OUR MISSION
Our mission at Stronghold Wrestling Club is to teach the art of wrestling in both national and international styles while mentoring the youth under our tutelage. Our mission exists in the knowledge that we will encourage and promote personal growth—spiritually, physically, and emotionally—through positive reinforcement of activities that continually challenge the spirit, body, and mind.
OUR BELIEFS
We, the members, leaders, and coaches of Stronghold Wrestling Club, pledge to promote, teach, and value:
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Faith
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Humility
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Charity
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Responsibility
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Self-Reliance
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Integrity
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Honesty
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Perseverance
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Resolve
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Enjoyment
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Respect
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Honor
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Mental Toughness
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Focus
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Work Ethic
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Commitment
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Sportsmanship
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The sport of wrestling offers a unique platform for athletes to face personal challenges in one-on-one competition. Wrestlers encounter time-tested traits that shape character. We believe teaching these principles is crucial to long-term success, both on and off the mat, empowering young wrestlers for life.
OUR PROGRAM
The Stronghold Wrestling program challenges the cardiovascular, muscular, and skeletal systems. If your child has any physical ailments, is on medication, or is not in excellent physical condition, participation may pose a risk.
Stronghold is committed to creating a safe, fun environment while developing young athletes. Stronghold Wrestling also helps those parents that volunteered as coaches, team parents, officials and staff members an unhindered opportunity to manage a successful program.
For the most part, Stronghold Wrestling never has direct responsibility for chaperoning the conduct of youth participants during its events. Stronghold Wrestling relies on coaches, parents, and chaperones to ensure that every young wrestler attending a Stronghold Wrestling-sponsored event is safe and is aware of the sanctions for misbehavior. Coaches, chaperones, and parents bear the responsibility for giving youth wrestling participants the rules of behavior and their sanctions - failure to share this information do not excuse any inappropriate behavior on the part of youth wrestlers nor does it affect Stronghold Wrestling's ability to hand out sanctions.

OUR COACHES
Coach Shad Rissler
Shad is a two-time collegiate All-American from King University. With over 14 years of coaching experience, he has developed numerous athletes, including hundreds of All-Americans and Alabama’s first-ever Fargo National Champion and Girls NHSCA national champion. Under his leadership, Stronghold has become one of the top wrestling clubs in the country, winning more than ten Youth State Championships and earning a national reputation for excellence.

Coach Gabe Hixenbaugh
Gabe is a NCAA Division 2 National Champion (First National Champion in the University of Montevallo school history), five-time Alabama State Champion, Fargo All-American, NHSCA National Champion, and a former Division 1 starter at Campbell University. He was ranked 15th in the nation during his career.

Coach Cole Thomas
Cole is an Alabama State Champion and the 2022 and 2023 Team Alabama Nationals Coach. He’s been coaching at Stronghold Wrestling Club for four years.

OUR CLASSES
Monday and Wednesday
Homewood High School: 6:00–7:30 PM
1901 S Lakeshore Dr, Homewood, AL 35209
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Tuesday and Thursday
Birmingham Wrestling Complex: 6:00–7:30 PM
100 Old Town Rd Suite 100, Vestavia Hills, AL 35216

Getting to the Wrestling Room