Welcome to the Champaign Wrestling Club! We are excited to have your family join us for another season of wrestling. CWC is a nonprofit organization supported by volunteer coaches, board members, and families. Our goal is to introduce young athletes to wrestling, develop strong technical foundations, and prepare them for future high school wrestling.
Below are answers to some of the questions families ask most often.
1. What is the Champaign Wrestling Club?
Champaign Wrestling Club (CWC) is a nonprofit youth wrestling organization serving children ages 4–14 who live within approximately 50 miles of our practice facility.
CWC is affiliated with the Illinois Kids Wrestling Federation (IKWF) and USA Wrestling. Our goal is to give athletes a strong wrestling foundation while introducing them to the sport in a supportive, competitive environment.
2. What do I need to complete before my child can practice?
Every wrestler must have an active USA Wrestling membership and must appear on the CWC/IKWF roster. Wrestlers cannot participate in practice without the required USA Wrestling membership.
New wrestlers must also provide a copy of their birth certificate; a paper copy may be provided or emailed to [email protected].
3. Where and when are practices held?
Practices are held in the varsity wrestling room on the third floor of Huff Hall at the University of Illinois, located at 1206 S. 4th Street in Champaign.
Wrestlers are divided into two groups based primarily on age and weight:
Beginner Group
Tuesday & Thursday: 6:15–7:15 p.m.
Advanced Group
Monday: 6:15–7:45 p.m.
Tuesday & Thursday: 7:15–8:45 p.m.
Group assignments and practice updates will be communicated through SportsYou.
4. Can parents stay and watch practice?
Regular wrestling practices are closed to parents and families. New CWC families may accompany their wrestler into the practice room during the first week of practice.
There may be exceptions for circumstances involving female athletes, health needs, or emotional situations.
Parents should plan to drop off their wrestlers and return for pickup. Keeping practices focused allows coaches to concentrate on instruction and the athletes.
5. What should my wrestler bring to practice?
Wrestlers should arrive prepared with:
Water is the only drink permitted during practice. Please do not send Gatorade, sports drinks, soda, or other beverages into the wrestling room.
6. Are there special rules for Huff Hall?
Yes. CWC is a guest of the University of Illinois, and respecting the facility is extremely important to maintaining our relationship with the university wrestling program.
Please make sure your athlete:
7. What happens if my child misses practice?
You do not need to notify Coach Ron when your child will miss a practice.
That said, consistent attendance is strongly encouraged—particularly during the first three weeks of the season. Wrestling is a skill-based sport, and regular practice is important to an athlete's development.
8. How will CWC communicate with families?
SportsYou is the primary communication platform for CWC.
Families should regularly check SportsYou for:
Parents should also monitor emails and messages from CWC board members and volunteers. Important information may come from several members of the CWC team—not just the head coach.
For individual concerns, please contact Coach Ron directly through SportsYou DM or by text rather than posting the concern in the group feed.
9. What does my wrestler receive for apparel and equipment?
Each CWC wrestler receives an apparel package that includes:
CWC also provides wrestling singlets and headgear. Singlets are distributed before the first tournament and are tracked throughout the season. A $50 replacement fee applies to a lost singlet. Return singlets and headgear to CWC at the end of the season.
Additional family apparel will be available through the CWC apparel store, with ordering information shared through SportsYou.
10. Does my child have to participate in tournaments?
No. Tournament participation is optional.
Tournaments are separate from regular CWC registration and require an additional registration fee. Parents are responsible for registering their wrestlers and providing transportation to and from tournaments.
CWC will provide tournament registration information through the CWC website and SportsYou.
Scholarship funds may be available for tournament-related costs.
11. What do parents need to know about tournament weigh-ins?
Weigh-ins are mandatory.
If a wrestler misses the required weigh-in—whether completed ahead of time with the club or at the tournament—the wrestler will not be eligible to compete, and the tournament registration fee will not be refunded.
Wrestlers compete according to their appropriate age and weight. A wrestler's tournament age is based on their age on December 31, 2026, and that age classification does not change during the season.
If your child is sick during the week of a tournament, CWC does not recommend that they compete.
12. What are the expectations for wrestler hygiene?
Good hygiene is an important part of wrestling because skin infections can spread quickly among athletes.
Parents should make sure wrestlers:
Do not try to cover up a suspected infection. Please report infections so we can protect the health of all our wrestlers.
13. How can parents help?
CWC is a volunteer organization, and our club depends on families to help make the season successful. There are many ways to contribute, including:
14. What should I do if I have a concern or disagreement?
We want CWC to be a place where families can communicate openly and respectfully.
If you have a question, concern, or disagreement, please bring it directly to Coach Ron rather than discussing it with other families or posting it in the group feed.
You can contact Coach Ron through SportsYou DM or by text. Please understand that CWC coaches and board members are volunteers, and coaches need to focus on the athletes during practice.
Our shared goal is to create a positive environment where wrestlers can learn, compete, and enjoy the sport.
15. Where can I find important CWC information?
Families should bookmark the following resources:
Below are answers to some of the questions families ask most often.
1. What is the Champaign Wrestling Club?
Champaign Wrestling Club (CWC) is a nonprofit youth wrestling organization serving children ages 4–14 who live within approximately 50 miles of our practice facility.
CWC is affiliated with the Illinois Kids Wrestling Federation (IKWF) and USA Wrestling. Our goal is to give athletes a strong wrestling foundation while introducing them to the sport in a supportive, competitive environment.
2. What do I need to complete before my child can practice?
Every wrestler must have an active USA Wrestling membership and must appear on the CWC/IKWF roster. Wrestlers cannot participate in practice without the required USA Wrestling membership.
