Lagrange Wrestling Club: Unlocking Athletic Potential, One Grapple at a Time
The Lagrange Wrestling Club recently celebrated its first anniversary. This special club is all about helping kids in Lagrange and surrounding areas learn and enjoy wrestling.
“We started this club to give kids a chance to learn wrestling,” shares Coach Reid Rouse, who is both a coach and the director of the club. Every Wednesday, the club welcomes kids from grades 2nd to 12th, and it’s not just kids from La Grange. Youngsters from Lenoir, Wayne, and Greene Counties also join in.
The club is lucky to have a great team of coaches. In addition to Coach Rouse, there’s Channing Rouse who serves as the head coach, and Jeff Yourdon, the North Lenoir wrestling coach, who contributes as a guest coach. All of them used to go to North Lenoir (NL) High School, just like some of the other coaches helping out. “We all want to help start middle school wrestling in Lenoir County and bring wrestling to Kinston High,” says Coach Rouse.
The club meets every Wednesday at the community center in La Grange. They start at 6:30 PM for kids in 2nd to 5th grade, and then at 7:30 PM for middle school and high school students. The best part? It’s all free! “All you need is a shirt, shorts, and socks to get started,” explains Coach Rouse. “But if you want to compete in tournaments, you’ll need wrestling shoes.”
The coaches at the Lagrange Wrestling Club want to help kids learn about all types of wrestling. Coach Rouse says, “If you’re unsure what Folkstyle, Freestyle, and Greco Roman wrestling is, we encourage you to come to a practice and learn.”
But most importantly, the club wants to help kids discover their athletic talents. Coach Rouse believes, “Not everyone is great at basketball or football, but in wrestling, you compete against others your own size. There are a lot of great athletes out there… some don’t even know it yet.”
Looking ahead, Coach Rouse is excited for the future of the Lagrange Wrestling Club. “We’ve had one great year, and we can’t wait for more,” he says. He’s also very grateful to the town of La Grange for their support.
The Lagrange Wrestling Club is more than just a club. It’s a place where kids can build confidence, learn a great sport, and have a lot of fun. And who knows, they might even discover they’re pretty good at it!