Parents,

I would like to give a big thanks to ALL our coaches, parents, grandparents and of course WRESTLERS for an outstanding weekend of wrestling. Our Middle School wrestlers that competed in Choteau/Butte over the weekend did great and the kids that competed at Poplar did outstanding as well. I’d like to thank those parents that volunteered to work a scoring table this weekend. It’s difficult to find time to volunteer during a tournament. It’s a selfless sacrifice and the club and kids appreciate it. Thank you for your dedication!

One quick bit of house keeping before we move on to the heavy stuff. Please do your best to let a coach (or me) know ASAP if you are scratching for a tournament that your child has registered for. It is a real pain for tournament planners to deal with late scratches. The earlier the better. We obviously want to avoid scratches at all costs, however, we fully understand that unexpected events come up. Thanks!

We have another packed week of events so PLEASE read this email closely.

PRACTICE WEEK
Mon. 2/22: 5:30 / 6:30
Tues. 2/23: 5:30 / 6:30 *Weigh-ins for Williston* *GWC pictures for ALL AGES*
Wed. 2/24: 3:45(OLD KIDS ONLY) *Weigh-ins for Havre*
Thurs. 2/25: 3:45-5:15 (OLD KIDS ONLY)
Fri. 2/26: NO PRACTICE

Pictures are going to take place THIS TUESDAY, 2/23 @ the Middle School. Carin Barnett will be in the gym @ 6:00 to take any individual pictures for older kids practice. We will then have a joint practice/group photo @ 6:30. The little kids will get individual pictures taken after group picture. PLEASE REMEMBER TO BRING CLUB SHIRT ON TUESDAY! You may also want your child to take their individual picture in their singlet. Picture packets are available in the basement of the Middle School or use the enclosed attachment in this email. Even if you do not want individual pictures, please plan on having your child take part in the group photo @ 6:30.

Our spaghetti feed / pie auction fund raiser will also take place THIS THURSDAY @ the ELKS @ 6:00 P.M. Cost is $5 per plate and/or $20 per family. This is our biggest fund raiser of the year and helps with out-of-state competition, summer camp/competition compensation, as well as 50% of the proceeds going towards a NEW GWC FACILITY! As you know, nearing 80 members (a new record) we are really pushed for space in the East Side basement. We encourage everyone to attend and invite your extended family and friends. The older kids will help serve the spaghetti and some of the younger kids will be showing off pies during the auction. It should be a great time. We have also reserved The Connection for kids to go during the auction. They will be supervised and will not be allowed to leave until parents pick them up. If you have any questions, please let me know.

SPAG. FEED/PIE AUCTION

When: Thurs., Feb. 25 6:00 P.M. / Pie Auction 7:00 P.M.
Where: Elks
What: Please bring 2 homemade pies (No need to bring bars for desert this year, the club will be providing desert)
Why: This event helps fund GWC wrestlers with their out of state travel expenses. This fund also helps fund expenses for summer wrestling camps (both in house and sending kids to summer camps). ALSO 50% proceeds go to a NEW GWC FACILITY!

Williston and Havre (Middle School) informational flyers are in the attachment and a revised practice schedule for this week. The younger kids (5:30 practice) will only be practicing on Monday and Tuesday. We will have weigh-ins on Tuesday for Williston this weekend (due to no practice on Thursday). If you are unable to make Tuesday’s practice but want your child to compete in Williston, please respond to the email so arrangements can be made. Weigh-ins for Havre Jr. High tournament will take place @ Wednesday’s practice. The older kids will also be practicing after school on Thursday, until 5:15. That should leave enough time for the wrestlers to get home, clean up and make it to the Pie Auction.

If your child has not gotten their raffle tickets into GWC board member Jodi Dix, please do that ASAP!

We are HOSTING the Glasgow Wrestling Club Invitational NEXT weekend, Saturday March 5th. We will be seeking out parents, brothers, sisters, grandparents or anyone willing to volunteer to help us host another outstanding event. We take great pride in putting on a first class event and the only way that is possible is with everyone pulling their weight. Volunteer sheets will be posted in the basement of the Middle School this week. Please do your part and sign up for a task that is needed or interests you. We will be reaching out to as many parents as possible. Don’t be shy 🙂 If you have questions, please ask.

I would also like to encourage you to “like” our facebook page Glasgow Highlanders Wrestling Club. If you post your best action photos on our facebook page, it makes it a lot easier for me to pick through the best ones for the local media publications. It’s also another avenue to get important information reminders. We also have a twitter account @gwchighlanders and a youtube channel. If you would like to download some matches on our youtube channel, let me know and I’ll get you the login info.

