Dexter Wrestling Club

Dexter Wrestling Club FAQs

Still have questions? Feel free to contact us with any questions you may have. Or perhaps your question is one many others have had before as well:

For the 2025 / 2026 season we will be using the Sports Engine app for registration. Email will still be the primary method of communication.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. What expenses should I expect through a wrestling season?

Registration with Dexter Wrestling Club. You will need to register to be a part of the Dexter Wrestling Club. Registration fees are posted on the website. and children can be registered through Sports Engine.

The 2025/2026 season will offer Three sessions:

Session 1: Nov 3 - Dec 31

Session 2: Jan 6 - Feb 28

Session 3: Mar 1 - Mar 31

Tournaments (Optional). Participation in Tournaments is completely optional. If your child does wish to compete in a tournament, there is a tournament registration fee for each tournament your wrestler competes in. Tournaments start in November and continue through March, there is always a tournament every weekend (typically Sundays). Tournaments typically cost $20 (give or take) to register the wrestler for the competition. Once you arrive at the tournament, there is no fee for the registered wrestler, but there will be a gate/entry fee for family/friends. Usually that pricing is around $5/adult, $3/student or child, or $7/family.

Equipment. Equipment needs for wrestling are relatively small.

Headgear. The wrestler will need headgear in order to compete in any tournament. You can expect headgear to cost about $15-$25.
Shoes:
1. Pre-Worn Shoes: Check out the DWC pool of pre-worn shoes. Every year we have a fairly good-sized collection of pre-worn wrestling shoes in many sizes. You are free to sort through the stash to find shoes for your wrestler. We just ask that when the season is done you return the shoes.
2. Buying new wrestling shoes is the most expensive option, but not necessary.

Headgear: We encourage you to purchase- and label- your child a headgear.
Singlets: If your child competes in a tournament, then a singlet can be purchased for the season. This is optional.
Optional Additional Gear: An optional expense is the purchase of additional Dexter Wrestling Club clothing and gear. Every year, early in the season, we have an open ordering session where families can purchase shirts, shorts, sweats, sweatshirts and other gear. when the spirit store (Dexter Print & Embroidery) opens for the season.

2. We are new to wrestling and not sure if we will like it or not. Is there a way we can try some things before we pay for registration?

We will have an "Open Mat" for the first week of Session 1. This is for anyone that hasn't wrestled yet and might want to try it out before making a commitment.

3. I'm not sure what level my wrestler belongs in. How is that determined?

DWC Levels

At the onset of the season, wrestlers will be placed in specific groups for purposes of practices. The groups will be based on age, experience, weight, availability of practice partners, etc. Each wrestler is assessed individually to include factors such as experience, wrestler's/parent's desires, performance, focus, and coaches' recommendations. Decisions on placement are ultimately determined by the board/coaches, considering all of these factors.

Once placed in a group, that will be the designated group for your wrestler for the season unless Board/Coaches determine otherwise. The goal is to make decisions that are in the best interest of each wrestler and to find the right fit for the best environment for the wrestler's continued development. If you have questions, please contact us.

Tournaments. Some tournaments (MyWay) will have groups- Novice and Open

Novice:

Primarily for 1st and 2nd year wrestlers learning the basics. Wrestlers at this level learn the basics of scoring and gain an introductory understanding of the sport, such as basic positioning, take-downs, break-downs, turns, and defense. Intensity at this level is light to medium with the goal to develop wrestlers. Practices are balance instruction, drilling, wrestling, and game-play for skill development. They will compete at the "NOVICE" level in tournaments.

Open:

Primarily for 3rd year wrestlers and up. These are more experienced wrestlers seeking more intense competitive environments to develop advanced wrestling skills. These wrestlers either have or will wrestle in the "OPEN" competition category in tournaments. The practices build upon Level 1 skills to develop more advanced execution of positioning, take-downs, break-downs, turns and defense. Intensity at this level is at medium to high - a definite step up from Level 1. Practices are designed for the more serious and experienced wrestlers in the club.

4. What kind of time commitment should we expect for our wrestler?

You will find that wrestling is a very flexible sport. Because it is an individual sport, you have tremendous flexibility to determine just how much time you want to commit to wrestling. Each wrestler will practice an assigned two days a week. There will be a tournament every weekend through the season that you may or may not choose to participate in.

