Our REGISTRATION for the 2023-24 season is now live and open, and our calendar is updated as well. Check out our practice dates, as there are some changes.

Check out our Essential Intent and Philosophy, and our 2023-24 season info below.

2023-24 season info

Our season starts on Monday, November 13 for our Future Olympians group and Tuesday, November 14 for our Developmental and Advanced groups.

Please read this page, as it contains important information about this season. If you have any questions, contact Head Coach Gary Walker at gwalker1974@hotmail.com.

Elmhurst Titans Wrestling Academy: 2023-2024 Season

We are entering our sixth season as a club and we are beyond excited to be able to have a facility that we can call home. We train at the warehouse that is located at 645 S. IL Rte 83 Frontage Road, which is directly behind Camp Bow Wow.  Securing this facility was vital to the growth of our club. We now have the freedom to offer practices any day of the week.

We have three different age groups/practice groups. Please read the descriptions carefully so your son or daughter is appropriately placed.

Read our ETWA Essential Intent & Philosophy tab on the website. This helps to explain what we are all about.

All boys and girls are welcome. All experience levels are welcome.

Where do our club fees go? We pay for a mandatory USAW card per athlete, which insurance-wise covers our club and each athlete. All wrestlers receive a ETWA t-shirt and shorts. We purchased two brand new mats two years ago; we pay rent for our practice facility; and we pay our coaches who are in college. 

Siblings get a 25% discount per registration after the initial registration.

Practices are closed to parents (except for our 3rd grade and under "Future Olympians")

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Age Groups/Practice Groups:

“ETWA Future Olympians” This group is capped at 50 wrestlers. 

-Grades 1st - 3rd

-Monday nights only, 6:30 pm - 7:45 pm 

-For our select 3rd graders who are a bit more mature, coachable, and physically and technically able, we encourage them sign up for and attend our “Developmental” group practices. If you are unsure, call Coach Walker at 773.383.7427.

-Season runs from November 13, 2023 - January 22, 2024

-The philosophy we take when running these practices is to have a ton of fun while teaching these very young athletes the fundamentals of wrestling, mainly from a games-based approach. This age group will NOT compete in tournaments.

-COST includes a mandatory USA Wrestling insurance card and an ETWA t-shirt/shorts combo: $295.00, plus SportsEngine registration fees.

-Due to this particular age group’s needs, we require that one parent per wrestler attends practices to pitch in corralling the kids during the warm-ups and during instructional time to help out Coach Ben and the coaching staff so they can focus on teaching. No prior wrestling experience is required! You will enjoy helping your young son or daughter develop into an athlete and wrestler.

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“ETWA Developmental Practices”

-Grades 4th - 6th

-Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and optional Friday nights (but strongly encouraged), see our calendar for practice times.

-Season runs from November 14, 2023 - February 9, 2024

-COST includes a mandatory USA Wrestling insurance card and an ETWA t-shirt/shorts combo: $510.00, plus SportsEngine registration fees. 

-The “Developmental” practices are for wrestlers who are new to the sport or who are still developing.

-This group will not attend tournaments, however they may compete in dual meets (if they want) where/when our coaching staff is able to find them an opponent who matches their age, weight, and experience level. 

-For our select “Developmental” wrestlers who are able and interested, Friday night practices are optional for this group. See Coach Walker with any questions.

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“ETWA Advanced Practices”

-Grades 5th - 8th

-Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, & Saturdays: see the calendar for times

-Season runs from November 14, 2023 thru the IKWF State Championships in mid-March

-COST includes a mandatory USA Wrestling insurance card and a ETWA t-shirt/shorts combo: $635.00, plus SportsEngine registration fees.

-The “Advanced” practices are for wrestlers who are experienced and are mentally and emotionally developed to handle this practice schedule.

-This group will attend tournaments (if they want to and if they are ready) and compete in dual meets throughout the season. The goal of this group is to develop into competitors who, by the end of the season, will be prepared to compete at Regionals, Sectionals, and State.  

-If your athlete is in 7th or 8th grade and they are beginners and/or still developing, we will partner them up appropriately and work with them separately during these practices.

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Coaching Staff:

Gary Walker & Rob Martinelli (ETWA Head Coaches & Founders)

Ray Bruno

Tom Price

Ben Leach, Jeff Nugent, Nick Callaghan, Joey Fornaro, Stephen Carroll  (current Elmhurst University Wrestlers)

We also offer Freestyle/Greco Training in the spring for ages 5th grade through high school.