General Information about OURWAY
Our mission is to develop opportunities to advance the sport of wrestling by uniting Ohio's Leagues and giving youth wrestlers the opportunity to learn the sport at all levels. Through a united purpose and standard criteria, Ohio's wrestlers will be able to compete at the highest levels nationally. OURWAY’s mission includes the development of sportsmanship, leadership, and character. Wrestling teaches more character building skills than many other sports. It teaches how to win and lose gracefully; to always give 100%; and if you’re knocked down, you always get back up and NEVER QUIT. It teaches leadership, work ethic, self-discipline, teamwork, delayed gratification, responsibility, honor and respect. Too many kids in society today lack these attributes. We feel our sport develops a winning attitude in wrestlers that builds confidence, self-respect, and pride. All these attributes are key components of success and prepares them to meet all of life’s challenges.
OURWAY desires to invest in Ohio youth wrestling by providing unprecedented opportunities to compete in centrally located, state of the art facilities, at state and national levels. Membership fees will be utilized to further Ohio youth wrestling at a “grass roots” level. Top-notch awards and state of the art venues will provide unparallel opportunities for our wrestlers. OURWAY encourages and promotes the involvement of all coaches and clubs. We feel OURWAY is to be run and directed by coaches from all areas of the state. Ultimately, we will develop “school based” wrestling programs and leagues uniting at a state tournament similar to the current Ohio High School state system and other neighboring youth state programs. We will aid in placing the state of Ohio at the pinnacle of the wrestling nation.
What is OURWAY
OURWAY representatives are a group of coaches and parents from around the state. Together we believe in what our sport has to offer and we have a vested interest in our sport’s future. We are trying to grow and preserve our sport at all levels. Their involvement and input has a direct affect on this organization’s decision making process. We welcome and encourage more coaches and parents from around the state to get involved and become OURWAY representatives.
OURWAY has always had and will continue to have an open line of communication with the wrestling community. We value your contributions and your input is important to us. One of our goals is to make Ohio the premier wrestling state in the country.
Our members are made up of teams from several different leagues. We are open to all school based leagues, teams, and individuals from around the state. OURWAY puts no requirements on leagues to change how they operate. We are trying to promote comradeship and pride with the youth wrestlers. Our goal is to strengthen Ohio’s Jr High and High School programs. We are trying to mirror the High School State System as close as possible.
We are working on several different formats to bring more opportunities for the kids and the wrestling community. Series of novice, all-star, team duals, and more.
We understand that a lot of kids wrestle for 2 different teams during the year. We have added a dual scoring system at the state tournament this year. A wrestler can score points for his local club and also score for whatever all-star team they want.
We have also added this year High School Divisions at our State tournament, along with an all-star dual state championship for all regional finalists.
We have assembled 18 states to wrestle at national tournament with the qualifiers from each state’s championship tournament to advance to the NUWAY National Championships. Last year we had 12 states. This year it has grown to 18 States. We are the ONLY organization that has a national championship in Ohio.
We provide primary liability insurance and secondary medical/dental insurance to clubs and leagues that need it. Coaches and their facilities are all insured and protected against liability claims. Wrestlers are insured against injury/accidents if they do not have primary insurance. We feel this provides a cost affective safety net to OURWAY wrestlers, coaches and facilities.