New wrestlers must also provide a copy of their birth certificate; a paper copy may be provided or emailed to [email protected].
3. Where and when are practices held?
Practices are held in the varsity wrestling room on the third floor of Huff Hall at the University of Illinois, located at 1206 S. 4th Street in Champaign.
Wrestlers are divided into two groups based primarily on age and weight:
Beginner Group
Tuesday & Thursday: 6:15–7:15 p.m.
Advanced Group
Monday: 6:15–7:45 p.m.
Tuesday & Thursday: 7:15–8:45 p.m.
Group assignments and practice updates will be communicated through SportsYou.
4. Can parents stay and watch practice?
Regular wrestling practices are closed to parents and families. New CWC families may accompany their wrestler into the practice room during the first week of practice.
There may be exceptions for circumstances involving female athletes, health needs, or emotional situations.
Parents should plan to drop off their wrestlers and return for pickup. Keeping practices focused allows coaches to concentrate on instruction and the athletes.
5. What should my wrestler bring to practice?
Wrestlers should arrive prepared with:
- T-shirt and shorts
- Wrestling shoes
- Headgear
- Water bottle
- Wrestling bag
- Any necessary medications or mouthguards
Water is the only drink permitted during practice. Please do not send Gatorade, sports drinks, soda, or other beverages into the wrestling room.
6. Are there special rules for Huff Hall?
Yes. CWC is a guest of the University of Illinois, and respecting the facility is extremely important to maintaining our relationship with the university wrestling program.
Please make sure your athlete:
- Goes directly to the third-floor wrestling room
- Uses the stairs rather than the elevator
- Does not enter other gyms, classrooms, or restricted areas
- Does not run or play throughout the facility
- Does not use wrestling equipment unless directly supervised by a coach
- Brings only water into the wrestling room
- Does not bring food into the wrestling room
7. What happens if my child misses practice?
You do not need to notify Coach Ron when your child will miss a practice.
That said, consistent attendance is strongly encouraged—particularly during the first three weeks of the season. Wrestling is a skill-based sport, and regular practice is important to an athlete's development.
8. How will CWC communicate with families?
SportsYou is the primary communication platform for CWC.
Families should regularly check SportsYou for:
- Practice schedules and changes
- Group assignments
- Tournament information
- Apparel and equipment updates
- Fundraising information
- Other important club announcements
Parents should also monitor emails and messages from CWC board members and volunteers. Important information may come from several members of the CWC team—not just the head coach.
For individual concerns, please contact Coach Ron directly through SportsYou DM or by text rather than posting the concern in the group feed.
9. What does my wrestler receive for apparel and equipment?
Each CWC wrestler receives an apparel package that includes:
- Shorts
- T-shirt
- Hoodie
CWC also provides wrestling singlets and headgear. Singlets are distributed before the first tournament and are tracked throughout the season. A $50 replacement fee applies to a lost singlet. Return singlets and headgear to CWC at the end of the season.
Additional family apparel will be available through the CWC apparel store, with ordering information shared through SportsYou.
10. Does my child have to participate in tournaments?
No. Tournament participation is optional.
Tournaments are separate from regular CWC registration and require an additional registration fee. Parents are responsible for registering their wrestlers and providing transportation to and from tournaments.
CWC will provide tournament registration information through the CWC website and SportsYou.
Scholarship funds may be available for tournament-related costs.
11. What do parents need to know about tournament weigh-ins?
Weigh-ins are mandatory.
If a wrestler misses the required weigh-in—whether completed ahead of time with the club or at the tournament—the wrestler will not be eligible to compete, and the tournament registration fee will not be refunded.
Wrestlers compete according to their appropriate age and weight. A wrestler's tournament age is based on their age on December 31, 2026, and that age classification does not change during the season.
If your child is sick during the week of a tournament, CWC does not recommend that they compete.
12. What are the expectations for wrestler hygiene?
Good hygiene is an important part of wrestling because skin infections can spread quickly among athletes.
Parents should make sure wrestlers:
- Shower every night immediately after practice
- Wash their hair and use soap
- Keep fingernails short and trimmed
- Have their skin checked routinely for changes
Do not try to cover up a suspected infection. Please report infections so we can protect the health of all our wrestlers.
13. How can parents help?
CWC is a volunteer organization, and our club depends on families to help make the season successful. There are many ways to contribute, including:
- Helping with tournaments
- Mat mopping
- Coaching
- Distributing and collecting equipment
- Supporting SportsYou and social media
- Helping with other club activities and events
14. What should I do if I have a concern or disagreement?
We want CWC to be a place where families can communicate openly and respectfully.
If you have a question, concern, or disagreement, please bring it directly to Coach Ron rather than discussing it with other families or posting it in the group feed.
You can contact Coach Ron through SportsYou DM or by text. Please understand that CWC coaches and board members are volunteers, and coaches need to focus on the athletes during practice.
Our shared goal is to create a positive environment where wrestlers can learn, compete, and enjoy the sport.
15. Where can I find important CWC information?
Families should bookmark the following resources:
Thank You for Being Part of CWC!
Youth wrestling is a team effort. Our coaches, board members, volunteers, athletes, and families all play an important role in making the Champaign Wrestling Club successful.
Thank you for supporting your wrestler, respecting our coaches and volunteers, and helping us create a positive wrestling community.
We are looking forward to a great season!
Youth wrestling is a team effort. Our coaches, board members, volunteers, athletes, and families all play an important role in making the Champaign Wrestling Club successful.
Thank you for supporting your wrestler, respecting our coaches and volunteers, and helping us create a positive wrestling community.
We are looking forward to a great season!