Freestyle, Greco & Pre-Season Wrestling Information
Freestyle and Greco‑Roman wrestling are internationally recognized styles that differ from Folkstyle (the school season style) in both scoring and technique. Training in these styles helps wrestlers improve mat awareness, motion, conditioning, and overall wrestling IQ. Competing in Freestyle and Greco also opens the door to statewide and national opportunities beyond the school season.
Why Wrestle in the Off‑Season?
Wrestlers grow the most through consistent mat time against a variety of opponents. Training from March through October allows athletes to:
Develop new skills without the pressure of the school season
Improve confidence, conditioning, and instincts
Stay connected to the wrestling community year‑round
Prepare for higher‑level competition at the middle school, high school, and post‑season levels
Practice Information
Freestyle/Greco practices are held at Downingtown West High School and are open to the entire Downingtown Wrestling Community. Practices will run late March through July.
All current and incoming Downingtown Middle School and West wrestlers are strongly encouraged to attend off‑season practices and events whenever possible.
Most practices will focus on Freestyle and Greco techniques.
Wrestlers who wish to continue working Folkstyle skills may do so, but athletes are encouraged to stay open‑minded and take advantage of learning all wrestling styles.
Please speak with a coach if you have questions about how Freestyle and Greco benefit Folkstyle development.
Cost & Volunteer Requirement
There is no cost for wrestlers to participate in Coach Breese’s Spring/Summer Freestyle & Greco practices.
As part of giving back to the program and supporting the wrestling community, all wrestlers participating in spring/summer practices are expected to volunteer at the PAUSAW Freestyle/Greco Qualifier, which is being hosted at Downingtown West on April 11 & 12. Volunteer opportunities include event support and snack bar assistance.
Important Links, click on the images below
Scroll down for more information and links for PAUSAW.
Photo Albums
PAUSAW, Qualifiers & Competitive Pathway
All Freestyle and Greco‑Roman wrestling in Pennsylvania is governed by PAUSAW (Pennsylvania USA Wrestling), the state affiliate of USA Wrestling. Throughout the spring, PAUSAW hosts multiple Freestyle/Greco “Qualifier” events across the state.
These qualifier events are standard tournaments where top placers earn the opportunity to compete at the PAUSAW Freestyle/Greco State Championships in May. Wrestlers may attend as many qualifiers as they like, and qualifying does not require participation in the state tournament.
👉 Important for new families:
Many wrestlers attend their first qualifier with little or no prior Freestyle/Greco experience. These events are designed to be accessible and development‑focused, making them a great way for wrestlers of all skill levels to learn the rules, gain confidence, and get quality off‑season mat time.
Age & Experience Divisions
PAUSAW Freestyle/Greco events offer divisions across multiple age groups. This structure allows wrestlers to compete against athletes of similar age and experience, creating a safe and appropriate competitive environment for beginners and advanced wrestlers alike.
Please see Coach Breese’s practice schedule for the qualifier events the team plans to attend together.
To register for any PAUSAW event, wrestlers must have a current USA Wrestling membership. Information and links are provided below.
Advanced Competitive Opportunities
At higher levels, Freestyle and Greco‑Roman wrestling serve as the pathway toward qualifying for USA Wrestling Freestyle/Greco Nationals, held each summer in Fargo, North Dakota. This event—commonly referred to as “Fargo”—represents the highest level of age‑group Freestyle and Greco competition in the country.
Wrestlers of all levels wanting to compete in Freestyle/Greco mush register with USAW to register for an event. CLICK HERE
PAUSAW Website
PAUSAW Freestyle/Greco Schedule with Registration Links
Instructions on how to Register for PAUSAW Event
PAUSAW Club Dual Information
USA Wrestling Membership
2024-2025 USA Wrestling Cards are MANDATORY at every tournament and must be purchased online prior to registering for the tournament. Athlete Membership can be purchased, at a cost of $50.00 ($65 for open), through USA Wrestling at https://www.usawmembership.com/index.jsp. Downingtown Thunder Wrestlers already have an account, you will need to upgrade to have it work for Freestyle/Greco Events.
USAW Freestyle/Greco Nationals Sponsorship Requirements for Downingtown West Wrestlers
Fargo National Support – Booster Club Policy
The Downingtown West Wrestling Booster Club proudly supports select PAUSAW Freestyle/Greco National Qualifiers. Downingtown West wrestlers who qualify for and attend USA Wrestling Freestyle/Greco Nationals (Fargo, ND) may be eligible to receive financial assistance from the Booster Club only if all required criteria are met.
Eligibility for financial support is not automatic. Wrestlers must:
Qualify for Fargo through the appropriate PAUSAW pathway
Meet all requirements outlined in the Booster Club sponsorship document
Submit all required information by stated deadlines
Provide full representation and participation at the Downingtown West hosted PAUSAW event
➡️ All requirements are mandatory and non‑negotiable.
Failure to meet any requirement will result in ineligibility for funding, with no exceptions.
Funding Source & Requirement
All Fargo financial assistance is sourced exclusively from funds raised during the PAUSAW Freestyle/Greco Qualifier and Duals, hosted at Downingtown West on April 12–13. This event is the sole funding source for National support.
Accordingly:
Wrestlers seeking Fargo support must have representation at the three‑day PAUSAW event in April, as detailed in the requirement document.
If the event is not successfully hosted, or if a wrestler does not meet the involvement requirement, no Fargo funding will be distributed.
No funds from school‑season (Folkstyle) fundraising will be used for Fargo travel or expenses.
Complete details, requirements, and steps to request sponsorship are outlined in the document available under the tab below. Families are responsible for reviewing and understanding all expectations.
For questions regarding eligibility or documentation (not requirement waivers), please reach out directly.