Practices. Your wrestler will be notified of the designated practices for the rest of the season. Practices will be two days per week with specific days and times. Questions, please email wrestlingclubdexter@gmail.com.

Tournaments (Optional). Participation in Tournaments is completely optional. Many kids choose not to compete at all, some participate in a few tournaments, others try to compete in each and every tournament. Your wrestler can compete in as many or as few tournaments as he/she desires. We encourage our wrestlers to compete because it's so much fun and is the best way to build skills quicker.

Tournaments are on Sundays. Many tournaments will be divided into Novice and Open. Novice is for first or second year wrestlers and they begin at 10:00 a.m. (arriving at least 30 minutes before) and are finished around noon. Open wrestlers are more experienced (2 years or more) begins about 1:00 p.m. and is usually done by 5:00 p.m.

NEW THIS SEASON: Parents will be registering their child for any tournaments they decide to participate in. DWC will participate in 3-4 tournaments which will be posted on the website. Coaching NOT guaranteed at tournaments.

Mandatory (Dexter Tournament). DWC hosts a tournament on a Sunday during the season. Some level of participation/volunteering is required at this fun event!

USEFUL FOR NEW PARENTS/WRESTLERS…

DWC wrestles primarily in Folkstyle style. Below is an overview and basic rules and scoring related to Folkstyle wrestling:

The object of the sport of wrestling is to put your opponent on his back -- to pin your opponent. A pin (or fall) is when you put your opponent on his/her back with any part of both shoulders or both shoulder blades of your opponent in contact with the mat for two seconds. When you pin your opponent, the match is over and you are the winner. If nobody gets pinned, the winner is the wrestler who has scored the most points during the match..

There are five ways to score points in a wrestling match:

1) Takedown - (2 points) You score two points for taking your opponent down to the mat and controlling him/her.
2) Escape - (1 point) You score one point for getting away or getting to a neutral position when your opponent has you down on the mat.
3) Reversal - (2 points) You score two points when your opponent has you down on the mat and you come from underneath and gain control of your opponent.
4) Near Fall (Back Points) - (2 or 3 points) You get near fall points when you almost but not quite get your opponent pinned. A near fall (near pin) is when...
If a near fall lasts for two seconds, you get 2 points. If a near fall lasts for 5 seconds, you get 3 points.
5) Penalty Points - (1 or 2 points) Your opponent is awarded points if you commit the following infractions. (NFHS penalty chart AT THIS LINK)
The first and second time you are penalized, your opponent is awarded one point. The third time you are penalized, your opponent is awarded two points. The fourth time you are penalized, you are disqualified. (Except for illegal starting position or false start - you are cautioned twice, then one point awarded for each infraction, but you will not be disqualified. In the event of Flagrant Misconduct, you are ejected from the match on the first offense, you lose the match, and 3 team points are deducted).
- What is a Pin? both shoulders are held for two seconds within four inches of the mat, or...one shoulder touches the mat and the other shoulder is at a 45 degree angle coming down to the mat, or... the wrestler is held in a high bridge or back on both elbows.
- Illegal Holds - There are several holds that the referee will penalize you for without warning. (There are other holds called "potentially dangerous holds" which the referee might make you let go of but will not penalize you for).
- Technical Violations
- Going off the mat or forcing your opponent off the mat to avoid wrestling ("fleeing the mat.")
- Grabbing clothing, the mat, or the headgear
- Locked or overlapped hands: If you are down on the mat in control of your opponent, you cannot lock or overlap your hands, fingers or arms around your opponent's body or both legs unless you have met criteria for a near pin of your opponent, or your opponent stands up and has all his/her weight on two feet, or you have lifted the opponent off the mat.
- Leaving the mat during the match without the referee's permission
- Reporting to the mat not properly equipped or not ready to wrestle, or equipment that is detected as being illegal after the match has started
- Unnecessary roughness
- Unsportsmanlike conduct
- Flagrant Misconduct (ejection, the match is over)
- Stalling (you get one warning before you are penalized and points are awarded).
- Incorrect starting position or false start (You get two cautions before points are awarded).

These rules apply to the type of wrestling done in the United States in College, High School, Junior High, Middle School, and most youth wrestling. This type of wrestling is often referred to as "folkstyle" wrestling. The rules for "freestyle" and "greco-roman" wrestling, as is done in the olympics and internationally, are a little different.

