About Us & FAQ

 Welcome to Pope Wrestling!  The purpose of our program is to build a solid foundation and have fun at the youth level with the long-term goal of producing the best high school wrestlers in the nation.  Pope Wrestling is a strong community with a proud tradition.  We have had numerous junior level champions and placers.  Several have gone on to place nationally.  Our middle school and high school programs have won multiple state titles and produced several individual state champions.  Pope High School won the Individual State Tournament in 2011, 2012 & 2013 and State Dual Championship 2011,2012,2013, 2014, and 2019 with many of the team members having wrestled in the junior program.  We hope to continue and build on this tradition this season.  

At Pope Jr Wrestling, our mission is to instill the core values of wrestling—discipline, resilience, and sportsmanship—in young athletes, nurturing their potential both on and off the mat. We are dedicated to providing a dynamic training environment that encourages growth, fosters a sense of community, and promotes a healthy competitive spirit. Our goal is to prepare our wrestlers to compete at the highest levels, ensuring they are ready to join the high school team with the skills, mindset, and character needed to succeed. We believe in building champions for life, equipping them with the strength to face challenges and the confidence to pursue excellence in all their endeavors.

Pope Jr. Wrestling is for elementary and middle school students ages 5-14.  While we are a feeder program for Pope High School, those not in the Pope district are welcome to join us.  All shapes, sizes, and sexes are encouraged to wrestler.  Wrestlers compete by both age group and weight class.  There are separate tournaments for 1st/2nd year wrestlers and for more experienced wrestlers.  

  Girls can wrestle, too!!! Don't be afraid to let your daughter learn the same valuable lessons as your son. Girls can wrestle in any Novice or Open Tournament.  There are separate brackets for girls at some tournaments.  There is a separate state tournament just for girls.  Also, this is the third year in Georgia for girls' wrestling to be an officially sanctioned state championship sport in high school. Last year we had 7 girls in the program.  We have girls with multiple state placements and state championships.

  Yes!  We have football players and other sport athletes on the team every year.  We will always review the basics.  You can start practice as soon as playoffs are over. But, if you can make it on a night off you should try.  The more time on the mat the better. 

 While it helps to be naturally athletic, the hardest working and most competitive kids are typically the most successful.  Every kid "clicks" at different stages and it can sometimes take a couple of years before they start to win consistently.  There is not one specific formula that wins.  Some kids are strong, some are fast and some are more technical.  But the ones who work hard and strive to improve every day are the ones who become the best.  Download The Progression of a Wrestler for more info.
 

 Wrestlers will need wrestling shoes and headgear which are available at sporting goods stores like Dick's Sporting Goods or online at www.takedownshop.com.  Those with braces will need a mouthpiece. 

 Wrestling tournaments are typically held on Saturdays.  Ages 5-10 will compete in a morning session that will last from approx 8:00 am - 12:30 am and ages 11-14 will last from approx 12:30 pm - 5 pm. There are also beginner tournaments for 1st and 2nd year wrestlers on Sundays.