Remember, if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to ask me (email, text, phone), a veteran parent, board member or coach. Thanks again for a great week!

Brady Flaten
GWC President
406-939-0209

*PARENTS* GWC pictures are scheduled for next Monday, Feb. 16 @ 6:30 at East Side School. Picture forms have been emailed and they will also be available at Thursday’s practice. Club shirts will also be distributed on Monday, so please make sure your child is in attendance.

The Glasgow AAU Wrestling Club will be hosting sign-ups this Saturday, December 13^th from 10:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M. at the Glasgow High School in Room 1.  Sign-ups will occur during the Jr. High / High School tournament.  The board felt this would lead to maximum exposure for our veteran wrestlers, as well as a time to answer questions for any new incoming parents/wrestlers.  Please bring your child and take in a great day of competition.  They truly deserve our support.

Registration fees will be $70 for the first child, $60 thereafter and a $200 maximum per family.  Each wrestler will also be required to sell 1 book of raffle tickets (10 tickets).  As compared to around the state, we are significantly lower than most clubs and intend to keep it that way.  The board will make every effort to keep costs down to ensure maximum youth participation in the great sport of wrestling. 

Costs associated with running the club have been increasing annually with rising insurance costs, tournament entry fees, etc.  In order to combat that, we have revamped the raffle this year in order to offer some great prizes and increase participation.  The club purchased a 2014 Honda 4-Wheeler from Scott’s Track N’ Wheel.  Farm Equipment Sales was generous enough to donate an amazing BBQ Grill valued at $500.  Eugenes, Reynolds and Ezzies Midtown once again donated prizes for the raffle.  Please do your best to get out and sell these early; as the club has already purchased the 4 wheeler in advance.  More details will be available at Sign-ups.

The schedule stacks up very nicely for our wrestlers.  We will be hosting the first tournament of the season on February 21^st.  We also have local tournaments in Glendive, Sidney and Wolf Point.  In the past we’ve been stuck with a subpar local schedule.  That is not the case this year.  The above clubs do a great job hosting tournaments.  We should travel well and have a successful season. 

2015 SCHEDULE

Feb. 2-                 1^st Day Practice / Parent Meeting 6:30 EAST SIDE SCHOOL Library

Feb. 20-               Minimum 1 Book SOLD Raffle Tickets DUE

Feb. 21                 Glasgow Invitational

Feb. 21                 Pizza Party @ Bowling Alley following tournament

Feb. 21-22           Cyclops @ Butte

Feb. 26                 Spaghetti Feed / Pie Auction @ ELKS

Feb. 28                 Glendive Invitational

Mar. 7                  Sidney Invitational

Mar. 14-15          STATE AAU @ Great Falls

Mar. 21                Wolf Point Invitational

Mar. 20-22          Rocky Mountain Nationals @ Denver

Mar. 28-29          Montana Open @ Billings

Apr. 11-12           Smith/McCarthy (Freestyle/Greco) @ Butte

Apr. 25-26           State Freestyle/Greco @ Livingston

May 3                  RAFFLE TICKET SALES END

May 10                End of Year Banquet @ Bowling Alley

We would like to thank all the parents, coaches, volunteers and wrestlers for an outstanding season. Please join us for an afternoon of fun and recognition this SUNDAY, APRIL 13th 2:00 P.M. for our end of the year bowling/pizza/awards event. 8 wrestlers will receive the prestigious HIGHLANDER AWARD. The club will provide the pizza and 1 hour of free bowling. Hope to see you there!

Great work at Billings this weekend for the open. We had 28 wrestlers, 9 place winners, along with several kids just a match away from placing. The kids are improving, peaking at the right time and that’s a testament to our coaches, kids and you as parents. Here is the pertinent information for this weekends State tournament. Good luck and safe travels.

IMPORTANT DATES
4/4: Weigh-ins for State AAU
4/5: State AAU @ Butte
4/6: State AAU @ Butte
4/13: Year end banquet @ Bowling Alley 2:00 P.M – More info. will be sent out next week.

PRACTICE WEEK
Mon. 3/31- 5:30 / 6:30
Tues. 4/1- 5:30 / 6:30
Wed. 4/2- 3:30 / 5:00 (Optional)
Thurs. 4/3- 5:30 / 6:30
Fri. 4/4- NO PRACTICE

Registration for State AAU
You as a parent will be responsible for registering your child for the State tournament. To register go to www.trackwrestling.com and search Montana State AAU. I have included a PDF attachment to simplify the process on track wrestling. Cost is $12.00 to register. YOU MUST BE REGISTERED BY 9:00 A.M. Friday, April 4th. PLEASE REGISTER YOUR CHILD UNDER GLASGOW WRESTLING CLUB. Be sure know what weight your child will be competing at, as you will need that information during registration. The weight classes are on the age and weight flyer I included in the email. If you have any questions about this tournament please don’t hesitate to ask.

