Advertise on podcast: Wrestling Prep Podcast

Quick-fix prep clinics don't create lasting results; retention and application do. In this episode, Carolyn sits down with coach JJ Howland, who has built a large social media following around wrestling content and has coached a string of national finalists. JJ shares what stood out after meeting Carolyn at a Vegas clinic in April and why he traveled with three of his own athletes to a Wrestling Prep summer camp weeks later. The two compare coaching journeys that took unconventional paths, then turn to the clinic circuit: sessions full of advanced technique kids can't physically execute, weekend camps sold as shortcuts, athletes who retain none of it. Carolyn lays out where their coaching styles fit together: JJ's technique wins the tournaments being wrestled today, and her approach makes that technique work better. They close by revealing plans to join forces at clinics and larger events in the coming year.   In this Episode: Instagram: @jjhowland YouTube: @JJ-Howland Website: jjhowland.com   Want to learn more about Coach Wester and Wrestling Prep? Instagram: @wrestlingprep Website: wrestlingprep.com Online courses: courses.wrestlingprep.com

Before you spend money sending your athletes to tumbling class to emulate what you've seen from Wrestling Prep athletes, understand this: the two are fundamentally different in intent and execution. Coach Carolyn Wester breaks down why tumbling and her Body Leveraging movements can look similar, but don't transfer the same way. Tumbling chases a finished skill through disorganized effort, and rarely develops skills that carry into grappling; Body Leveraging uses Sequential Muscle Order to build, coordinate, and transfer force through a precise muscular sequence that maps directly onto movements during a match.  In this episode, Carolyn walks through the distinctions athletes and coaches need to understand: coordination, timing, force, control, appearance, and repeatable outcomes. The throughline is this: HOW an athlete moves through space is at least as important as the final result. Athletes sharpen the technique they already use, and open themselves up to the wrestling that Carolyn layers on top of Body Leveraging by training to order their muscles and transfer force.   Want to learn more about Coach Wester and Wrestling Prep? Instagram: @wrestlingprep Website: wrestlingprep.com Online courses: courses.wrestlingprep.com

After a big win, the real work begins. In this episode of the Wrestling Prep Podcast, Coach Carolyn examines how social media and well-meaning praise from parents, coaches, and prominent figures can wire athletes to chase dopamine hits instead of building genuine self-worth. She draws a clear distinction between the mindset work that takes place to prepare for a big competition and the deeper neurological process of tracing personal happiness back to overcome fear, avoidance, and self-doubt. Coaches, parents, and athletes will come away from this episode with a clearer sense of why that internal pathway matters and what gets in the way of helping athletes build it.   Want to learn more about Coach Wester and Wrestling Prep? Instagram: @wrestlingprep Website: wrestlingprep.com Online courses: courses.wrestlingprep.com

In this episode of the Wrestling Prep Podcast, Carolyn Wester, Drew Morgan, and Coach Cornell Robinson have an honest conversation about what happens when adult egos begin to outweigh athlete development, and the real consequences that follow. Carolyn and Cornell start by laying out the coaching principles that get lost when winning, perception, or control become the priority: serving the athlete, protecting long-term academic and personal growth, and maintaining ethical leadership even when it costs a coach professionally. Cornell then shares his firsthand experience navigating a situation where internal politics and power struggles ultimately led to his removal as head coach, despite clear athlete outcomes and progress during his tenure. Throughout the discussion, the group reflects on how rumor, fear, and “us vs. them” thinking damage programs, erode trust, and place kids in the middle of adult conflicts they never asked for. They also explore how experienced coaches develop perspective over time, learning to prioritize trajectory over individual results, and people over optics. In this Episode Vidal, Cheche (2024) Fair Competition: Sports competition and the pursuit of excellence as the essence of modern sports Want to learn more about Coach Wester and Wrestling Prep? Instagram: @wrestlingprep Website: wrestlingprep.com Online courses: courses.wrestlingprep.com

Coach Carolyn Wester shares highlights from a busy season of camps, clinics, and high-level training across the country. Over the summer, she coached in Kentucky, Montana, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, drawing athletes from 38 states and five countries, and led a Coaches Clinic that combined on-mat technical progress with open conversations about communication and athlete development. She then visited Driveline Baseball in Tampa, where motion-capture data reinforced the principles behind her body-leveraging system. From early morning sessions with national-level wrestlers to ongoing work with elite fighters, Carolyn reflects on a stretch of coaching that emphasized movement structure, positional strength, and the mindset needed to turn practice into competition success.   Want to learn more about Coach Wester and Wrestling Prep? Instagram: @wrestlingprep Website: wrestlingprep.com Online courses: courses.wrestlingprep.com

