About the Founder
Jim Mason founded the Wolverine Wrestling Club in 1998 because of his love for the sport of wrestling, and as a way to give back to a sport that gave him so much.
Jim is one of 16 children who grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. He began wrestling at 6 years old, following in his older brother’s footsteps. And he attributes much of his success, not just in wrestling, but also in life, to the sport.
Wrestling kept him off the streets for several critical hours every single day. Best case, it kept him alive. Worst case, it kept him out of jail. Either way, wrestling provided the support and the safe space for Jim to grow as an individual, as well as the opportunities to further his education. In fact, the sport provided him the opportunity for free tuition at St. Edward’s High School and Michigan State University. Jim started the WWC to be able to allow others to have these same opportunities.
Wolverine Wrestling Club Is Jim’s Way to Give Back
Money should never be a reason a kid cannot wrestle. In fact, if that were the case, Jim would have never joined the sport. And what a shame that would have been- a waste of talent, knowledge, and passion for the sport, in general.
Jim founded Wolverine Wrestling Club on the premise that no one should be prevented from wrestling because they cannot afford it.
We specialize in working with at risk kids, like Jim used to be. The kids who need structure, a sense of purpose, and the knowledge that they truly belong to something much greater than themselves.
Our club makes funds available to any families in financial or economic hardship. That includes, but is not limited to, covering membership fees, cost to cover summer wrestling camps, and any gear the sport requires.
The club’s main focus is on the greater Ann Arbor and the surrounding Washtenaw County areas. We do, however, offer assistance to promote wrestling throughout the state of Michigan and the greater Midwest when funds are available.
Our Mission
Jim started the Wolverine Wrestling Club to create a safe space for kids in the sport. His goal has been to provide a positive experience for kids in grades 4 through 12, while also promoting sportsmanship, leadership, and character development. The club also fosters a passion for the sport of wrestling.
The club provides kids with structure, a sense of purpose, and the knowledge that they truly belong to something much greater than themselves.
Wrestling brings together a group of like-minded individuals, many of whom become life-long friends who share a common bond. In our wrestling room, our wrestlers sweat, bleed, train, and compete together- they cry together in defeat and celebrate together in victory.
Together, our wrestlers learn that, after wrestling, there is absolutely nothing in life that cannot be accomplished.
Every Donation Makes a Huge Impact
We are able to do everything we do because of the generous support we have received from individuals and organizations over the years, though the donations of finances and resources, as well as the volunteering of time.
We have had literally hundreds of kids pass through our wrestling room doors over the past twenty years. And we have never had to turn a child or family away because of financial hardship.
Any donation made to the Wolverine Wrestling Club is funneled directly back into the club itself- to compensate our high-level coaches, rent space in the top wrestling rooms in the area, and cover the costs for gear, memberships, and tournaments of any wrestler or family in need of support.
