OUR TEAMS
Eastern Loudoun Wrestling Club (ELWC) is one large club comprised of different teams with their own practice/competition schedules. When you register, simply pick the option that corresponds to your age group. The only exception is the Black & Gold Leopards, an invitation-only team for our more experienced, advanced wrestlers.
Here are the registration categories for the 2017-2018 season:
Little Leopards (grades K-1)
Elementary School (grades 2-5, first graders when it makes sense)
Black & Gold Leopards (grades 2-6, invitation only)
Middle School (grades 6-8)
Descriptions and fees are listed below (we also give sibling discounts which are not listed):
LITTLE LEOPARDS (grades K-1). This is an “age-appropriate” weekly practice on Thursday from 5-6 pm at Top of the Podium. In most cases, DOB is 2011-2012.
Boys and girls are introduced to the basics of wrestling while also emphasizing body awareness, agility, balance, movement, etc. (often through games). We want the kids to have a great time and positive experience. By separating these children from older wrestlers, we ensure they receive age-appropriate instruction.
At this age, we do not see many benefits from participating in formal competition. However, the Little Leopards get to wrestle in practice and during our “final event” at the end of the season. There are also tourneys at TOP during the winter that your child has the option of participating in. If you believe your child is mature and athletic enough to practice with older kids in a more traditional wrestling practice, please contact us to discuss this request. Fees for this program are $139 from November 9 until February 22.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (grades 2-5). We have two teams of elementary-age wrestlers that practice at different times and locations:
Red Leopards (Mon/Wed @ 6:00-7:30 pm; Top of the Podium in Sterling)
Blue Leopards (Tues/Thurs @ 7:00-8:30 pm; Broad Run HS on tuesdays; Briar Woods HS on thursdays)
When registering, you will be asked if you have a preference about practice location/time.
Each Leopard team focuses on fundamentals, but most importantly, we want youth to fall in love with the sport, obtain great exercise, and have a positive experience. We understand some wrestlers on these teams may be motivated, mature and talented enough to “bump” up to the Black & Gold Leopards. In these cases, coaches can vote to make a transfer. But this decision is always based on the best interests of the wrestler and club, along with potential space limitations on the advanced team. Feel free to talk to the coaches if you believe your wrestler should bump up. 6th graders may also join the elementary Leopard teams if it seems like a better fit based on athletic ability and maturity.
All Leopards have the option of competing in local tournaments and meets. Our teams compete in the Winter Wrestling Series and Dulles Duals-Novice Division which take place at Top of the Podium. In most cases, wrestlers compete against others of a comparable age/weight/experience level. Most events take place on Saturdays, however, there are a few exceptions during the year. Experience shows too many kids quite wrestling if thrown into competition too soon. Thus, ELWC encourages competition only if they wrestler is interested and ready. There is nothing wrong with “practice-only” or giving wrestlers occasional weeks off during the season.
Regarding grades, some first graders are "old" for their grade and may also be more advanced athletically or able to focus at a higher level than peers. If this is the case and you believe a first grader is better suited for a Leopards team (as opposed to Little Leopards), we can discuss (if you're not sure) or you can register for the Leopards. If it turns out the child would be better suited for the Little Leopards, the coaches will let you know. In general, though, we believe it's better to be "bumped up" rather than "bumped down."
Fees for this program are $199 for the season that runs from November 8 until early March.
BLACK & GOLD LEOPARDS (grades 2-6). This is invitation-only and is generally comprised of experienced, motivated, dedicated and mature wrestlers. Most kids are older (4-5th grade) with multiple years of experience. The coaches expect athletes to take practice seriously and reserve the right to move wrestlers in or out of this team for the good of the team. This is a combination of last year's Black team and Gold team.
The B&G team practices 3x week (Tues/Thurs @ 6-7:30 and Wed @ 7:30-8:40) at Top of the Podium. The team competes in the Mason-Dixon League which features weekly tournaments on Sundays in January thru early March. The Black & Gold Leopards also enter a team in the Dulles Duals (one Friday night per month) and may participate in other tournaments and events.
Fees for Gold Leopards are $249 for the season that runs from November 8-March 11.
MIDDLE SCHOOL (grades 6-8). Loudoun County does not offer middle school sports, so local clubs fill the void. ELWC has formed teams for all middle schools in Ashburn and Sterling. Here is the planned practice schedule for the season:
Eagle Ridge (Mon/Wed @ Briar Woods High School, 7-8:30 pm)
Trailside/Farmwell Station (Tues/Wed/Thurs @ Stone Bridge High School, 6:45-8:15 pm)
Stone Hill/Brambleton (Mon/Wed @ Rock Ridge High School, 7:30-9 pm)
Seneca Ridge (Tues/Wed @ Dominion High School, 7-8:30 pm)
River Bend/Sterling (Mon @ Top of the Podium, 7:45-9:15 pm, and Thurs @ Potomac Falls High School (7-8:30 pm)
If your school isn’t listed above (or the practice schedule conflicts with your schedule), don’t worry. We will discuss assigning your wrestler to another location that makes sense. For more information on each of the school teams, click here.
Our teams compete in the middle school division of Dulles Duals, along with the Winter Wrestling Series. The vast majority of these events are held on Saturdays throughout the winter. More experienced/advanced wrestlers also have the option of joining the Gold Leopards at Mason-Dixon tournaments on Sundays in January and February.
Fees are $219 for the season that runs from November 8 to late February/early March.
CHAMPION FACTORY. This is an intense program for experienced wrestlers who are motivated to rise to the next level. If ELWC elementary or middle school wrestlers are interested in this program, they will join ELWC and compete with their teams on the weekends. However, they will practice as part of the Champion Factory program. We have a partnership with Champion Factory so wrestlers do not need to pay for both programs. Click here for more information on Champion Factory.
