Mountain Forge Wrestling Clubs PAThe MatYouth Wrestling
Mountain Forge · Pocono Mountain, PA

Where it starts

The Mat · Youth Wrestling Club

The Mat is where kids meet wrestling for the first time. It is a friendly, skill-first room built around good fundamentals and a whole lot of fun.

Coed · ages 5 to 14 All skill levels Year-round
The Mat Youth Wrestling Club, Mountain Forge PA
What The Mat is

The first room, done right

Wrestling teaches a kid how to work hard, stay calm when things get tough, and get right back up. On The Mat we build those habits the way we build technique: one step at a time, with steady encouragement along the way.

Fundamentals first

Stance, motion, and position taught step by step, so young wrestlers build real skill before they ever chase a win.

Breath work and focus

Simple breath work and focus drills give kids an easy way to settle nerves and reset, on the mat and off it.

Confidence that grows

Wins and tough days both teach something. We help kids learn from each one and come back ready for the next.

Coach's Philosophy

There are no shortcuts

At The Mat, we believe champions are built through discipline, repetition, and hard work. There are no shortcuts to success. We teach wrestlers through repetition to master the fundamentals until great technique becomes second nature.

Our coaching philosophy is simple: repetition builds confidence. The more a wrestler practices the right technique, the more confident they become when it counts most. Confidence is earned through preparation.

We believe we never lose, we learn. Each practice and match is an opportunity to improve. Wins build confidence, and setbacks build character.

Conditioning is a key part of our program. We emphasize old-school cardio, core strength, and mental toughness to prepare our wrestlers for any challenge on and off the mat.

We don't train just to finish a match. We train for overtime. When others get tired, our wrestlers are prepared to keep pushing.

Above all, our mission is to develop confident, disciplined, and respectful young athletes. The lessons learned on the mat become the foundation for success in school, at home, and throughout life.

How training works

Two levels

A Mat membership covers both levels across the week, so a wrestler can go from a first practice to real competition without switching clubs.

Young wrestlers sitting and listening to a coach1

Beginner & Novice

The starting group. New wrestlers learn the basics in a low-pressure setting, building coordination and a love of the sport.

Two young wrestlers drilling a takedown2

Intermediate & Advanced

The next step. Wrestlers with a season or two sharpen their technique and get ready for tournament competition.

What comes next

The Mat, where the climb starts

The Mat is the start of the Mountain Forge journey. When a wrestler is ready for the advanced level, our coaches help guide the move up into one of the teen programs.

Plans & passes

Join The Mat

Registration and payments run through WrestlingIQ. Reach out if cost is ever the reason a young wrestler would stay home.

Membership Monthly The Mat Membership
$50/mo

Full access to all practices, billed monthly.

Need-based subsidized memberships are available by application. Questions? Email themat@theheallistfoundation.com.

When we train

  • TuesdayAll levels
  • WednesdayAll levels
  • ThursdayAll levels

What to bring

  • Wrestling shoes are required at all practices.
  • Headgear is optional at practice and required for tournaments.
  • Comfy athletic clothes, a water bottle, and a ready-to-learn attitude.

Where we train

130 North 1st Street
Stroudsburg, PA 18360
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Who leads The Mat

Coaches who know how to develop young athletes

MT

Mike Theis

Program Director & Head Coach

Runs the youth room day to day with a patient, skill-first approach that gives kids a strong and steady start.

TT

Tina Theis

Family Engagement & Community Outreach Lead

Keeps The Mat running for families: registration, communication, and the details that make a season smooth.

A Heallist Foundation Initiative

Healing before it is needed

Mountain Forge is the sports and recreation arm of The Heallist Foundation. Athletics is one of the ways we build resilience in young people, long before a crisis arrives.

Visit the Foundation