BALDWINSVILLE — Like many activities in the past two years, the Baldwinsville Youth Wrestling Club’s program was down for the count during the 2020-21 season. The club returned to practicing in the fall of 2021, and the winter session begins Jan. 10.

“Before COVID, we had steadily grown the program. In 2020, we had 60 kids in the program,” said Jim Schanzenbach, head coach.

About 35 wrestlers participated in the fall 2021 session, and Schanzenbach is hoping more students will join the upcoming six-week winter session.

“We’re starting to see the numbers increase but we wanted to get it out there that we’re back and we want to get as many kids as possible,” Schanzenbach said.

In addition to Schanzenbach and Assistant Coach Todd Webb, the Baldwinsville Youth Wrestling Club has a stable of volunteer coaches ready to teach both new and returning wrestlers.

“We probably have a coach for every four kids,” Schanzenbach said.

“A couple of the coaches were around when we were wrestling with the program,” Webb said. “Jim and I both came through the peewee program.”

The Baldwinsville Youth Wrestling Club is open to students in grades 1-6. Students who wish to continue can join the Baldwinsville Central School District’s modified wrestling team in seventh grade.

For some wrestlers, like Webb, the peewee program can lead to a lifelong passion. He recalled wrestling with B’ville coaching greats Leo Johnson and Terry Dillon.

“I was able to go to college [on] a Division I wrestling scholarship,” Webb added. “It’s an honor to be able to pass on what we’ve learned.”

Schanzenbach said the wrestling community is “definitely like a brotherhood” in which multiple generations have participated.

“You make lifelong friends,” Webb said.

In addition to team-building and camaraderie, wrestling instills children with a sense of dedication, work ethic and confidence. The sport is challenging and helps kids maintain physical fitness as well.

“It’s a great opportunity for an hour and a half to get kids away from the TV and their game systems and iPads,” Webb said.

Competitions are more limited during COVID, but the B’ville club is planning joint practices and scrimmages with West Genesee, Phoenix and Fulton. Wrestlers are matched by age, weight and experience level so novices don’t “run into a meat grinder” on their first go-around.

The local wrestling community is tight-knit, Schanzenbach said, but the club is hoping to attract newcomers to the sport as well.

“We have parents that have never been exposed to wrestling before that get very passionate when they see their child wrestle,” he said. “You’ve got moms that are out there on the mat hooting and hollering.”

While wrestling remains dominated by boys, a handful of girls had joined B’ville’s club pre-COVID. Schanzenbach and Webb are hoping more girls will join.

“When you go to tournaments these days, about 10% of the population is girls,” Schanzenbach said.

The sport is relatively accessible for families with tight budgets. Wrestlers must have special shoes, but the cost is a fraction of what a family might spend on equipment for other sports. The Baldwinsville Youth Wrestling Club has shoes available to rent for $5 per session.

“We have 100 pairs of shoes that have been donated over the years,” Schanzenbach said.

The Baldwinsville Youth Wrestling Club meets at the Baker High School varsity wrestling room from 6:15 to 7:45 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays for six weeks starting Jan. 10. Beginners wrestle on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and the advanced group wrestles Mondays and Wednesdays. The cost is $45 per child (age 6-12 or grades 1-6).

The club follows the Baldwinsville Central School District’s COVID safety protocols, including masks and temperature checks.

For more information or to register for the winter session, visit bvillewrestling.com.