Coach Cornell Robinson is a nationally respected coach with over a decade of experience leading U.S. age-group world teams. He has served as head coach at both Christian Brothers College Prep and Wyoming Seminary, where he was known for his athlete-centered, strategy-driven approach. In this conversation with Coach Carolyn Wester, Cornell shares why intentional training, not constant competition, is what leads to long-term success in wrestling. He reflects on how observing Carolyn’s movement-based approach helped him develop better athletes, not just tougher wrestlers, and how integrating those concepts into his own programs has elevated performance at the highest levels. Together, they discuss the value of being a lifelong learner, the cost of over-competing, and what truly prepares athletes for success beyond youth accolades.   Register to train with Wrestling Prep this summer! Want to learn more about Coach Wester and Wrestling Prep? Instagram: @wrestlingprep Website: wrestlingprep.com Online courses: courses.wrestlingprep.com

Coach Wester is joined by renowned trauma and addiction recovery expert Tennie McCarty to examine how unresolved issues in parents and coaches often surface in their relationships with athletes, sometimes sabotaging the very growth they hope to support. From toxic overinvolvement to the silent consequences of unspoken trauma, this conversation explores how boundaries, self-awareness, and healthy advocacy can shift the athletic experience from pressure-driven to empowering. Tennie shares insights from decades of clinical experience and previews the tools she’ll be teaching at this summer’s Wrestling Prep Coach's Clinic, including how to confront dysfunctional patterns, build trust-based communication, and stop passing pain from one generation to the next. This is essential listening for coaches and parents committed to the long-term development of the athlete and the person.   In this episode: Shades of Hope   Register to train with Wrestling Prep this summer! Want to learn more about Coach Wester and Wrestling Prep? Instagram: @wrestlingprep Website: wrestlingprep.com Online courses: courses.wrestlingprep.com

In this episode, Head Coach Carolyn Wester unpacks one of the most important but overlooked dynamics in athlete development: avoidance and acceptance. Avoidance shows up as wishful thinking, rushed plans, unclear goals, and emotional deflection after losses. Acceptance, on the other hand, means facing reality: where the athlete truly is, what was actually done in preparation, and what needs to change moving forward. Carolyn challenges parents, coaches, and wrestlers to stop chasing outcomes and start owning the process. What do you really want from the sport? What’s been avoided in pursuit of that goal? And are you willing to accept responsibility for the results you’ve earned? From summer camp planning to post-season reflection, this episode offers a practical and honest roadmap for growing with purpose. Register to train with Wrestling Prep this summer! Want to learn more about Coach Wester and Wrestling Prep? Instagram: @wrestlingprep Website: wrestlingprep.com Online courses: courses.wrestlingprep.com

In this episode of the Podcast, Coach Carolyn Wester sits down with Rob Setree and Mac Profumo to discuss the profound influence of Wrestling Prep on their Jiu-Jitsu training. Rob is a second-degree black belt and the co-founder of Criterion Jiu-Jitsu in Louisville, KY. In this conversation, Rob details his significant athletic improvements, noting that practicing the Body Leveraging techniques taught by Carolyn has allowed him to surpass two decades of prior training limitations. Rob shares a vision of the sport's future, where the ability to control and move one's body effectively will distinguish top competitors. Mac reflects on his rapid progress, emphasizing how training with Carolyn has revolutionized his approach and performance. The episode captures a transformative dialogue on how mastering one's physicality, as trained through Body Leveraging, is becoming indispensable in the evolving landscape of Jiu-Jitsu. In this episode: https://criterionbjj.com/ Register early to train with Wrestling Prep this summer! Want to learn more about Coach Wester and Wrestling Prep? Instagram: @wrestlingprep Website: wrestlingprep.com Online courses: courses.wrestlingprep.com

In this episode of the Wrestling Prep Podcast, Coach Carolyn Wester shares actionable advice for coaches on integrating Body Leveraging into their practices. She offers guidance on teaching sequential muscle movements alongside wrestling techniques. Carolyn highlights how these methods can enhance performance and benefit wrestlers of all athletic levels. Using examples from the recent success of wrestlers who have practiced these techniques under her guidance, she demonstrates how Body Leveraging helps athletes optimize their movement and develop skills for long-term success. Register early to train with Wrestling Prep this summer! Want to learn more about Coach Wester and Wrestling Prep? Instagram: @wrestlingprep Website: wrestlingprep.com Online courses: courses.wrestlingprep.com

In this episode, Coach Carolyn Wester and Drew Morgan discuss the evolving dynamics of youth wrestling, emphasizing the value of improvement over competition. Carolyn highlights the importance of parents acting as "project managers" to facilitate collaboration among multiple coaches, ensuring athletes receive diverse perspectives, avoiding ego and conflicts. Drew shares insights on how body leveraging and efficient training build long-term success, while Carolyn reflects on how the sport's evolution demands a shift away from one-coach dependency. Together, they advocate a growth-focused approach, which prioritizes skill development and adaptability, over a competition-focused mindset.   Want to learn more about Coach Wester and Wrestling Prep? Instagram: @wrestlingprep Website: wrestlingprep.com Online courses: courses.wrestlingprep.com

