California traditionally produces some of the best youth, junior high and high school wrestlers in the nation. With over 26,000 boys wrestling, there are more wrestlers in the state of California than anywhere in the United States. California wrestlers regularly perform well at youth tournaments and spring high school postseason events and summer national events, such as the NHSCA Championships, Fargo Cadet and Junior National Championships and other local and regional tournaments through USA Wrestling and AAU, for example.

California wrestlers have a reputation of being what the wrestling world calls “slick” – meaning they are known for their quick, smooth and athletic styles, compared to the brawling style of those wrestlers from the Midwest (“the Iowa Style”) or East Coast (“tough kid from Pennsylvania”). However, one recent California wrestler – three-time NCAA champion and four-time NCAA All-American Jake Varner from California’s Bakersfield High School and Iowa State University, proved that California and west coast wrestlers can use brute strength – and athletic ability – to find success.

When it comes to finding success through a summer wrestling camp, California wrestlers have many, many options. Nationally acclaimed camps such as J Robinson Wrestling Camps and Ken Chertow Gold Medal Wrestling Camps bring their camp programs out West to work with kids throughout California and the West Coast. There are camps available through the colleges within the state, such as Fullerton Wrestling Camps (led by Dan Hicks of Cal State Fullerton) and the Hitchcock/Azevedo Wrestling Camps (led by Cal Poly coaches John Azevedo and son Matt). Other camps, such as those run by legendary Poway High coach Wayne Branstetter are among the many local camps that are popular.

There are numerous local summer wrestling camps in California, taught by the many great youth and high school coaches in the state. By reviewing each and every camp available, parents and wrestlers will find the most value in their summer camp opportunity.

While the number of college wrestling opportunities in the state of California has been dwindling, the opportunities to participate in wrestling camps in the state of California are at an all-time high. Whether you are in Northern California, Central California or Southern California, there is a wrestling camp for you.

How do you know which one is the best? The information provided in The Ultimate Guide to Wrestling Camps can help you as a parent or as a wrestler find a camp that’s right for you, your budget and wrestling career.

There are numerous camps to choose from, including:

California Wrestling Camps (these are a few of the many camps available in California):

Ken Chertow’s Gold Medal Wrestling Camps
Fullerton Wrestling Camps
Hitchcock/Azevedo Wrestling Camps
Camp of Champions
J Robinson Intensive Camps
Asics Southern California Wrestling Academy
Mission Viejo Wrestling Camps
The Martin Granby School of Wrestling
Poway Wrestling Camps

Note: This is just a listing of camps, not a recommendation of which as the best wrestling camps in California. Each parent and wrestler should conduct thorough research to find a camp that fits them as each individual has different needs, desires and goals.

Resources

California USA Wrestling

The California Wrestler

Wrestlers Diet – A healthy Guide to Weight Control

Related:

California High School Wrestling Coach Wayne Branstetter Talks Wrestling Camps