Hey guys,
I’m finally transferring to a good school and am interested in trying out for the wrestling team. It’s a D1 school and I’m not really looking to be good, although I’ll take it as far as possible.
I’m wondering if it is possible to get on the practice team with very little experience? I’d be satisfied with being the guy who everybody smashes day after day, just so that I can get the experience.
Maybe a few former/current wrestlers can help me out with this one?
Thanks,
Carter
D1 is hardcore man
good luck
It won’t hurt to ask, but I have serious doubts they’ll keep you around unless they are really hurting for bodies which is unlikely, there are a lot of ex-highschool wrestlers roaming about, and even some state champs that end up without scholarships…a few years ago I went to practice with a friend of mine from a D3 school, Northern Colorado, and they ran around 4-5 deep in some of the weightclasses…and everybody was good(hey, this is all relative from my point of view.)
Also, I know everyone thinks they work hard, but unless you’re coming in in the best shape of your life, you will not survive a D1 college wrestling workout day in and day out…seriously you won’t, and they’ll all laugh at you when you’re puking in the corner.
But if you can do it, you’ll seriously improve your wrestling skills just by getting to practice with those guys.
Dude, wrestle with a NAIA, JuCo, Division 3 or 2 school or, better yet, a local club for ex-HS guys/curent HS guys.
But, if you’re hell-bent, expect to get your ass-kicked so thoroughly you may not be able to walk the next day.
Email the coaching staff and tell them your situation.
If not on the team, see if you can volunteer as a manager/video guy etc.
If not, go seek out a club team or get in on intramurals.
D1 college wrestlers are some really hardcore athletes. I thought I worked very hard until I saw some of these guys train, the level of intensity is unreal. If you have never wrestled before you should buy the bodybag before you go.
A lot of these guys are insanely strong (I knew a ‘133’ lber that benches 325 x 4) and have been wrestling since elementary school. Good luck though, if you do in fact survive with these guys you will truly be a badass.
One addendum:
Go and offer to wrestle a local high school senior varsity guy around your size. Even if he takes it easy on you, he will run through you like it’s nothing. Now imagine that times one hundred-fold if not one thousand-fold.
I walked on to the wrestling team at my school this past season. I won’t get too specific, but it’s a D1 school, albeit one with a pretty poor program due to a lack of recruiting. I was able to learn a lot very quickly, just by virtue of getting my ass handed to me. IF you can totally set aside your ego, absolutely give it a shot.
Not to be a downer, but that is a realy good way to get hurt very badly. What is your level of experience? A few years, or a few times on the mat?