I offered to pay for my Godson to wrestle. He is turning 4. I want him to train at a top gym. Any recommendations in the Bergen county area?
Wrestling Program Advice Bergen County
- Thread starter Underdogs88
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I'm not recommending any of the following places. There is Apex in Mahwah. I don't like the Apex in Kenilworth and have never been to the one in Mahwah. There is also Red Nose in Crestkill. Never been there either. My best advise is this. Four is a little young to start off season training. Wait a couple of years before putting out good money for a private gym. In the mean time look around the area for a top program sponsored by a Rec or PAL. There are a surprising number of them that offer practices/camps/clinics/open-mats year round, for little or no cost. Find a few of them to go to so your Godson can get some training without costing you that much. Either way, just about every gym will offer a free introductory lesson. Go around and check them all out before you sign for a membership.
I used to run the PAL program in my town years ago.. Of the 4 most highly successful high school wrestlers that I had coached in the youth program.. NONE of them started working out at clubs before 7th grade..
I wouldn't allow him to wrestle at four. Instead I would train him in tumbling and gymnastics. Switch over to wrestling later on. That's how John Smith has done it with his family.
If Ernie Monaco is still running the Edge check it out. Ernie used to keep it fun for the little ones, nothing intense would have them play games revolved around wrestling. Plus he and his family are just great people. Just looked it up, actually they don't start training kids until age 6.
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Great advice. Gymnastics builds strength and flexibility, kid will be doing granbys all over the place. Best club for kids, hands down is Scorpions. Located in Fairfield it's worth the drive. My kids went there when they were younger when it was in the hood in Paterson. Carlos is the owner and runs a great club. His son just won OW at the NJ War at the shore. "Respect all, fear none" The room was so tough that the tournaments were easy. My sons placed in the states and half the kids on the podium were from scorps.
Times have changed. Rec wrestling starts at 3rd grade, they have quad matches. and then they have travel teams with a set lineup that are in a league. All of today's top hs wrestlers have been going to a club since early on. Suriano used to live at apex. Bierdumpful, grello, ramo, Angelo, merola all scorpions since way back
My son started gymnastics around 4 yo. He was never fully committed to wrestling, but with his gymnastic background and flexibility, he managed to letter 4 years varsity wrestling (Never joining a club or wrestling off season). Let your son do something that will benefit the youngster even if he doesn't end up liking wrestling.
There is Scorpions in Fairfield NJ,near me,but those coaches gauge you for every dime.The fathers there are ridiculous too.Lower tier in their own wrestling accomplishments,but have the biggest mouths I have ever seen.They produce alot top tier talent though.
My boys in 8th and 5th grade. They started with the local Rec at 5. It was once a week during the season. Practice was basic stance, drills, simple moves and lots of games. They started doing card match jamborees at 6. Neither went to a club until 8. My wife took them to Sunburst Gymnastics in Union from about 3 to 6. El Curioso is right about gymnastics is great for building basic athleticism.
Being in Union County, we tried Apex - which I and the boys didn't like. We also tried Edge and Force. Neither are in Bergen, so I didn't bother mentioning them. From where I live, they were all a pain in the ass to get to for the typical 6p class. We found a local guy who turned his garage into a wrestling club. He was hired at Brawl House when it opened. I can get to Mountainside no problem, so we followed him there.
I would pretty much agree that kids don't need to start at a club until middle school. BUT, that depends on the kid. If he is all in and begging to wrestle year round, then it is worth while to get him the training and level of competition he needs. There are plenty of grade schoolers at every club. Let's face it they are businesses and if you have the money… What I mostly saw at these "Novice" classes were unwilling kids being forced to wrestle by overbearing parents. I'm not having that fight.
Being in Union County, we tried Apex - which I and the boys didn't like. We also tried Edge and Force. Neither are in Bergen, so I didn't bother mentioning them. From where I live, they were all a pain in the ass to get to for the typical 6p class. We found a local guy who turned his garage into a wrestling club. He was hired at Brawl House when it opened. I can get to Mountainside no problem, so we followed him there.
I would pretty much agree that kids don't need to start at a club until middle school. BUT, that depends on the kid. If he is all in and begging to wrestle year round, then it is worth while to get him the training and level of competition he needs. There are plenty of grade schoolers at every club. Let's face it they are businesses and if you have the money… What I mostly saw at these "Novice" classes were unwilling kids being forced to wrestle by overbearing parents. I'm not having that fight.
