Wrestling is in his blood, so it was natural for Tom Clairmont to take over the head coaching duties of the Whidbey Wildcat Wrestling Club this year.

When former coach Aaron McBride’s work schedule impacted his availability to handle the duties this season, Clairmont volunteered.

For Clairmont, it was a logical step. He grew up wrestling in Montana, where in 1994 he was selected to represent the state in a match in Australia. His father was a wrestler and coach. His brother also wrestled and is now a coach.

Clairmont  joined the family chain, pulling his wife, Jaymie Clairmont, along.

It didn’t take Jaymie Clairmont long to get hooked; she is now the WWWC president.

“I knew nothing about wrestling, but I married into a family that is from Montana and all about wrestling,” she said. “Through him I learned a little about it, then we signed the kids up and I got to find out what he was talking about.”

The club helps the Clairmonts share their love for the sport with the youngsters of Whidbey Island.

“Sports have always been a passion of mine and I love taking an active role in not only my children’s lives but our community as well,” Jaymie Clairmont said.

The goal of the club, Tom Clairmont said, is to “introduce wrestling to children at an early age.”

He added that youngsters can gain much from being involved: “personal responsibility, sportsmanship, high-intensity workout, great friendships and a sense of personal responsibility.”

Jaymie Clairmont said that the club can also provide a “skill set they can expand upon in middle school and high school wrestling.”

Whidbey Wildcat Wrestling runs from October through March and encompasses three seasons: folkstyle, freestyle and Greco.

Folkstyle is the most popular in Washington, with tournaments starting in November and ending in February.

The club currently has 55 members, and new members are welcome at any time.

The club usually practices for two hours each Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at the Oak Harbor High School mat room. On Tuesdays, the club works with the age-group novices.

Tournaments take place on weekends throughout Washington, and it is entirely up to the parents on which their children attend, Jaymie Clairmont said.

Oak Harbor has not hosted a tournament in several years, but getting Oak Harbor back on the schedule is a goal of the Clairmonts, and they are working on setting up two local tournaments for next season.

The club is a nonprofit and all of its coaches and board members are volunteers.

Tom Clairmont is supported by a staff of 12 other volunteer coaches. Most are parents and all have a wrestling background.

WWWC currently has one sponsor, Cross-Fit Amethyst, which is holding a fundraiser for the club Saturday, Jan. 3.

The goal is to cover the entry fees for the wrestlers competing in the novice championship tournament later this month.

If not enough is raised, then the club will use the money to cover scholarships for low income families next season, according Jaymie Clairmont.

“We are looking for sponsors to help cut the cost of our wrestlers,” Jaymie Clairmont said. “We want to provide a low-cost sport to the community, especially during the winter season.”

For more information about the club or to register, visit www.whidbeywildcatwrestlingclub.com, email whidbeywildcatwrestling@gmail.com or call 360-499-2008.

Jaymie Clairmont can be reached at 360-682-6767, and club secretary Tanya Estes can be reached at 360-672-8378.

Wrestling is “a great sport and all four of my kids love it,” Jaymie Clairmont said.

That’s understandable; it’s in their blood.