Age Groups & Weight Classes 2025-2026 Season

Age Group

Weight Classes

2021/2020/2019

37, 40, 43, 46, 49, 52, 55, 58, 61, 64, 67, 77, HWT

2018/2017

43, 46, 49, 52, 55, 58, 61, 64, 67, 72, 77, 82, 97, 112, HWT

2016/2015

54, 57, 60, 63, 66, 69, 72, 75, 78, 81, 85, 90, 95, 100, 110, 130, 150, HWT

2014/2013

65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 105, 112, 119, 126, 133, 158, 183, HWT

2012/2011

80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 107, 114, 122, 130, 138, 145, 155, 170, 195, 220, HWT

2011/2010 (HS)

91, 101, 109, 116, 123, 129, 135, 141, 147, 153, 160, 168, 178, 193, 218, 288

2009/2008/2007 (HS)

109, 116, 123, 129, 135, 141, 147, 153, 160, 168, 178, 193, 218, 288

2021/2020/2019 GIRLS

40, 43, 46, 49, 52, 55, 61, 67, HWT

2018/2017 GIRLS

46, 51, 54, 58, 62, 66, 72, 78, 85, 95, HWT

2016/2015 GIRLS

57, 62, 67, 72, 77, 86, 95, 105, 120, 130, 150, HWT

2014/2013 GIRLS

70, 74, 84, 90, 96, 105, 112, 118, 128, 140, 155, 180, 200, HWT

2012/2011 GIRLS

85, 95, 100, 108, 118, 128, 138, 148, 158, 178, HWT

2010/2009/2008/2007 GIRLS

105,115, 125, 138, 151, 166, 186, 205, HWT

Age Group is determined by the wrestlers age on December 31, 2025.
Anyone in the 2012/2011 age group MUST be 8th grade or younger, (NO High School kids)
Anyone born in 2010 must send proof to the Head Pairer listed on the event flyer that they are still in the 8th grade to wrestle in the 2012/2011 age group.
Tournaments have the option to block heavy weights to ensure matches; however there should be no more than a 20 lb. spread between competitors in the age group 2021/2020/2019, no more than a 25 lb. spread between competitors in the age groups 2018/2017 and 2016/2015, and no more than a 30 lb. spread between competitors in the age groups 2014/2013 and 2012/2011.

LINKS and RESOURCES

Here's a quick, easy guide to enrolling your wrestler with MEMWAY:

Hit the MEMWAY Website: Go to the official MEMWAY Membership portal.
Go to the Wrestler Section: Click on the WRESTLERS CLICK HERE link.
Find the Club Links: Scroll down until you see the Club Membership Links section.
Pick Your Area: Check the options under -- State/Region --
Choose MYWAY East: Select -- MYWAY East -- from the choices.
Submit It: Click the Submit button.
Affiliate with Dexter Wrestling: Find and click on the Dexter Wrestling Club link in the list of teams that pops up. You can also use this direct link: https://memberships.sportsengine.com/org/memway/affiliation/dexter-wrestling-club-328165
You're All Set! Once you complete the registration, your wrestler will be ready to sign up for all MYWAY events.

After completing your MEMWAY membership, you can then register your wrestler for an individual tournament directly on the MYWAY website:

ALL WRESTLERS MUST BE PRE-REGISTERED ON OR BY THURSDAY EVENING AT 10:00 PM PRIOR TO THE TOURNAMENT. CLUB DIRECTORS OR INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS WILL LOGIN INTO THEIR PERSONAL ACCOUNT TO REGISTER. ALL WRESTLERS MUST BE A MYWAY MEMBER IN ORDER TO COMPETE IN ANY MYWAY SANCTIONED EVENT.

Go to MYWAY Wrestling Page
Click MYWAY EVENT REGISTRATION CLICK HERE
Find East Region Event Registration Links
CLICK THE EVENT NAME BELOW TO BE REDIRECTED THE REGISTRATION PAGE

MYWAY Event Registrations will Open at 9 pm Monday evenings unless otherwise stated on the event flyer.

Once you have registered your wrestler, you will receive confirmation of their entry into the tournament.

FOLKSTYLE WRESTLING

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