) – Wisconsin Dells  (you qualify just by participating in USA state, wrestle kids from the central states in the US) – 6U, 8U, 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U, USA Junior
• Possible continued practices for those heading to Fargo and USA Nationals.
• June 24 – Kids Freestyle and Greco-Roman National Championships,  – 6U, 8U, 10U, 12U, 14U
• July 16 – Fargo – Cadet and Junior nationals!

Sincerely,

Kevin Turzinski, VP Freestyle/Greco

Yes, yes, yes!!  Wrestling is fun win or lose--but let's face it, it's even more fun if you win.  First year or 10th year -- the way to win is to believe in yourself and outwork everyone.  Whether you are experienced or just getting started, the Laker Freestyle Club is a wrestlers highway to outworking everyone, improving skills and gaining confidence.  Here are a few links to additional information on why freestyle and Greco training is beneficial to all wrestlers:

• Benefits of Freestyle and Greco Wrestling
• 6 Reasons Why Every Folkstyle Wrestler Should Wrestle Freestyle
• Why Wrestle Freestyle & Greco-Roman