Times haven't changed... I had 3rd graders wrestling on my varsity team who had 3-4 yrs experience already..... And for every one of those kids that you mentioned, there's 10 kids who burn out before HS...
But-- you said your top 4 kids never went to a club, years ago! That's not happening now because from years ago-- times have changed! Top 4 kids in any program guarantee at least 3 of them go to a club
I said they didn't start going to clubs till 7th grade... All 4 made it to AC.. 3 of them podiumed at least once.. including a champ and a finalist.. 3 of them wrestled D1...
Scorpions is prob the least money hungry of all the clubs. Apex def the worst, they try to charge you for air! They tell you your kid needs to get stronger then try sign you up for a workout program. Everything is sales related. You are right about the parents but that's everywhere and every sport. Believe it or not some of the mothers are worse than the fathers. I was at flo nationals sat night there was a heated argument between 2 mothers at the hotel bar, they had to call the cops. Argument started out over its not fair we travelled to pa from ca and pa kids don't have to travel!
Yea but what I'm saying is that's the exception not the rule these days- hence "times have changed"
Check kids states results up to juniors and see how many are listed under a club and how many under a town rec team- that's your proof
It was only 15 yrs ago bud... Year round clubs were in full swing... I was pointing out that it wasn't necessary to join a club at 4 yrs old to be a top notch wrestler
Scorpions charged me and my son 8 dollars apiece to come see some wrestle off of a friend of ours,even though the owner Carlos knew me. He had some kid running around pushing everyone too buy Scorpions t-shirts too.If you even have your kid try the place out,he clips you $25-$30.No free one time trial.I get it,he's in business too make money,but leave the "QVC" money marketing and gauging away from the wrestling community.The parents are just as bad there too.There is no "refined" wrestling club.I do agree that Apex are the worst money grubbers.That little weasel Damion Logan is always standing around at tournaments,mocking other clubs.Ernie Monaco at the Edge has a decent place,but like the rest of them,you get gauged because a guy like your brother Karl coaches there who was an NCAA runner up.It's business,and like any other one,you have too make money.But these are kids.There is no reason you can't make money and not let the kids openly see the business side,like some kid at a wrestle off,pushing t shirts in your face.
jd,I have a friend of mine in Pa.son who is a little beast of a wrestler at 8 years old.Probably the best I have ever seen at that age.He is relentless with this kid.Personal training,endless tournaments,and clubs at least 3 days a week.My buddy wrestled in hs,but was nothing special.He makes big bucks as a cooperate guy,and listening too him talk about his "focused" itinerary with his son is "face punchin" aggravating! The kid seems somewhat happy..for now.What do you think his chances are he will burn out? The kids been wrestling since he was 7.I think he's gonna burn out bad,but my buddy doesn't want to listen to it.
Agree 4 yrs old is too soon to start a club bud.
Disagree that you dont have to go to a club these days to be on the podium.
15 yrs ago there were prob 75% less clubs around than now. Now you even have clubs with multiple locations (Apex, Edge). Full swing-- 15 yrs ago was like the dark ages! In fact Apex wasnt even around 15 yrs ago- maybe your kids didnt go to a club bc there werent that many around.
Like i said check junor division brackets for states see how many are club wrestlers and how many are rec wrestlers. Keep in mind some kids list their hometown over the club. When my youngest son was in the town coaches said all kids going to qualifiers had to list hometown-not club.
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Carlos charges $20 a class if your not signed up as a member.Surprised to hear that. I know hes expanded twice in the last year, maybe hes in over his head. But I heard he has a ton of kids, which is what alot of people beef about. When he 1st opened in Fairfield about 10 yrs ago kids had to to a class (free) to see if they would be accepted. There were parents that he told theyre kids werent ready. I guess now its more abt the $, show up with cash and your in.
Side note- ever see his son wrestle. If you have an acct with flo check 137 lb hs division Kareem Askew at this yr war at the shore.
Its really tough to say...It all depends on the kid...If his sole focus is wrestling year round, then that makes the burn out possibility a lot higher... I'm a firm believer against specializing in one sport at a young age... It just puts so much pressure at a time when the sport is just supposed to be fun....But there are kids that can handle that and turn out to be the next Ashnault, or Suriano....But for every 1 of them, there's 10 who wind up hating the sport by high school...
