Grit Wrestling Academy

This registration session will allow you to complete contact information, sign up for participation, and submit payment.

Anytime after September 1st please go to the USA wrestling membership site to register for a USA wrestling card, if your wrestler is not already a member.  USA wrestling cards are required to participate in the Grit Wrestling Academy as well as all local, state and national tournaments. When registering for a USA wrestling card please select Grit Wrestling Academy. USA provides insurance for our club and helps our club to be recognized at a state and national level. Thank you 

Pre-K (4 years old), K and 1st - Understanding of movement, awareness in space and the basics of the sport of wrestling are the major areas that will be stressed with this group. We will be engaging and make the experience fun for this level. 

Beginner Group - If you are brand new to wrestling and are in grades 2nd-5th, this is where you will start. Athletes will have the opportunity to move up to the competitive level of practices with a coaches endorsement. Learning the basics and understanding of the sport comes before competition. 

Experienced - For those who have prior experience, here is where to look. Grit Academy focuses on learning and understanding the sport of wrestling and raising the “wrestling IQ” of our academy members. 

Middle School -  Our focus as an academy will be to work on technique, mental toughness, performance preparation as well as spending time on the mat wrestling and learning how best to compete at a higher level competition. For the fall season this group will focus on getting geared up for the Middle School season in Hamilton County. 

Grit Wrestling Academy provides athletes in Hamilton county and the surrounding areas quality training in the sport of wrestling for ages 4-18. We are Located in Westfield and our practices are held at the Westfield Middle School wrestling room (345 W Hoover St, Westfield, IN 46074). Our main goal is to instill an understanding and confidence in this great sport of wrestling to propel your young athlete to a new level. The building blocks of our academy focus on teaching quality technique, building work ethic, self esteem, improved physical health and sportsmanship. We are accepting new athletes who have a desire to learn and gain a greater understanding of this great sport. 

Please direct questions to: gritwrestlingacademy@gmail.com

Coaches Information 

John Kopnisky

• 1995 ISWA Freestyle State Runner-up

• 1996 ISWA Freestyle State Champion 

• 1996 USA Wrestling Freestyle Southwest Regional Champion

• 1996 3rd Place State Finisher  

• 3 Time State Qualifier, 2 Time Semi-State Champion, 3 Time Regional Champion, 3 Time Sectional Champion

• 1997 State Champion 40-0 record and an overall high school record of 125-5 

• 4 year letterman and 3 year Captain at University of Missouri 

• 3 Time NCAA qualifier with a 106 wins 

• 3 Time Recipient of Wrestler of the Year from the University of Missouri 

• 2001 Big 12 Athlete of the Month 

• 13 years of High School Head Coaching experience at Rock Bridge HS and Carmel HS and assistant coaching at Westfield High School has had the please of having 29 State Qualifiers, 11 State placers and 3 Finalists

• Head Coach for Keystone Wrestling Club K-12 program for 5 years 

• Founded and Former President of the Carmel USA Wrestling Club 

Thomas Griffin

• 100+ High School Wins

• 2006 IHSAA State Qualifier 

• 2008 HCAC Conference Champion

• Wrestled in College at Mount St. Joseph University

• 10 years of High School Coaching

• 2012 and 2013 Middle School National Duals Coach

• Coach for Team Indiana Pittsburgh All-Star Classic 2022  

Justin Miller

• 2017 IHSAA State Qualifier

• Trine University Collage Wrestler 

• High School Assistant Coaching 2021-2023