Coach Carolyn Wester is joined by a leading subject matter expert on pediatric and young adult emotional development Melissa Richey. Melissa is a pediatric nurse practitioner with a strong background in holistic psychology and emotional well-being, she is the mother of three wrestlers, two of which are currently wrestling at college (Duke & Gettysburg) and one who will graduate and go on to wrestle in college this year. In this conversation, she shares insights on how athletes develop mentally and emotionally through the challenges they face in our sport. Melissa has worked closely with many athletes and parents, giving her deep insight into how wrestling shapes emotional growth. Melissa provides valuable guidance on how sports like wrestling help athletes process emotions, manage performance anxiety, and grow through adversity. She also offers practical strategies for parents and coaches to support young athletes through both the triumphs and setbacks of competition. Carolyn adds her own perspective on the crucial dynamics between parents, coaches, and athletes, emphasizing the importance of these interactions in shaping an athlete’s emotional development.   Want to learn more about Coach Wester and Wrestling Prep? Instagram: @wrestlingprep Website: wrestlingprep.com Online courses: courses.wrestlingprep.com

In this episode, Coach Carolyn Wester sits down with 2024 ADCC World Championships breakout star Michael Pixley and recent NOGI World Champ Alejandro Wajner. Both former collegiate wrestlers have successfully transitioned into professional Jiu-Jitsu athletes while also coaching youth and high school wrestlers. Carolyn recently visited PSF Wrestling in Mt. Vernon, Illinois to lead a series of clinics where both youth athletes and professionals trained together, learning her signature Body Leveraging techniques alongside advanced grappling skills. During the conversation, Dro and Pixley share how Carolyn’s unique approach to teaching position and movement opened new avenues for their own growth as athletes, with Michael incorporating techniques immediately into his competition training. The clinic also had a profound impact on their young wrestlers, who, despite initial hesitation, quickly embraced the concepts. Carolyn’s ability to coach all levels in the same session, while keeping everyone engaged and improving, is highlighted as a key factor in their athletes’ rapid progress. In this Episode: Michael Pixley: @pixley7 Alejandro Wajner: @airwajner Pedigo Submission Fighting: @pedigosubmissionfighting PSF Wrestling: @psfwrestling Photo credit: @yesseniaandronic   Want to learn more about Coach Wester and Wrestling Prep? Instagram: @wrestlingprep Website: wrestlingprep.com Online courses: courses.wrestlingprep.com

In this episode of the Wrestling Prep Podcast, head coach Carolyn Wester sits down with Finnish coaches Niko Kettunen, Ville Heino, and Jere Heino to discuss her recent coaching clinic in Finland. The trip, initially sparked by casual conversations, quickly turned into an impactful week of training and learning. Carolyn’s unique Body Leveraging and wrestling technique and coaching philosophy left a strong impression on the group, as coaches and athletes alike experienced new ways to approach movement and technique. The episode highlights the long-term impact Carolyn’s work might have on Finland’s wrestling coaching and culture, and how this collaboration could shape the future of the sport in this country. Niko Kettunen is the national freestyle and women's team coach of the Finnish Wrestling Federation. Ville Heino is the manager of coaches education of the Finnish Wrestling Federation. As an athlete, Ville was 7th at the world championships in 2018 (86 kg) and was a two-time NCAA qualifier at Campbell University (2013-2017). Jere Heino is a coach in the Finnish Wrestling Federation. As an athlete, Jere placed 5th at the U20 World Championships (125 kg), was a multiple-time age group placer at the European Championships, and a three-time NCAA qualifier at Campbell University (2015-2020).   Want to learn more about Coach Wester and Wrestling Prep? Instagram: @wrestlingprep Website: wrestlingprep.com Online courses: courses.wrestlingprep.com

In this episode of the Wrestling Prep Podcast, Coach Carolyn Wester and Drew Morgan fill us in on their coaching efforts this summer. They discuss Wrestling Prep's recently-completed camp in Virginia, highlighting the diverse group of athletes in attendance and the unique challenges of teaching math-based movement techniques. With another camp just around the corner, Carolyn shares her excitement about continuing to foster growth and confidence in wrestlers of all levels. The episode also touches on Olympic gold-medalist Amit Elor's development in the sport, and the importance of community in athletic success. Looking ahead, Carolyn and Drew discuss their upcoming trip to Finland, where they’ll be educating other coaches in Body Leveraging as that country further develops its freestyle program.   Want to learn more about Coach Wester and Wrestling Prep? Instagram: @wrestlingprep Website: wrestlingprep.com Online courses: courses.wrestlingprep.com