2026–2027 PARENT MEETING • FAMILY HANDOUT

Tuesday, October 27, 2026 • 6:00–7:00 PM • WRHS Gym A (smaller gym)

For families attending tonight and those unable to attend

2026–2027 CLUB LEADERSHIP

Director / Coach: Joshua Hogan

Treasurer / Secretary: Heather Worrel

Coaches: Travis McBurney, Austin Killinger, Bowan Murray, Wyatt Willey, Bishop Murray (plus Joshua Hogan)

High school advisors: Joshua Hogan and Damon Parker

Oversight committee: Doug Vincent, Justin Broxterman, Aaron Rivera, Lance Doyal

WELCOME & OUR PURPOSE

Our mission is to give as many children as possible the opportunity to experience wrestling in a safe, fun, positive, growth-oriented environment. We welcome beginners and provide progressively challenging training for wrestlers who want to compete at higher levels. TBTWC serves families across northeast Kansas and is legally separate from Auburn-Washburn USD 437.

OUR CULTURE

We expect respect, sportsmanship, honesty, and direct communication from athletes, parents, and coaches. Our four simple standards: Don’t Lie. Don’t Cheat. Don’t Steal. Don’t Bully. Bring questions or concerns directly to the appropriate coach or club leadership rather than through gossip.

2026–2027 PRACTICE SCHEDULE

Regular practices begin Monday, November 2, 2026. All times Central.

MONDAY

• Elite: 6:00–7:30 PM — Washburn Rural Middle School (WRMS)

• Novice: 6:15–7:15 PM — Washburn Rural High School (WRHS)

TUESDAY

• Elite: 6:00–7:30 PM — WRMS

• Open: 6:15–7:15 PM — WRHS

WEDNESDAY

• Little Hammers: 5:30–6:15 PM — WRHS

• Open/Elite: 6:00–7:30 PM — WRMS

• Novice: 6:15–7:15 PM — WRHS

THURSDAY

• Elite: 6:00–7:30 PM — WRMS

• Open: 6:15–7:15 PM — WRHS

Facility conflicts may require changes. Thanksgiving and the December 23–27 winter moratorium are excluded from regular practices. The February postseason transition schedule is pending. Check club announcements and the live calendar for exceptions.

PRACTICE PICKUP AND DISMISSAL

• Washburn Rural Middle School (WRMS): Wrestlers may leave independently at the end of practice.

• Washburn Rural High School (WRHS): We recommend parents come inside and wait in the Activity Center bleachers (big gym). Wrestlers exit the wrestling room through the tunnel into that gym to meet their families.

Please coordinate pickup with your wrestler and be on time.

PARENT OBSERVATION AT PRACTICE

Practices are closed to parent spectators for all groups EXCEPT Little Hammers. Parents are welcome to observe during the first week of practices, and coaches may make exceptions for wrestlers who join midseason. After that initial transition, please plan to drop off and pick up rather than stay to watch. This helps children focus on coaching and teammates and keeps distractions to a minimum. LITTLE HAMMERS: Parents are welcome to stay and watch, preferably from the side of the practice area. Because these wrestlers are young, coaches may occasionally invite parents to help with an activity or join in the fun. Please wait for the coach’s invitation before participating.

WHICH GROUP IS RIGHT FOR MY WRESTLER?

• Little Hammers: Primarily first-year preschool wrestlers and some kindergarteners; movement, games, and introduction to wrestling.

• Novice: First- or second-year wrestlers in kindergarten through 3rd grade; fundamentals at an introductory pace.

• Open: Wrestlers in their third year or beyond, or in 4th grade and above; more advanced fundamentals and competition preparation.

• Elite: Experienced wrestlers ready for higher-intensity training and expectations; coach approval/placement applies.

Placement is based on readiness, not simply age. Ask a coach before changing groups.

REGISTRATION & FEES

Season club registration fees are unchanged:

• Novice / Open / Elite: $175

• Little Hammers: $125

• Qualifying middle-school wrestlers who wrestle for their school team: $125

Sibling discounts from the club’s registration structure: $50 for two eligible wrestlers, $150 for three, and $325 for four. Eligibility and exclusions apply; Little Hammers have historically been excluded from sibling discounts. Check the website checkout for the applicable total.

A current USA Wrestling membership/card is required for EVERY wrestler and coach. Coaches must also complete a background check and SafeSport training. USA Wrestling membership is separate from club dues. Wrestlers should complete required registration before participating on the mat.

