Sarasota Wrestling Club
Middle School Wrestling
Sarasota Wrestling Club is a wrestling club for middle school aged students, male and female, from grades 6th through 8th. Our goal is to promote the sport of wrestling by providing Sarasota’s only location where middle school students can learn and compete in the sport. No matter which middle school you go to, or which high school you will attend, you are welcome to train at the Sarasota Wrestling Academy.
Our season will run from October 1st, 2025 to February 15th, 2026. There will be 3 practices per week, and the option to compete in up to 8 tournaments. You may even get to meet both the Sarasota High School and Riverview High School wrestling coaches, as they will occasionally be instructing in the room. High school wrestlers will also occasionally volunteer their time at practices and tournaments to help the kids learn.
When:
Practices will be held Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 5:00 to 6:30pm
There will also be times available for Open Mat sessions, which will be announced as the High School makes them available.
Where:
Practices will be held in the Wrestling Room (Wrestling 2-102) of the Ed Howell Gymnasium at Sarasota High School, 2155 Bahia Vista St, Sarasota, FL 34239.
Directions:
Driving North on US 41, pass the old Sarasota High School building which is now the Sarasota Art Museum.
Make a Right on Wood St (after Publix and before Sarasota Ford) heading East.
Make a Right on School Ave heading South.
School Ave is closed at the intersection of Hatton St. There you will see gates to enter Sarasota High School. Enter through the “Exit” Gate. I know it’s counterintuitive but that is the one that will be open for us. (SEE PIC) That leads right to the Wrestling Room (SEE PIC) on the left, and there is space to turn around at the end of the driveway.
Practices:
We will close the door at the start of practice to keep the room cool. We will open the door at the end of practice. If you need to come in during practice, please knock loudly on the door and we will open it. Please be aware that there is no place for parents to sit in the wrestling room during practice. And everyone that does enter the room onto the mats will need to take their shoes off. Wrestlers should take off their street shoes upon entering the Wrestling Room and put on your wrestling shoes then. This way the wrestling shoes don’t get outside street germs. We do this to keep the mats clean to limit the spread of germs. We also disinfect the mats daily. We recommend that wrestler’s take a shower right after practice every day to also limit the spread of germs. Please also make sure that your fingernails are cut short for practices and competitions, and if you have long hair then please tie it up.
What You Need
Wrestling shoes – If you don’t have them now, that’s ok, still come to practice.
Kneepads – Recommended, but not required.
Headgear – Personal preference for practice, but required for competition.
Old t-shirt and shorts (no metal parts like zippers or buttons that might injure another wrestler) – low-tech traditional option
Grappling rash guards (long or short sleeve, top and bottom) – high-tech newer option
AAU Membership – Must have to attend practices.
Everyone:
The cost of the program is $70 per month.
There is also a one-time (2025-2026) season membership to AAU. This membership is necessary to attend this club, offers insurance for practices and competitions, and allows registration at AAU Tournaments that we will attend. AAU offers either a Regular membership for $22 or an Extended Coverage Membership for $24. I am asking everyone to get the $24 membership because you get much better insurance coverage for only $2 more. Additionally, everyone in the Club must have the Extended Coverage for anyone to be covered by it. That is why I am asking everyone to get the Extended Coverage membership.
AAU memberships can be obtained here
Pricing
For Tournament Competition:
Tournament competition is not mandatory. You may enter none, some, or all of the tournaments if you choose. That is entirely up to your schedule and comfort level. If you choose to compete in tournaments, there is a team apparel package available which consists of a singlet, t-shirt, hoodie and shorts which must be purchased as our uniform. Each tournament will also have its own registration fee. You are responsible for registering your wrestler for whichever tournaments you choose.
If you choose to compete in a USA Wrestling affiliated tournament (we only have 2 scheduled so far), then a onetime season membership is also needed. There is a one time (2025-2026 season) “Athlete” membership in USA Wrestling, which provides accident insurance for both practices and matches. The cost is either $20 or $55 depending on the amount of insurance you choose, and can be obtained here
Join The Team
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Upcoming Tournaments
Contact Us
Address
Club Practices Held at
Sarasota High School
Ed Howell Gymnasium
Wrestling Room
2155 Bahia Vista St,
Sarasota, FL 34239
Contact
Joseph Costanzo
Club Director/Coach
954-235-6957
Opening Hours -
Begins 10/01/25
Mondays
5:00pm - 6:30pm
Tuesdays
Wednesdays
5:00pm - 6:30pm
5:00pm - 6:30pm
You are welcome to come in and try a class for free.
If you would like to cancel, please provide written notice to sarasotawrestlingclub@gmail.com and you will not be billed for the next month.
