The Utica high school and middle school wrestling teams held their annual “Grapple on the Gridiron” tournament on Saturday, June 7.
While there are many opportunities for wrestlers seeking summer competition around the country, Grapple on the Gridiron stands out for its unique location: the wrestling mats are placed just beyond the Utica football field's end zone.
Wrestlers of all ages from across the LCL gathered to compete, with some even squaring off against their own teammates in live matches.
Since Utica hosted the tournament, the referees were sourced directly from the team. Coach Brandon Wygle’s son, Conner Wygle, officiated most of the matches in which he wasn’t competing.
When Conner stepped onto the mat, his younger brother, Griffin, filled in as referee. Though Coach Wygle and Coach Mark Rakoczy had to give him a few pointers on when to blow the whistle to stop or pause a match, he gained valuable experience as an elementary wrestler.
The event began with live matches organized by weight class. Afterward, the wrestlers participated in a competition called “fishbowl.”
The rules are simple: two wrestlers begin, and whoever scores the first takedown stays in. This continues until everyone has wrestled and a winner is declared. However, since the focus was on fun, no official winner was announced.
While this may be the most unique summer wrestling competition, it's far from the only opportunity available. Many schools across the LCL are also holding open practices, offering free training and live wrestling sessions. These events take place every Wednesday in June and July, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
