Want to wrestle better before next season? A summer wrestling camp puts you on the mat with top coaches, sharpens your technique, and pushes your conditioning. This guide lists 21 camps across the US that run in 2026, with locations, age groups, and links so you can pick the right fit and register on the official site.
Most camps fill up by late spring. Check each camp’s page for current dates and prices before you commit.
Two Types of Wrestling Camps
Camps fall into two groups: technique camps and intensive camps.
Technique Camps
These suit new and developing wrestlers. You learn moves and positions step by step and drill them until they stick. Coaches break down takedowns, escapes, and pins so you can use them in a match.
Intensive Wrestling Camps
These suit wrestlers who are in shape and want to compete at a higher level. They run long days with heavy live wrestling and conditioning, and they assume you already know the basics. You need to be ready in body and mind to keep up.
How to Choose the Right Wrestling Camp
Match the camp to your goal. Ask yourself what you want before you pay:
- Do you want to learn skills, or get live competition reps?
- Are you prepping for a tournament, or building a base?
- Is getting recruited by a college your priority? If so, look at prospect or college-run camps.
Check the coaching. The best camps give you:
- Coaches with college, national, or Olympic experience.
- Small groups so you get personal feedback.
- Strength training and recovery support.
Look at the facilities. Good mats, clean training space, and athletic trainers protect you and speed your progress. Ask about housing and meals if it’s an overnight camp.
Top Wrestling Camps in the US
Here are 21 wrestling camps worth a look, grouped from national academies to college-run and regional programs. Each one runs in 2026 as of this update.
- IMG Academy Wrestling Camp
- Nebraska Takedown Camp
- Campbell Wrestling Camps (Cary Kolat)
- Western Colorado Rocky Mountain Wrestling Camps
- Maurer Coughlin Wrestling Club
- BullTrained Wrestling Camps
- Cardinal Wrestling Camp
- High Altitude Wrestling Club
- Iowa Hawkeye Wrestling Camps
- Granby School of Wrestling
- Ken Chertow Gold Medal Training Camps
- Montana Intensive Wrestling Camp
- Purler Wrestling Academy
- Thorn Wrestling Camps
- Bulldog Wrestling Camps (Fresno State)
- Wolfpack Wrestling Camps
- Tar Heel (North Carolina) Wrestling Camps
- Carolina Wrestling Camp (UNC)
- Penn State Wrestling Camps
- Northern Colorado Wrestling Camps
- Virginia Wrestling Camps
1. IMG Academy Wrestling Camp
- Location: Bradenton, FL
- Age/Grade Level: 10-18 years
- Focus: Technique, live scenarios, strength and conditioning.
IMG Academy launched a dedicated wrestling program in 2026, led by Wrestling Director Enock Francois, a three-time collegiate All-American and former US Greco-Roman National Team member. Camps run in small groups with IMG’s training curriculum, plus a post-camp report with coach feedback and metrics. The program is boys-only at launch.
2. Nebraska Takedown Camp
- Location: Lincoln, NE (University of Nebraska)
- Division: NCAA D1
- Dates: Runs in June; check the official site for current dates.
- Focus: Setups, offensive and counter takedowns.
Run by head coach Mark Manning and the Husker staff, the Takedown Camp builds your attacks on your feet. Nebraska also offers team camps, an intensive camp, and a youth camp during the summer.
3. Campbell Wrestling Camps (Cary Kolat)
- Location: Buies Creek, NC (Campbell University)
- Age/Grade Level: Youth through high school
- Division: NCAA D1
- Dates: Runs in June; check the official site for current dates.
Head coach Cary Kolat runs prospect, intensive, and technique camps. Each one caps enrollment so coaches and counselors get more one-on-one time with campers. The prospect camp is built for high schoolers aiming to wrestle in college.
4. Western Colorado Rocky Mountain Wrestling Camps
- Location: Gunnison, CO (Western Colorado University)
- Age/Grade Level: Grades 8-12, boys and girls
- Dates: Runs in June; check the official site for current dates.
- Focus: Technique and live competition.
The Western NCAA team and coaches run technique and team camps. Team-camp wrestlers get 12 or more matches over four days, with lodging and meals on campus. Individuals can sign up too and get drafted onto a team.
5. Maurer Coughlin Wrestling Club
- Location: Evansville, IN
- Focus: Technique, drilling, and live sparring.
- Dates: Summer camps run through June.
Founded in 2010 by former Big Ten wrestlers Blake Maurer and Matt Coughlin, MCWC serves wrestlers ages 4 to 18. At each camp you learn 10 to 16 techniques in a focus area, then drill and spar them.
6. BullTrained Wrestling Camps
BullTrained is run by Olympic silver medalist and two-time NCAA champion Sammie “The Bull” Henson. The camps mix intensive and technical work for all ages and levels, with hands-on coaching, advanced techniques, mental training, and live wrestling. Options include youth, girls national, and prep camps.
7. Cardinal Wrestling Camp
Cardinal Wrestling Club trains young, aspiring athletes and builds the skills of kids and teens who want to compete. Check the club site for current camp dates and coaching staff.
