Mission Statement

Welcome to Rainier Wrestling!

Dear Coaches, Wrestlers, and Parents,

Here at Rainier Wrestling, we see an incredible opportunity not only to excel in the sport of wrestling but also to become leaders within a sport and community that we hold dear. In wrestling, there's nowhere to hide – your dedication and hard work in practice shine through during competition. To truly be the best, you must push yourself harder when you're winning and be wise enough to learn from your losses.

As we build our wrestling program, we welcome anyone interested in giving this sport a try. It's astonishing how some who never thought they'd like it end up as powerful Rainier Wrestlers, and some even go on to win district and state titles. Through this journey, we aim to assemble a team of wrestlers who are "all in" year after year. This group will continue to define what our program stands for as we nurture top-level athletes.

Wrestling offers numerous benefits, including improved stamina, strength, and both physical and mental toughness. Many wrestlers use these skills to enhance their performance in other sports such as football, baseball, lacrosse, track and field, cross-country, rodeo, MMA, taekwondo, jujitsu, karate, golf, tennis, and more.

We're committed to recruiting and retaining coaches who are results-oriented and passionate about the growth of those under their guidance. Our coaches are dedicated, motivated, resourceful, disciplined, and deeply care about our athletes. We create an environment that empowers coaches to excel at every level and develop the kind of wrestlers that our opponents consider formidable competition. Our coaches always prioritize the needs of our wrestlers, acting in their best interests throughout the season.

If you've never experienced wrestling, it's easy to underestimate its demands. It's often said, "Once you've wrestled, everything else in life is easy," and this statement holds true. Wrestling is demanding because it requires mental fortitude to engage in battle while simultaneously anticipating and reacting to your opponent's every move. During a match, you might not realize that your wrestler isn't executing as fast or as intelligently as expected. This is because each round burns anywhere from 50 to 120 calories (equivalent to running a mile in 2 minutes), reducing oxygen to the muscles and brain, affecting reaction times, strength, and cognitive processes. As coaches, we are aware of this and work diligently to help our athletes overcome these challenges, focusing on areas for improvement during practice.

It's crucial for our parents to remain composed regarding their athletes' performance, setting an example of good sportsmanship for other teams, the community, our school, and our sponsors, regardless of the outcome.

Rainier Wrestling is committed to giving our best effort at all times, and we hope you will support us in this endeavor.

Thank you for joining us on this wrestling journey.

Sincerely,

Matt Hendricks 

Rainier Head Wrestling Coach