By Derik Schwanz
Minnesota/USA Wrestling is set to kick off the freestyle and Greco-Roman season, bringing with it a full calendar of training opportunities and competitions across the state. As the folkstyle season comes to a close, wrestlers now have the opportunity to continue their development by stepping into the international styles of the sport.
For many athletes, the transition from folkstyle to freestyle and Greco-Roman may feel intimidating, but the foundation they’ve already built carries over. Wrestlers can still rely on strong attacks from their feet, solid positioning, and mat awareness. In freestyle especially, it’s possible to compete successfully with a folkstyle mindset while gradually expanding skills. The transition is less about starting over and more about building on what you already know, while adding new techniques, edge awareness, and scoring opportunities that help create a more complete wrestler.
To better understand the impact of freestyle and Greco-Roman, Minnesota/USA Wrestling connected with state Greco coach Justin LaValle, who competed for the Minnesota Storm and experienced that transition firsthand.
“After the folkstyle season ended, I wanted to keep competing and continue improving,” LaValle said. “Wrestling with the Storm gave me that opportunity. It exposed me to the international styles and allowed me to compete against high-level wrestlers from Minnesota and across the country while training with great coaches.”
For LaValle, the offseason wasn’t just about staying active; it was about growth.
“The transition was really about competing to get better,” he said. “Freestyle and Greco pushed me to develop different skills, especially in neutral positions and upper-body situations that aren’t emphasized as much in folkstyle. Training with the Storm brought a higher level of intensity, and those experiences helped me become more confident and prepared when I returned to folkstyle.”
He also emphasized how each style contributes to overall development.
“Freestyle helped me improve my ability to scramble and finish cleanly, while Greco-Roman helped me develop stronger upper-body positioning and control, along with a tougher mindset when it comes to hand fighting,” LaValle said.
That growth carried into opportunities on bigger stages, including regional and national competition.
“Competing at events like Northern Plains, World Team Trials, Fargo, national duals, and even internationally helped build my mindset and confidence that I could wrestle with anyone, anywhere,” he said. “Overall, freestyle and Greco played a big role in helping me grow as a wrestler.”
Now as a coach, LaValle sees those same benefits for today’s athletes.
“Freestyle and Greco-Roman give wrestlers the chance to face different opponents, learn new techniques, and stay engaged in the sport during the offseason,” he said. “When they come back to folkstyle, they’re more confident and more complete. You can’t get worse with more mat time—wrestling is wrestling.”
Kick-Off Clinic – March 21
Wrestlers looking to get started are encouraged to attend the Freestyle and Greco-Roman Kick-Off Clinic on March 21. This opportunity is open to 14U, 16U, and Junior age divisions, with limited space available.
Boys will train at the University of Minnesota, while girls will train at Augsburg University. The cost is $10, and participants must have a current USA Wrestling membership.
Girls clinic registration: https://forms.gle/i1Xoau3hisorcTor6
Boys clinic registration: https://forms.gle/zhTwF4NcHJWo2neu5
Free Regional Training Sites
Minnesota/USA Wrestling is also offering free Regional Training Sites across the state for 14U, 16U, and Junior wrestlers with a current USA Wrestling membership. These practices provide access to high-level coaching and training partners in a structured environment.
- Sunday – Pursuit WC at 3 pm
- Monday – Augsburg (Freestyle) at 7 pm
- Monday – Detroit Lakes at 6:30 pm
- Tuesday – RCTC at 7 pm
- Tuesday – No Nonsense WC at 6 pm
- Tuesday – Scoring Edge WC at 6 pm
- Wednesday – Augsburg (Women’s only) at 5:15 pm
- Wednesday – Wrestling Brotherhood at 6:30 pm
- Wednesday – Southwest State University at 6:30 pm
- Wednesday – Thorn WC (Jackson) at 6:30 pm
- Wednesday – Augsburg (Greco) at 7 pm
- Thursday – Detroit Lakes at 6:30 pm
Upcoming Schedule of Events
- March 21 – Freestyle/Greco Kick-Off Clinic
- April 4 – Eastview Freestyle Open (Apple Valley)
- April 4 – Peak FS/GR Combo (Alexandria)
- April 10 – Apple Valley Greco Open
- April 11 – Apple Valley Freestyle Open
- April 11 – Brainerd FS/GR Combo (Baxter)
- April 12 – Waconia FS/GR Combo & U20-U23 Men’s Freestyle
- April 17 – Forest Lake Greco Open
- April 18 – Forest Lake Freestyle Open
- April 18 – MWC Battle at the Baron FS/GR Combo (Marshall)
- April 18 – New York Mills FS/GR Combo
- April 25 – Hutchinson FS/GR Combo
- April 26 – Wrestling Brotherhood FS/GR Combo (Mankato East)
- May 2–3 – MN/USA Freestyle & Greco State Championships (Rochester)
- May 8–10 – Northern Plains Regional Championships (Wisconsin Dells)
Membership Renewal: https://www.usawmembership.com/
For more information on Minnesota/USA Wrestling and offseason opportunities, visit mnusawrestling.org and follow along on Facebook.
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