A new wrestling club in Ballard is giving kids a chance to learn the sport before they reach high school.
Jet City Wrestling has started offering sessions for students in kindergarten through 12th grade at 902 NW Ballard Way, the former LFS Marine Supplies building. The club is part of the City Sports family, which also includes baseball and fastpitch programs and has operated a facility in Magnolia for several years.
Ballard High School head wrestling coach Jared Daniels is running the wrestling club. Daniels said young people in Seattle often don’t encounter wrestling until high school, partly because the area has few youth opportunities and no middle school programs.
“My hope is this gives our young boys and girls an opportunity to participate in the sport at a younger age and close the gap we see at the high school level with the rest of the state,” Daniels said. “The Seattle metro area is a sleeping giant when it comes to wrestling. I am hoping to wake it up.”
No previous wrestling experience is required. Beginners will start with the basics, including how to stand and move during a match. Sessions for younger students will also incorporate wrestling-related games and activities focused on agility and general athleticism.
“I want the younger groups to have fun learning about wrestling and build the overall athleticism before they get to high school, where we take it more seriously and outcomes mean something more,” Daniels said.
Jet City Wrestling currently offers age-group sessions on Tuesdays and Saturdays, along with a Wednesday open mat for high school students.
Tuesdays
- Kindergarten through fifth grade: 4:30–5:30 p.m.
- Middle school: 5:40–6:50 p.m.
- High school: 7:10–8:40 p.m.
Wednesdays
- High school open mat: 5–7 p.m.
Saturdays
- Kindergarten through fifth grade: 10–11 a.m.
- Middle school: 11:10 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
- High school: 12:40–2:10 p.m.
Daniels said the schedule could change if interest grows.
The club is open to both boys and girls. Daniels pointed to the growth of girls wrestling, as well as the NCAA’s recent approval of women’s wrestling at the Division I level, as signs that more opportunities are becoming available beyond high school.
Families can register at JetCityWrestling.org. Users must create an account before beginning the registration process. The monthly fee works out to $33 per session. Participants will need wrestling shoes, while knee pads and mouthguards are recommended.
Photo: Jared Daniels at the state championships in 2024