8. High Altitude Wrestling Club
Chad Tunink opened High Altitude in 2005 with ten athletes. It has grown into one of Iowa’s top training clubs, with sites across the state and hundreds of wrestlers each year. The club hosts camps in every season, including its annual summer camp at Wesley Woods in Indianola, IA.
9. Iowa Hawkeye Wrestling Camps
Train under the University of Iowa coaching staff and Hawkeye athletes. The camps run 6-day and 12-day sessions in June, with instruction matched to each camper’s age and skill level. Check the official site for current dates.
10. Granby School of Wrestling
The Granby program teaches the famous Granby roll and series, building skills for wrestlers, coaches, and parents alike. It has produced winning athletes since 1966. Granby runs commuter clinics and overnight camps in cities across the US, so check the site for a location near you.
11. Ken Chertow Gold Medal Training Camps
Ken Chertow is a Penn State graduate and 1988 Seoul Olympian who coached at Ohio and Penn State. His camps serve youth, teen boys and girls, high school, and college wrestlers, with small-group instruction from dozens of coaches and college counselors. Summer 2026 camps run at Spooky Nook Sports in Manheim, PA, and Hamilton, OH.
12. Montana Intensive Wrestling Camp
Founded in 2001 by director Jeff Thompson, this is one of the longest-running youth wrestling camps in the country. The five-day program teaches the right way to wrestle, run, and train, and covers all three styles: folkstyle, freestyle, and Greco-Roman. It runs at Flathead High School in Kalispell, MT. The 2026 summer camp runs late June into July.
13. Purler Wrestling Academy
Purler is one of the most competitive wrestling academies in the US, based in Moscow Mills, MO, near St. Louis. Many of its wrestlers have won state and national titles. It runs summer camps like the Dream Season and 28-Day Camp for ages 10 to 18, plus in-season Competition Hammer Camps. Camps sell out, so book early.
14. Thorn Wrestling Camps
Thorn runs intensive camps for serious youth and high school wrestlers, built on chain wrestling. An application process places you with wrestlers of similar size and ability, with an 8-to-1 wrestler-to-coach ratio. Days focus on takedowns and mat work, and evenings run live wrestling with 8 to 12 matches. Registration for 2026 is open.
15. Bulldog Wrestling Camps (Fresno State)
Run by Fresno State head coach Troy Steiner in California’s Central Valley, these camps cover beginner to advanced collegiate technique, from neutral to mat wrestling, plus conditioning and the mental side of the sport. They suit wrestlers ready to push to a new level.
16. Wolfpack Wrestling Camps
The Wolfpack camps run at NC State in Raleigh, NC, where you train with head coach Pat Popolizio, his staff, and Wolfpack athletes. The youth camp caps at 50 campers, so groups stay small. They offer both individual and team options.
17. Tar Heel (North Carolina) Wrestling Camps
Tar Heel camps give wrestlers a safe, competitive setting to build skill, sportsmanship, strength, and stamina. Options include a technique-only camp and a team camp that mixes technique sessions with live competition. They work well for middle and high school programs.
18. Carolina Wrestling Camp (UNC)
Train at the University of North Carolina under the Tar Heel coaching staff and clinicians. The 2026 team camp offers commuter and overnight options with meals included, plus a summer dual tournament for full programs.
19. Penn State Wrestling Camps
Train at University Park, PA, under head coach Cael Sanderson and his staff. The technique camp serves grades 6-12 with instruction, drilling, and live wrestling for all levels. The team camp serves grades 7-12 for groups of 12 or more. Both include meals, housing for residents, and a camp shirt. Camps run late June into July.
20. Northern Colorado Wrestling Camps
Train at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley with the Golden Bears coaching staff. The 5-day individual camp fits all experience levels and mixes high-quality instruction with live wrestling. A team camp is also available for high school programs. Early registration earns a discount.
21. Virginia Wrestling Camps
Train at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville with the Cavalier coaching staff. The camps cover technique, live wrestling, and college-prep work for youth and high school wrestlers. Check the site for current dates and camp types.
How Much Do Wrestling Camps Cost?
Cost depends on the camp’s length and whether you stay overnight. Day clinics can run under $200, while multi-day overnight or intensive camps often range from about $400 to $1,500 or more. College-run camps like Penn State list resident options around $500 to $560. Confirm the current price on each camp’s official page before you register.
Wrestling Camp Essentials
Pack these for camp:
- Wrestling shoes and headgear.
- Workout gear, cleaned daily (shorts, shirts, an extra clean shirt, singlets if required).
- Running shoes.
- Water bottle.
- Toiletries, bedding, and personal items for overnight camps.
- Notebook and pen to write down techniques and goals.
- A sack lunch if a host family houses you.
Also check: Free Summer Programs (Top 25 Options for High School Students)
Have a camp to add or a correction? Drop it in the comments and use the share buttons below to pass this along.
Recommended:
Best Countries in the World (Ranking)
6-Month LPN Programs (Schools & Certification)
Unaccredited Colleges in the US
12 Best Base Building Games For iOS
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.