Here are the registration categories for the 2017-2018 season:
Little Leopards (grades K-1)
Elementary School (grades 2-5, first graders when it makes sense)
Black & Gold Leopards (grades 2-6, invitation only)
Middle School (grades 6-8)
Descriptions and fees are listed below (we also give sibling discounts which are not listed):
LITTLE LEOPARDS (grades K-1). This is an “age-appropriate” weekly practice on Thursday from 5-6 pm at Top of the Podium. In most cases, DOB is 2011-2012.
Boys and girls are introduced to the basics of wrestling while also emphasizing body awareness, agility, balance, movement, etc. (often through games). We want the kids to have a great time and positive experience. By separating these children from older wrestlers, we ensure they receive age-appropriate instruction.
At this age, we do not see many benefits from participating in formal competition. However, the Little Leopards get to wrestle in practice and during our “final event” at the end of the season. There are also tourneys at TOP during the winter that your child has the option of participating in. If you believe your child is mature and athletic enough to practice with older kids in a more traditional wrestling practice, please contact us to discuss this request. Fees for this program are $139 from November 9 until February 22.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (grades 2-5). We have two teams of elementary-age wrestlers that practice at different times and locations:
Red Leopards (Mon/Wed @ 6:00-7:30 pm; Top of the Podium in Sterling)
Blue Leopards (Tues/Thurs @ 7:00-8:30 pm; Broad Run HS on tuesdays; Briar Woods HS on thursdays)
When registering, you will be asked if you have a preference about practice location/time.
Each Leopard team focuses on fundamentals, but most importantly, we want youth to fall in love with the sport, obtain great exercise, and have a positive experience. We understand some wrestlers on these teams may be motivated, mature and talented enough to “bump” up to the Black & Gold Leopards. In these cases, coaches can vote to make a transfer. But this decision is always based on the best interests of the wrestler and club, along with potential space limitations on the advanced team. Feel free to talk to the coaches if you believe your wrestler should bump up. 6th graders may also join the elementary Leopard teams if it seems like a better fit based on athletic ability and maturity.
All Leopards have the option of competing in local tournaments and meets. Our teams compete in the Winter Wrestling Series and Dulles Duals-Novice Division which take place at Top of the Podium. In most cases, wrestlers compete against others of a comparable age/weight/experience level. Most events take place on Saturdays, however, there are a few exceptions during the year. Experience shows too many kids quite wrestling if thrown into competition too soon. Thus, ELWC encourages competition only if they wrestler is interested and ready. There is nothing wrong with “practice-only” or giving wrestlers occasional weeks off during the season.
Regarding grades, some first graders are "old" for their grade and may also be more advanced athletically or able to focus at a higher level than peers. If this is the case and you believe a first grader is better suited for a Leopards team (as opposed to Little Leopards), we can discuss (if you're not sure) or you can register for the Leopards. If it turns out the child would be better suited for the Little Leopards, the coaches will let you know. In general, though, we believe it's better to be "bumped up" rather than "bumped down."
Fees for this program are $199 for the season that runs from November 8 until early March.
BLACK & GOLD LEOPARDS (grades 2-6). This is invitation-only and is generally comprised of experienced, motivated, dedicated and mature wrestlers. Most kids are older (4-5th grade) with multiple years of experience. The coaches expect athletes to take practice seriously and reserve the right to move wrestlers in or out of this team for the good of the team. This is a combination of last year's Black team and Gold team.
The B&G team practices 3x week (Tues/Thurs @ 6-7:30 and Wed @ 7:30-8:40) at Top of the Podium. The team competes in the Mason-Dixon League which features weekly tournaments on Sundays in January thru early March. The Black & Gold Leopards also enter a team in the Dulles Duals (one Friday night per month) and may participate in other tournaments and events.
Fees for Gold Leopards are $249 for the season that runs from November 8-March 11.
MIDDLE SCHOOL (grades 6-8). Loudoun County does not offer middle school sports, so local clubs fill the void. ELWC has formed teams for all middle schools in Ashburn and Sterling. Here is the planned practice schedule for the season:
Eagle Ridge (Mon/Wed @ Briar Woods High School, 7-8:30 pm)
Trailside/Farmwell Station (Tues/Wed/Thurs @ Stone Bridge High School, 6:45-8:15 pm)
Stone Hill/Brambleton (Mon/Wed @ Rock Ridge High School, 7:30-9 pm)
Seneca Ridge (Tues/Wed @ Dominion High School, 7-8:30 pm)
River Bend/Sterling (Mon @ Top of the Podium, 7:45-9:15 pm, and Thurs @ Potomac Falls High School (7-8:30 pm)
If your school isn’t listed above (or the practice schedule conflicts with your schedule), don’t worry. We will discuss assigning your wrestler to another location that makes sense. For more information on each of the school teams, click here.
Our teams compete in the middle school division of Dulles Duals, along with the Winter Wrestling Series. The vast majority of these events are held on Saturdays throughout the winter. More experienced/advanced wrestlers also have the option of joining the Gold Leopards at Mason-Dixon tournaments on Sundays in January and February.
Fees are $219 for the season that runs from November 8 to late February/early March.
CHAMPION FACTORY. This is an intense program for experienced wrestlers who are motivated to rise to the next level. If ELWC elementary or middle school wrestlers are interested in this program, they will join ELWC and compete with their teams on the weekends. However, they will practice as part of the Champion Factory program. We have a partnership with Champion Factory so wrestlers do not need to pay for both programs. Click here for more information on Champion Factory.