Twice a week until 9 p.

Friday, March 24, 2000

Twice a week until 9 p.m., a healthy group of Austin and Adams wrestlers occupy an old stage at Ellis Middle School.

In the gyms next door, there is Park and Rec volleyball to be played – an appropriate neighbor considering the wrestlers are involved in their own recreational pursuit.

It’s called freestyle wrestling. And, suddenly, it has captured the attention of local wrestlers like never before.

"It’s been off and on for the last few years," said Brian Parlin. "We really haven’t had big numbers. Just a few mainstays."

Parlin, just two years removed from Austin High School, is the founder and coach of the fledgling freestyle club, which he keenly dubbed Austin Powers.

A long-time freestyler and a state-caliber wrestler in high school, Parlin understands how important the freestyle season – which begins immediately after the prep wrestling season – can be to the development of a young wrestler.

"It’s about mat time," he said. "It doesn’t matter if you win or lose, it’s just mat time.

"There’s not pressure to win for the team. It’s gaining experience on the mat at no one else’s cost."

The freestyle season is centered around weekend tournaments. The Austin Powers attend mostly Twin Cities-area events. This weekend, the team members will compete at an invite at Eastview High School.

In a tournament, wrestlers can pick up as many as five matches.

"In high school it might take you a week to wrestle that many matches," Parlin said. "In freestyle, I’ve wrestled 12 times in a weekend."

Thursday’s practice included four of the five Austin High state wrestling participants, minus Mike Cunningham, who begins wrestling in a national tournament in Pittsburgh, Pa. today.

There were also a number of Southland High wrestlers and more than a half dozen youth wrestlers, who practice before the older boys.

They are there because the freestyle experience can enhance the folk-style wrestling employed in the prep season.

Freestyle wrestling is "based mostly on feet," Parlin said. "You’re on your feet most of the time, taking guys down and letting them up."

Observers can see the on-the-feet freestyle influence in Cunningham and Parlin’s brother, TJ, who finished second and third at state respectively.

For Southland’s wrestlers, however, freestyle is a whole new ballgame. The Rebels are riders who traditionally do well wrestling from the top or bottom.

"We’re trying to get better on our feet," said Adam Landherr, who is a good bet to wrestle at state for the Rebels next season. "The freestyle wrestling has a lot faster pace. It’s helping a lot."

Last year, the Adams’ contingent traveled to a Rochester freestyle club a couple of times. Landherr said they didn’t feel too welcome.

So when they met Parlin at an Austin/Southland dual practice earlier this year, they took him up on his offer to wrestle for Austin Powers.

"It’s a lot more fun here," Landherr said. "We know and like the Austin guys."

One attractive aspect of the freestyle season is there is no weight cutting.

Wrestlers simply show up at a tournament and are grouped with wrestlers of like-weight.

"That’s what I loved about it," Parlin said. "You can eat breakfast before weighing in."