STATE AAU @ BUTTE
Tuesday, April 1st- JORY NEEDS CONFIRMATION FOR STATE ROSTER.
Friday, April 4th- 9:00 A.M. Registration Deadline for State AAU @ Butte
Friday, April 5th- Weigh-ins-Schoolboy-Elite 2:00-4:00 P.M. / Tot-Novice 5:00-9:00 P.M.
Friday, April 4th- S.B. – Elite 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 5th Tot – Bantam 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 5th Midget – Novice 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 5th S.B. – Elite 5:30 – 9:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 6th 9:00 a.m. all ages.
Entry Fee: $12.00 per wrestler. Copy of birth certificate and current AAU card are required for all wrestlers.

Parents: Please pay close attention to the time slots for your wrestlers. This tournament is run in age group shifts. Please read the attached flyer for all important tournament information.

COACHES
ALL COACHES ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE THE FOLLOWING:
1.UPDATED PCA COACH’S CARD
2. 2014 AAU MEMBERSHIP CARD
3. MTWOA RULES CLINIC CARD.
If you need the MTWOA Clinic, there will be one held Friday at 5p.m. for the cost of $10. Coaches passes are an additional $15 (includes entry into tournament, hospitality room)

We are nearing the end of the season. It can be long and grueling but the next two weekends represent the two best amateur wrestling tournaments in the state. I would like to urge parents to continue helping out at practice. We can always use more coaches on the mat with our young kids. If you don’t feel 100% confident, that is natural. It’s a learning process and our veteran coaches will be more than willing to help out in any way possible. Please don’t be shy.

REMINDER……Parents are responsible for registering their own children the next two weeks. Details below.

PRACTICE WEEK
Mon. 3/24- 5:30 / 6:30
Tues. 3/25- 5:30 / 6:30
Wed. NO PRACTICE
Thurs. 3/27- 5:30 / 6:30
Fri. 3/28- NO PRACTICE

MONTANA OPEN (BILLINGS)

Friday, March 28 – Registration & Weigh-In from 5:30 P.M.- 9:00 PM. A State issued birth certificate is required at registration (a copy will work).
Saturday, March 29 – Doors open at 7:00 A.M. Opening ceremonies will begin at 8:30 A.M. with wrestling beginning immediately after. Wrestling will conclude at 8:30 P.M.
Sunday, March 30 – Doors open at 8:00 A.M. Wrestling begins at 9:00 A.M.

ENTRY FEES: All Wrestlers – $22.00 Entry Fee Online, $28.00 Onsite
ADMISSION: Adults – $18.00 2-day pass or $10.00 per day Students- $10.00 2-day pass or $6.00 per day. Children 4 and under are free.
CONCESSIONS: Concessions will available throughout the tournament. Per Metra Park rules, there will be no food, drink, or coolers allowed into the building.
GENERAL INFORMATION: This tournament will be run using a true bout system with assigned mats. Wrestlers will be assigned to a mat and they will wrestle on that mat all day. Bracket sheets will be available for purchase with all bout numbers and mat assignments.

REGISTRATION FOR MONTANA OPEN & STATE AAU
You as a parent will be responsible for registering your child for the last two tournaments of the year.
I have included a PDF attachment to help simplify the process. It will cost $22.00 to pre-register and $28.00 at the Metra, so it is worth it to pre-register on track wrestling. Follow the link for the MT Open on your email or go directly to www.trackwrestling.com .Be sure know what weight your child will be competing at, as you will need that information during registration. The weight classes are on the event flyer included in this email or tournament website . YOU ALSO NEED TO SIGN A LIABILITY SHEET THIS YEAR (attached file). A State issued birth certificate is required at registration (a copy will work). If you have any questions about this tournament please don’t hesitate to ask. http://www.mtopen.com/

IMPORTANT DATES
3/28: Registration & Weigh-in from 5:30-9:00 P.M. @ Metra.
3/29: Montana Open @ Billings
3/30: Montana Open @ Billings
4/5: State AAU @ Butte
4/6: State AAU @ Butte
4/13: End of year banquet at Bowling Alley 2:00 P.M.