Topeka Blue Thunder provides training opportunities beyond the winter wrestling season, helping wrestlers keep developing throughout the year.
One Registration. One Full Year of Training.
Registering for the Topeka Blue Thunder winter season also covers regular club training during the following spring, summer, and fall—at no additional club registration or practice fee. Your winter registration gives your wrestler a full year of Topeka Blue Thunder training.
A current USA Wrestling membership is still required throughout participation and is separate from club registration. USA Wrestling memberships expire every year on August 31; the next membership year starts September 1. For example, the 2026–27 USAW membership is valid September 1, 2026–August 31, 2027. Renew your wrestler’s USAW card for practices and competition after its expiration, even when the Topeka Blue Thunder club training fee is already paid. Purchase or renew your USA Wrestling membership. Optional camps, outside tournaments, and merchandise may have separate costs.
Which Wrestling Style Do We Practice?
Our regular training emphasis generally follows this cycle:
- April–May: Freestyle and Greco-Roman. These Olympic styles help wrestlers develop attacks, positioning, throws, and new ways to score.
- June–March: Folkstyle. This is the style commonly used in Kansas youth and school wrestling, with an emphasis on takedowns, control, escapes, and mat wrestling.
What’s the difference? Folkstyle emphasizes controlling an opponent; freestyle rewards exposure of an opponent’s back; Greco-Roman emphasizes upper-body attacks and does not permit leg attacks. For a parent-friendly explanation, read FloWrestling’s guide to Folkstyle, Freestyle, and Greco-Roman.
These are our typical seasonal emphases, not a guarantee of specific sessions. Actual days, times, styles, and facility exceptions can change with coach and facility availability.
Practice Location & Updates
March–October location: Washburn Rural High School (WRHS). Check the live Topeka Blue Thunder calendar for specific practice days, times, cancellations, and locations. Important announcements are shared through Discord Updates.
Camps & Clinics
Special camps and clinics are announced individually after dates, coaches, registration details, and any fees are confirmed. Camps and outside tournaments may have separate registration fees and are not automatically included in the annual club training fee.