Hello Viking Wrestling Family!

Welcome to the sport of wrestling. Some of you have wrestlers who have been wrestling for many years, while some are brand new to the sport and may not know what it is about. My name is Eric Webb and I am the head wrestling coach. I am a 5th grade teacher at Emerald Elementary and have taught for 19 years. I have been involved in the sport of wrestling either competing or coaching for 30+ years. My assistants are Carlos Simon and Mitch Ratigan, both have extensive wrestling and coaching experiences. 

My experience in wrestling includes: 

• High school wrestling: 2 x state placer & runner up

• University of Oregon: 3 x All Pac 10 (top 6) 

• Freestyle and Greco: 4x All-American

• High School Coaching: 

  • Evergreen

  • Camas

  • Union High School 

My goal is to establish a fun and positive culture where we build each other up and create a community of wrestlers who learn and want to compete together. I want kids to build confidence and develop skills through wrestling that will help them throughout their lives. My hope is that they come back each year and/or continue their wrestling career into high school. 

Nuts and Bolts: 

• Practices are from 4:15 - 6:15. Please pick up on time. 

• Activity buses will start next week. If your student-athlete needs one, they will dismiss at 5:40. They will need to check in with me. If your student athlete is taking the activity bus, I will make sure they experience the same opportunities as our other athletes even though they will be leaving early from practice.  

• Please wash their practice clothes every day.

Here are some things you should know about the upcoming season:

• I will be communicating with you throughout the season on our ParentSquare platform.

• Practices are every weekday right after school in Pacific’s small gym until 6:15.  We do have to roll up mats every night after practice, so expect your wrestler in the parking lot by 6:20. Please be prompt in picking up your wrestler because the weather can be bad this time of year. They won’t always be able to wait inside the gym until you get there if you’re late. A coach will be present until you arrive, so please consider this.   

• Wrestlers practice in gym shorts and a T-shirt. Wrestlers do need special wrestling shoes that are safe to wear on the mat (we have a few loaners - and always accept donations of last year’s too-small shoes).  You can find wrestling shoes at local sports or discount shops such as Big 5, Fred Meyers, and Athlete’s Corner. Also, Amazon usually has a quick turnaround on orders.

• Your wrestler needs to complete a minimum of 8 practices before they will be allowed to compete in wrestling matches against opposing schools.

• Pacific Wrestlers are STUDENTS FIRST!  Your wrestler must have at least a 2.0 GPA and no major discipline issues before they can compete in matches (although they can still practice while working things out academically). 

• We will check out school uniforms for your wrestler before the first match of the season – including headgear, a wrestling singlet, and warm-ups.  Once these are issued to your wrestler, they are now responsible for them.  If they lose or turn in a different number uniform than the one checked out to them, they will be charged.  We will put their name on their gear using fabric tape, but this may not hold up for the whole season. Please return all washed gear at the end of the season.  

• Optional wrestling T-shirts and other gear. Optional gear will be available to purchase from an outside vendor within the next few weeks. I will post information as soon as the gear is ready. Wrestlers will bring home forms with information on ordering. Pacific is not responsible for t-shirt orders.

• Wrestlers with braces must purchase a special type of mouth guard that covers both the top and bottom teeth.  Mouth guards are optional for wrestlers without braces. 

• There are 20 weight classes in middle school wrestling, from 70 lbs to Unlimited.  Varsity wrestlers must be at or below their weight class to compete the day before each dual meet.  Varsity matches earn points toward the team score (scoring guidelines will be explained at our parent meeting).  

• JV Wrestlers will be paired with opposing wrestlers based on availability, weight class, and with some consideration for skill level.  JV wrestlers can complete in shirt and shorts instead of a singlet; however, these should be tight-fitting and school colored (black, yellow, and/or green compression shirts and shorts would be great).  It is up to the referee’s discretion to determine if their uniform is legal or not. JV wrestling matches count towards an individual’s record but do not contribute to the overall team score.

• There will be 7 dual meets against other schools and a District Championship at the end of the season, which will only include 2 wrestlers; one varsity and the #1 JV wrestler at each weight class.

• The amount of individual wrestling matches that your wrestler has this season will largely be based on the opposing school’s roster, which we usually don’t get until the day of the meet (and even then things can change by the time the match starts).  We will do our best to get all wrestlers matches every meet, but this isn’t very realistic considering some other schools have smaller turnouts. Priority will be given to wrestlers who have had the fewest matches and have been attending practices regularly (and working hard). 

• For away matches there will be a bus to and from the opposing school.  All wrestlers are expected to ride together to the school, but wrestlers may leave with approved family after their matches. Wrestlers leaving early need to check out with a determined coach before leaving.

• Setting up for home matches is time-consuming and difficult!  During home matches, we expect all wrestlers to help set up the gym before the match, support and cheer the team on during the match, and help clean up after the match. Please have your wrestler stay for the duration of home matches. 

• Hygiene is a serious issue. Wrestlers should shower after each practice and/or match. Any weird rashes (not likely) should be shown to a coach right away. We will make every effort to keep our gym sanitary and you should make every effort to keep your wrestler clean.

• We will not ask or encourage wrestlers to cut weight to make a particular weight class. If you and your wrestler (and preferably a doctor) decide that losing weight is a safe option for your wrestler, or if it happens naturally throughout the season, that’s OK.

• Occasionally we will have scheduling conflicts due to early releases.  On early release days, students go home after school and then return for practice from 4:15 – 6:15.  We realize this is a huge inconvenience for many families and their work schedules. Some wrestlers will go to a friend who lives near the school or whose parents can bring them back (only if you have communicated with said parent/guardian). There are no activity buses on Fridays and early release days.

• If you have any disagreements with me, our other coaches, opposing team’s coaches, or referees please let me know 24 hours after the issue, unless it is because of the safety of your wrestler. If that is the case then let only me know what your concern is. I will respond appropriately. 

That’s a lot of information to digest and I may have missed some nuanced information. Please call or email anytime.  Here’s to a great season – GO VIKINGS!!

Coaches contact info:   

Coach Webb      eric.webb@evergreenps.org  (360) 213 - 9364

Coach Ratigan   mitchell.ratigan@evergreenps.org 

Coach Carlos        1-360-762-5768