A new youth wrestling program, the Oak Harbor Wrestling Club, begins practice at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15, at the Oak Harbor High School mat room.

The club was started to “see a great and consistent youth wrestling program in Oak Harbor,” according to Peter Esvelt, club president and former Oak Harbor High School head wrestling coach.

The hope is to provide a feeder program for the high school team and to give Whidbey Island youngsters a chance to experience the sport, he added.

“Our focus and goals this season are consistency and competition,” Esvelt said.

Past clubs lacked consistency because of a rapid rate of turnover with coaches.

“We are going to be consistent in our practices throughout the year, in our attendance at local tournaments and provide a solid foundation for youth wrestling going into next year and beyond.

“We also want to balance practices and tournaments so that every wrestler, from kindergarten through high school during the freestyle season, can grow and be pushed competitively.”

The cost is $76 for the K-8 folkstyle season, which runs October through February, or $116 for the folkstyle and freestyle seasons, which run through May.

The fee includes USA Wrestling membership, which is required for tournaments.

“We include it (USA Wrestling membership) with the club fees, when most clubs leave that expense to the parents,” Esvelt said.

Registration is currently open at the club’s website: oakharborwrestlingclub.com

An informational meeting for parents is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 14, at the high school mat room.

“Though we start in the middle of October, we want wrestlers whenever they are available, so when youth football ends in November, we are hoping to see those wrestlers coming out and joining the team,” Esvelt said. “When the high school season ends, we are looking to have a lot of high schoolers traveling around the state picking up additional wrestling experience.”

The idea for the club came from Esvelt, current Wildcat assistant coaches Joe Brannon and Cody Fakkema, and former Oak Harbor wrestler Christian Bertram. Kit Christopherson, Thersa Cress and Brian Farmer, Oak Harbor High School girls wrestling coach, also played key roles in getting the club started, Esvelt said.

Fakkema will serve as the club’s head coach, assisted by Esvelt, Brannon and Christopherson.

“We look to add other knowledgeable parents to our coaching ranks as well,” Esvelt said.