WHAT TO BRING / SAFETY

• Wrestling shoes (required after the first week under the club’s existing policy).

• Clean practice clothes; keep fingernails trimmed and shower after practice.

• Wash clothing after every practice; promptly tell a coach about possible skin infections or injuries.

• Competition requires an appropriate uniform. Headgear is optional for youth wrestling; it is not required by the club for youth competition. Headgear is still required in high school and college wrestling. Wrestlers with braces need a mouthguard.

• Team singlets are available to rent at NO COST or to purchase through the club website (https://topekabluethunder.com). Ask coaches about rental arrangements and tournament readiness.

TOURNAMENTS & VOLUNTEERING

This season, TBTWC plans to sponsor a smaller number of team tournaments, focusing on quality and development rather than quantity. Novice wrestlers will have a few local opportunities suited to their experience. Experienced wrestlers will be encouraged to challenge themselves at selected larger tournaments around Kansas and potentially nationally. The goal is to lift the level of the entire club: tougher experiences help wrestlers grow and bring valuable lessons back into the room. Coaches will help families identify appropriate events; parents typically register for outside tournaments themselves. The rest of the competition calendar and team-sponsored event details will be announced soon.

CONFIRMED HOME TOURNAMENT: 2027 Top Town Throwdown — Sunday, January 31, 2027, at Washburn Rural High School. This is a major club fundraiser, and parent volunteers are essential for setup, admissions, concessions, tables, hospitality, and cleanup. Our coaches donate an enormous amount of time to teaching our wrestlers, and this tournament is an important opportunity for families to give some time back. We strongly encourage every family that can help to volunteer. No wrestling experience is required; we’ll provide guidance and organized jobs. Specific shifts and signup instructions will be shared as the tournament approaches.

2026–2027 SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Help put more northeast Kansas kids on the mat! If you own a business, know a potential sponsor, or want to support the club as a family, please share our sponsorship form.

• TITLE SPONSOR — $2,500 (only 2 available): top-level recognition including ‘Presented by’ on team shirt and home tournament, logo on shirt, mat-side tournament banner, and website home-page logo, plus all lower-level benefits.

• CHAMPION — $1,000: home-tournament banner and dedicated sponsor spotlight post, plus Pin and Takedown benefits.

• PIN — $500: business name on back of team shirt under sponsor level and logo/link on website sponsor page, plus Takedown benefits.

• TAKEDOWN — $250: name on practice-facility sponsor board and website sponsor page, plus social media thank-you. Families and individuals welcome.

• SPONSOR A WRESTLER — $200 helps cover one child’s participation costs; donations of any amount accepted. Tournament-specific sponsorships and in-kind donations are also welcome.

SHIRT DEADLINE: NOVEMBER 7, 2026. Sponsors received after that date can still be recognized online and at the tournament, but cannot be included in the shirt print.

Sponsors can pay online or by check. Online sponsorship form: https://topekabluethunder.com/26-27-sponsorship-form/ . Questions or sponsor logos: topekabluethunderwrestling@gmail.com. Thank you for supporting Blue Thunder!

TEAM GEAR & SPIRIT WEAR

Our annual practice pack is planned as a shirt-and-shorts combination. Final production, sizing, and distribution details will be announced; no delivery date is confirmed. We are preparing an in-house spirit wear preorder program with pickup at practices. ORDERING IS NOT OPEN YET. Designs, prices, order windows, and pickup dates will be announced on Discord and the website once approved.

STAY INFORMED

• Website and registration: https://topekabluethunder.com

• Club email: topekabluethunderwrestling@gmail.com

• PRIMARY COMMUNICATION: Discord. All active families should join and monitor the TBTWC-specific channels in our combined WRHS/TBTWC server. We use Discord for announcements, practice/facility changes, weather cancellations, tournament information, and gear updates. Direct-message the appropriate coach or club leader for questions.

• Please monitor announcements for schedule changes, weather, tournaments, and registration deadlines.

NEXT STEPS FOR FAMILIES

☐ Complete club registration and USA Wrestling membership.

☐ Confirm your wrestler’s practice group and location.

☐ Join or monitor the TBTWC announcement channels.

☐ Check gear requirements and watch for apparel ordering details.

☐ Watch for tournament and volunteer information.

This handout summarizes the October 27 parent meeting. Specific event dates, facility exceptions, coaching assignments, and merchandise deadlines will be communicated as finalized.