CLARION, Pa. (EYT) — There is a new option in the area for local wrestlers to train and learn the sport thanks to Mike Hindman and Braun Gourley of M&B Services.

The co-owners of the company decided to open the Partner Trained Wrestling Club and built a wrestling facility at their plant located at 88 Glenn Ready-Mix Lane just off Greenville Pike, a bit south of Clarion but still north of Interstate 80.

Then, they chose an experienced former area wrestler and local wrestling coach, Nick Deloia, of Brookville, to run the club. Deloia was an assistant on the Raiders PIAA state championship team two years ago and the fourth-place finishing team last year.

“In general, wrestling is down in the area and we saw what was going on in Brookville as something that was successful,” Deloia said about the idea of starting the club. “This club is about getting kids involved and introducing them to wrestling while also helping the more experienced wrestlers get better. Wrestling is a numbers game. If there is interest and the numbers go up, eventually you are going to have success.”

The club has been in operation since the summer and is getting ready to start its “in-season” training on November 6.

“We have training for everyone from the elementary level to seniors in high school,” Deloia said. “Our in-season training will consist of Mondays and Wednesdays (6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.) for more advanced wrestlers and Friday open gyms for novices and beginners starting at 6:00 p.m. (open-mat format).”

The in-season training will last through February 2 and is priced either by the individual session ($10.00 per practice/session) or for the entire season ($225.00) with a $20.00 registration fee for newcomers to cover the cost of insurance.

“We are doing it that way so that someone who is new to wrestling can try it out and see if they like it before committing to an entire season’s worth of training,” Deloia said. “This way, if someone doesn’t like, they haven’t wasted $225.00, and wrestlers can come when it fits into their schedule.”

Training takes place year-round at the facility with preparation for Junior Olympics taking place after the in-season sessions and then off-season training taking place after that. Days for those training sessions are to be announced, although currently some of the preparation for in-season is taking place on Sundays due the fact that a lot of the high school wrestlers coming to the club are involved in other sports.

“It gives them the opportunity to still get some training in while playing football or something else,” Deloia said.

Many of the wrestlers who are currently involved in the club have been going to other clubs closer to Pittsburgh, but having one in Clarion makes it much more convenient.

“Nowadays, kids are diving all over for the opportunity to wrestler similar and better competition and similar weight classes,” Deloia said. “Having a club in Clarion gives these wrestlers a chance to have a different look at competition, training partners, and coaches.”

With the proximity to so many high-level wrestlers at the collegiate level at Division I, II, and III, the club is getting help from area collegiate wrestlers which is a nice draw, according to Deloia.

The club is also coordinating with the Clarion Area Elementary Wrestling program to make sure the days of the program’s practices and competitions don’t conflict with what is going on at the Partner Trained Wrestling Club.

“We want to give those kids more opportunities not take away from what they are already doing,” Deloia said.

For more information about the club contact Deloia at nickdeloia@mandbservices.com.

The club also has a Facebook group that can be found here.