An organization giving Arlington wrestlers wanting a place to compete outside the winter high-school season is gaining in popularity.
The Arlington Wrestling Club, for girls and boys, offers practice sessions and various competitions for the months following and leading up to the winter high-school campaign.
At present, the club has some 50 members.
The club holds one practice sessions per week on Friday evenings in the Wakefield High School wrestling room. There is no cost to participate for wrestlers.
The organization is run by Wakefield head wrestling coach John Leinberger, with head coaches Andrew Adams of Yorktown High and Ulysses Smith and Washington-Liberty High in supporting roles. Former Wakefield standout wrestler Loranzo Rajaonarivelo also helps coach.
Rajaonarivelo wrestled in college at George Mason and Glenville State universities.
“We want to give the wrestlers an opportunity to be productive and to improve wrestling all around in Arlington,” Leinberger told ARLnow.
The club was started years back by former Wakefield coach Jeff Humphries. Leinberger has been trying to expand the club in the two years he has been in charge.
“We are building and gaining some momentum,” Leinberger said.
A number of the club members enjoyed significant individual success during this past winter’s high-school season, like Yorktown’s Basheer Hadi and Wakefield state champion Cameron Millsapps and Wakefield state qualifier Anthony Morales. Seeing that success has attracted more wrestlers to become involved, according to Leinberger.
“I think a lot of kids saw the benefit of the club, and we are seeing some real growth and success,” Leinberger said.
The club primarily includes high-school age wrestlers, but younger wrestlers of lighter weight classes frommiddle schools can participate. Leinberger ask if younger wrestlers join, they bring a friend of the same weight so they can have someone of their size to practice against.
The club recently had teams place third in freestyle and Greco-Roman style wrestling during a recent competition.
Today (April 19), the club is hosting its second annual Warrior Classic at Wakefield. Some 32 teams are entered. Leinberger said the classic could include some 200 wrestlers from Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and DC.
The classic will be a bracketed freestyle event, with every wrestler guaranteed four matches. There will be an exhibition Greco showcase presentation at the conclusion.
