OUR TEAMS
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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 Gold Leopards, an invitation-only team for our more experienced, advanced wrestlers.
Here are the registration categories for the 2018-2019 season: Junior Leopards (grades K-1) Elementary School (grades 2-5, first graders if it makes sense) Gold Leopards (grades 2-8, invitation only) Middle School (grades 6-8) |
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Descriptions and fees are listed below (we also provide discounts for siblings):
JUNIOR LEOPARDS (grades K-1). This is an “age-appropriate” weekly practice at Top of the Podium. In most cases, DOB is 2012-2013. This group was formerly called the Little Leopards. This program will be offered at two different weeknights, and you will be able to express your preference for a day/time when registering. Practices last for 55 minutes and will begin at 5:30 or 6 pm (depending on the coach's availability).
In this program, 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 Junior Leopards wrestle in practice and have the choice of participating in 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 the Junior Leopards are $149 from November 7 until February 14.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (grades 2-5). We have two teams of elementary-age wrestlers that practice at different times and locations:
Red Leopards (Mon/Thurs @ 6:00-7:30 pm; Top of the Podium in Sterling)
Blue Leopards (Tues/Thurs @ 7-8:30 pm; Top of the Podium in Sterling on Tuesday and an Ashburn school on Thursday)
When registering, you will be asked if you have a preference about practice location/time. Last year, we accommodated all requests, but it's possible one of the groups will fill up, so register early to ensure your spot.
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 participate in a more serious practice. At the present time, the club is considering an additional optional practice on Wednesday nights. This will be invitation-only (in other words, a coach must recommend/approve a wrestler for this practice). This decision is always based on the best interests of the wrestler and club, along with potential space limitations in the room. 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 Junior Leopards), we can discuss (if you're not sure) or you can register for the Elementary Leopards. If it turns out the child would be better suited for the Junior 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 late February.
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, Brambleton and Sterling areas as follows (the following locations are tentative, pending approval from the county). If you live outside of this area, you will be assigned to an appropriate team.
STERLING (Seneca Ridge/River Bend/Sterling). This team will practice 3x/week at Top of the Podium in Sterling. Practices are tentatively scheduled for M/T/R nights from 7:30-8:55 pm.
BRAMBLETON (Eagle Ridge/Stone Hill/Brambleton). This team will practice 2-3x week at local high schools (most likely Briar Woods and Rock Ridge), most likely on M/W/R evenings. Practices generally run from 7-8:30 pm.
ASHBURN (Trailside/Farmwell Station). This team will practice T/W/R at Stone Bridge and Broad Run high schools. Practices generally start around 6:45 and last for 90 minutes.
If the registrations warrant breaking out some of the schools into separate teams with their own practices, we will do this to avoid overcrowding in the practice rooms.
Our Middle School teams primarily compete in the Winter Wrestling Series and Dulles Duals. They also will have the opportunity to compete in other events during the season. Because there are so many options, each coach will explain the opportunities to the parents after the season begins.
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.
Fees are $219 for the season that runs from November 7 to late February/early March.
GOLD LEOPARDS (grades 2-8). This is invitation-only and is generally comprised of experienced, motivated, dedicated and mature wrestlers. Most kids are older 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.
The B&G team practices 3x week (Tues/Wed/Fri) 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 Gold Leopards also enter a team in the Dulles Duals (Rising Stars division) and may participate in other tournaments and events, including the VAWA State Championships in Richmond.
Fees for Gold Leopards are $249 for the season that runs from early November into March. Middle School wrestlers who attend one of the schools listed below can also attend their practices and represent their school in local competitions (see more below).
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE ABOVE TEAMS
JUNIOR LEOPARDS (grades K-1). This is an “age-appropriate” weekly practice at Top of the Podium. In most cases, DOB is 2012-2013. This group was formerly called the Little Leopards. This program will be offered at two different weeknights, and you will be able to express your preference for a day/time when registering. Practices last for 55 minutes and will begin at 5:30 or 6 pm (depending on the coach's availability).
In this program, 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 Junior Leopards wrestle in practice and have the choice of participating in 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 the Junior Leopards are $149 from November 7 until February 14.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (grades 2-5). We have two teams of elementary-age wrestlers that practice at different times and locations:
Red Leopards (Mon/Thurs @ 6:00-7:30 pm; Top of the Podium in Sterling)
Blue Leopards (Tues/Thurs @ 7-8:30 pm; Top of the Podium in Sterling on Tuesday and an Ashburn school on Thursday)
When registering, you will be asked if you have a preference about practice location/time. Last year, we accommodated all requests, but it's possible one of the groups will fill up, so register early to ensure your spot.
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 participate in a more serious practice. At the present time, the club is considering an additional optional practice on Wednesday nights. This will be invitation-only (in other words, a coach must recommend/approve a wrestler for this practice). This decision is always based on the best interests of the wrestler and club, along with potential space limitations in the room. 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 Junior Leopards), we can discuss (if you're not sure) or you can register for the Elementary Leopards. If it turns out the child would be better suited for the Junior 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 late February.
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, Brambleton and Sterling areas as follows (the following locations are tentative, pending approval from the county). If you live outside of this area, you will be assigned to an appropriate team.
STERLING (Seneca Ridge/River Bend/Sterling). This team will practice 3x/week at Top of the Podium in Sterling. Practices are tentatively scheduled for M/T/R nights from 7:30-8:55 pm.
BRAMBLETON (Eagle Ridge/Stone Hill/Brambleton). This team will practice 2-3x week at local high schools (most likely Briar Woods and Rock Ridge), most likely on M/W/R evenings. Practices generally run from 7-8:30 pm.
ASHBURN (Trailside/Farmwell Station). This team will practice T/W/R at Stone Bridge and Broad Run high schools. Practices generally start around 6:45 and last for 90 minutes.
If the registrations warrant breaking out some of the schools into separate teams with their own practices, we will do this to avoid overcrowding in the practice rooms.
Our Middle School teams primarily compete in the Winter Wrestling Series and Dulles Duals. They also will have the opportunity to compete in other events during the season. Because there are so many options, each coach will explain the opportunities to the parents after the season begins.
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.
Fees are $219 for the season that runs from November 7 to late February/early March.
GOLD LEOPARDS (grades 2-8). This is invitation-only and is generally comprised of experienced, motivated, dedicated and mature wrestlers. Most kids are older 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.
The B&G team practices 3x week (Tues/Wed/Fri) 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 Gold Leopards also enter a team in the Dulles Duals (Rising Stars division) and may participate in other tournaments and events, including the VAWA State Championships in Richmond.
Fees for Gold Leopards are $249 for the season that runs from early November into March. Middle School wrestlers who attend one of the schools listed below can also attend their practices and represent their school in local competitions (see more below).
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE ABOVE TEAMS