The Three Tiers of Wrestling Rooms
Wrestling rooms have a reputation as grungy places.
They were originally found in the storage building, in the basement, and in the corner where there are no windows. Almost like the insane asylum where the crazies go. It's very fitting in some ways. But as wrestling has grown, our cherished facilities have come a long way. And now, in 2023, the wrestling room arms race is afoot.
But first, some context. In my mind, there are three tiers of wrestling rooms beginning with the stereotypical, grungy low-ceiling room with a big post in the middle to the gorgeously designed, well-lit, and thought-out rooms of the world. This is how I'd describe them.
Tier 3: Grunge
This is the typical basement wrestling room. There are one or two mats and, if you're lucky, a few bikes on the side, a few mismatched dumbbells, and a barbell. You know this room. It belongs to the puny college or high school team with no tradition. It's in the corner of the building far away from everyone else. The locker rooms and coach's offices are likely a hike away. Nothing about this place is thought out. When you walk in the air is stale and gross, it feels dirty and unkempt. There has been next to no thought about the aesthetics of this room. The closest thing to decoration is the faces of all-conference athletes from the 1980s. There’s nothing wrong with a room like this, for many of us it feels like home but it is far from a well designed space.
Tier 2: The "Nice" room
The second tier could be described as a reaction. When someone walks into a 2nd wave wrestling room, they will audibly respond with "nice." When they say this, they are referring to functionality, not aesthetics. This room has everything you need but it isn't incredible. To be clear, most wrestlers would KILL for a room like this. It is the modern wrestling room that most schools will build today and it is the most common tier across America. Rooms like this have most of the following qualities.
Central to the campus
Multiple mats with no beams
Some exercise equipment on the side that was bought less than 10 years ago
They have everything one needs to train but the truly 'extra' touches are not there. The consideration of the aesthetic of the room is minimal. Think of A few small banners, photos, or All-American/State Placer boards. There was exactly zero thought about lighting when the space was being designed.
Tier 1: The Jaw Droppers
These wrestling rooms go way beyond "nice." These are the Jaw Droppers. When you walk in, there is no doubt will have a visceral response. No team "needs" these rooms, but when it comes to recruiting, this is one way an admin can show they are serious about wrestling. This is the beginning of what we've seen with college football for 20 years now. These rooms are over the top. And honestly, completely unnecessary. They are modern, beautiful, and functional. There is a grandiose air when inside. Almost like walking into a beautiful cathedral. To be a Jaw Dropper, the facility must have everything you could think of functionally plus some features that make the room special. Things that make a room a jaw dropper are the details that are a little less obvious than a nice weight set or more mats. Let's take a look at the best currently and see if we can draw some conclusions
So you want a Jaw Dropper wrestling room? These are the extras you should consider when designing it.
Lighting
This is the aspect that most wrestlers are going to underestimate. Ask any photographer or interior designer and they will tell you: Lighting is everything. It is what makes a space feel special. There isn't just one way to do this either, it's about being unique, being artful, and making it memorable. Whether an open room with natural light like the Ohio State facility or Rutgers installing a beautiful overhead light installation. Lighting makes a difference
Decoration
The walls are not an afterthought in these rooms. In these rooms, there are usually expensive installations or large professional banners artfully designed with the program’s values in mind. Think of this backlit decoration of the Minnesota wrestling slogan or Iowa’s mock-up of a big backlit Hawkeye.
Centrality
This is something all these rooms have in common. In the best rooms in the country, everything that is needed is close by. Athletes can spend all day here if they want. It must have sports medicine close by (usually complete with cold and hot plunges), a weight room, a study area, a locker room, coach's offices, hang out areas. Anything and everything that could be needed is here.
Space
Wrestlers are used to being squeezed in. Having 5+ mats will always blow away any wrestler. It’s of course completely unnecessary as you’d need 200 kids to fill that space. Alas, it’s amazing and that’s the point.
Okay now that you've read this, you're thinking about your room. How can I step up my space? Let me give you some easy tips that aren't too expensive.
Cleanliness. This is two-pronged.
Everything is put away and tidy. Nothing should be left on the floor that doesn't have to be. It all should be put away unless in use.
Clean the stains, gross stained mats, walls, and equipment are what make your room look gross even if it is a pretty well-thought-out room.
Decoration: The decoration is about being thoughtful. It's not just hanging a picture on the wall. It's having a vision of what you want and being consistent. If you're about winning, putting up awards, and all that is great, but make sure it is consistent and covers the walls. Avoid one little plaque or banner on a huge wall and everything else is empty. If you're about values, show that stuff off. Decorations should make it clear what your program is about.
Use your resources: Schools always want to outsource projects when the school itself is filled with talented individuals. Use them! For instance, if you want some beautiful handmade decorations on the wall, go to the art teacher and see if they will help you find a talented person. These students are usually grateful to have such an opportunity for their portfolio and if you buy them the supplies, they’re happy to help.
Now by no means does a nice wrestling room make you a better wrestler, but it may help your mood to get better. Good luck out there.
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