You're disagreeing with something I never said...Never once claimed that you didn't have to go to clubs to podium...I'm just saying that you don't need to be year round wrestling at 8,9,10 yrs old in order to be good in high school... And there were still plenty of clubs around 15 yrs ago...Edge, CJL, Drillmasters, Peak, Pascack Hills...etc... And I don't need to check the divisions, as that was already going on back then also...I get its more prevalent now...But it wasn't exactly the dark ages back then either...
Jd..I'm with you my man.My son is a tremendous sprinter for our rec program ( 11 years old,runs a 13.32 100 meters).He also plays basketball.and cross country.When he even looks remotely burnt,I pull back,email the coach and tell him we'll be there next week.He sometimes( because he is young) can't tell the difference btw a cheering,enthusiastic parent like me,and one of these living their lives all over again type dads.Thats why I sit him down and explain why I'm exicted for him.Believe me,I want him too win,but not at the expense of his health and metal mindset.
I'm not impress with the guy.He and his brother are not even accomplished wrestlers themselves,so I don't know where they get off "critiquing" who is worthy and who is not.He has alot of wrestlers,because he has a decent facility, Morris County is a hot bead for great talent,and there really is no other place too go,other than the Edge.But the Edge seems to never be opened,so I guess Carlos capitalized on that.There is Florian Ghinea's place Olympic,but I've never heard one good thing about the place.I always liked Wrestling Plus,when the Karsens use too own it.They had some great talent come through the doors.It's across the board though with paying out the nose for sports for your kids.In my town the sign up prices are out of control for rec sports.I never had anyone training me,except for ..me! Parents loose sight of that because they want too create an uber athlete in their children,forgetting that they have little minds and little bodies that need nurturing over nature first.
Actually you said ur top 4 hs wrestlers ddnt go to a club until 7th grade. I responded thats the exception not the rule, to which you diagreed. No one said anything abt year round or playing other sports. Point is that 95% of real good hs wrestlers have been going to a club for a long time. Thats all.
As far as the amount of clubs around now compared to 15 years ago--cmon man are you kidding me. Apex has 3 locations, Edge has 2 locations, Scorpions moved across the street to a bigger bldg last year and has expanded into the tenant space next to him twice. Theres a handfull of new clubs opening up every season, plus the ones you mentioned are still going
And I still disagree that you need to start doing club wrestling in 2nd or 3rd grade in order to become a podium wrestler in high school, or become a college wrestler...too many kids burn out... And yes I'm well aware that there's a lot more clubs available now then 15 years ago... But to say it was the "dark ages" is really reaching, as there were more than just a couple options back then...
Not sure who your disagreeing with bc I never mentioned 2nd or 3rd graders. My kids started after a year or two in the rec program. But if your in 7th grade (your words) and havent been to a club- your prob getting hammered at tournaments & dual matches.
As for dark ages- Ill say light years if it makes you feel better lol. Dont forget in addition to the tons of clubs there are also individuals- Bitetto, Pete Gonzales, Cordoba that train kids too.
Phwwt!!..How could Pete Gonzalez train anyone,he lost his drivers license for like a life time.He is definitely not wrapped too tight!
Trains to wrestle not drive. He's def not wrapped to tight but knows his sh!t. Lol
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"trains too wrestle,not drive...???".The guy is like 50 years old,and I think at this point,he better find a way of transportation,if he wants too make a living.There are plenty of coaches out there,that are as good,if not better that have a ..DRIVERS LICENSE! Loosing your license is stuff kids and drunks do.I always found him kind of touchy little wiseass.He was great wrestler though.Maybe he changed.
He's def a little off but he gets kids to respond. He's a good teacher. He had a bunch of kids at flo nats last week in PA that did pretty good. And he always has a good room. Had suriano coming to him last summer.
He keeps on top of kids too. He calls kids when they miss to see where they are why they're missing- this is after they've paid
Friend of mine works in prosecutors office, his son goes to bitetto. After he got busted for heroin he said I don't care, As long as he's training my son right who cares what he does after ward.
Your paying these guys to teach wrestling not be outstanding citizens (but it would be nice).
He keeps on top of kids too. He calls kids when they miss to see where they are why they're missing- this is after they've paid
Friend of mine works in prosecutors office, his son goes to bitetto. After he got busted for heroin he said I don't care, As long as he's training my son right who cares what he does after ward.
Your paying these guys to teach wrestling not be outstanding citizens (but it would be nice).
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