Welcome to DPHS Wrestling

🟦 Welcome to DPHS Wrestling!

Here’s what you need to do to join the team and be ready for the season.

✅ Show Up to Practice

Be on time, prepared, and ready to participate.
No experience required. Just show up and give your best.
Practices are held Monday through Friday. In the fall, practices are held during 4th period. After-school practices are added as the year progresses.
All practices are in the Dos Pueblos High School Wrestling Room, located to the left of the gym lobby.

✅ Complete Paperwork

Complete Sign-up Form

Please fill out the team signup form so we can keep track of all athletes and communicate important updates.

Complete Sign-up

Athletic Clearance

Get a physical from your doctor or urgent care, then complete and sign the online forms including uploading the physical.

Complete Clearance

Get on the School Roster

If you’re not already enrolled in 4th-period wrestling class, contact your counselor to switch.

Counselor Website

✅ Stay Connected with GroupMe

We use GroupMe to share important updates, reminders, and schedule changes.

GroupMe is a free group messaging app (available on iOS, Android, and the web) that lets us communicate quickly with everyone in the team community. And, it lets everyone communicate quickly within their group.

When you join:

Use your real first name and either your full last name or just the first initial of your last name.
Parents may also put their child’s name in parentheses.
- Example: John Smith (Ethan) or Mary S (Lucas)

Join the group below that applies to you (or both)

Parent GroupMe

For parents to get updates, connect with others, and access resources that support and build community.

Join Parent Group

Wrestler GroupMe

For wrestlers to get updates, schedules, and reminders, and to communicate with each other.

Join Wrestler Group

✅ About Us

Now that the initial paperwork is complete, let us introduce ourselves and share more about our program.

Our program is led by Head Coach Matthew Bernard, a decorated Division I NCAA athlete from Army West Point and a world-class competitor. A former member of the 2007 All Army Wrestling Team and Army officer, Coach Bernard brings over ten years of coaching experience, guiding many state placers and qualifiers.

Coach Bernard

Coach Bernard and the coaching staff welcome athletes of all levels. Our program focuses on developing champions on and off the mat by building skill, strength, character, and resilience. We are grounded in hard work, discipline, and teamwork, fostering a supportive environment for every wrestler.

To learn more about Coach Bernard, our coaching staff, our dedicated parents' club, and our program philosophy, visit our About Us page. Be sure to come back here—there’s plenty more important Getting Started information below.

✅ Get Your Gear

Make sure you have what you need.

Required:

Wrestling shoes: Mandatory
Headgear: Mandatory. Protects your ears from injury.
Mouthguard: Mandatory only if you have braces (top, bottom, or both)
Undergarments: A suitable sports bra that provides coverage and support is essential for female wrestlers.
Practice clothes: T-shirt and shorts with no zippers, pockets, or baggy fabric. Multiple sets recommended. They get very sweaty.
Running shoes: For off-mat conditioning and training.

Optional Gear:

Knee pads: Helpful for beginners experiencing knee discomfort.
Water bottle: Stay hydrated during practice and matches
Jump Rope: For warm-ups and improving footwork and agility

Please Note:

Label all your gear with your name. Our lost and found pile gets huge, and unclaimed items usually get donated.

Where to Buy:

Find everything on our team’s Amazon Wishlist or at local stores like Big 5.

✅ Hygiene & Skin Health

Wrestling is a close-contact sport—skin infections can happen. Most are just annoying, but we don’t take chances. Keep yourself healthy and protect the whole team by following these rules:

Shower Immediately – No excuses. After every practice and match, hit the showers ASAP. Soap. Warm water. Full body wash. No quick rinses. Dry off completely.
Wash Clothes Daily – Fresh gear every day. Wash after each use, dry on high heat, and keep sweaty gear away from clean stuff. Don’t let it rot in your bag or locker. Wash bedding every 1–2 weeks.
Clean Your Gear – Disinfect gear regularly—daily if possible, weekly at the latest. Wrestling shoes stay separate from clothes.
Check Your Skin – Know your body. If you spot a rash, sore, itch, or anything suspicious, tell a coach before practice.

✅ Team Policies & Expectations

We expect commitment, respect, and a positive attitude from all wrestlers. Everyone contributes - whether you're competing, practicing, or supporting teammates.

Attendance & Participation

Practice Expectations – Be on time, attend regularly, notify coaches if absent.
Unexcused Absences – Missing practices or events without a valid reason may lead to ineligibility for tournaments, required make-up training, a failing grade, or removal from the team.
Tardiness – Habitual tardiness may lead to make-up training, reduced practice time, or impact eligibility.
Notify a Coach in Advance - If you know you’ll be late or absent, let a coach know.

Academics

Grades – Strive for A’s and B’s. Yes, you can do it.
Support – Help is available if needed. Academics are before athletics. Maintain academic eligibility.

Behavior & Conduct

On and Off the Mat –You represent the team and school at all times. Show character, maturity, and respect. Make us proud.
Sportsmanship – Respect toward teammates, opponents, officials, and coaches.
Bullying/Harassment/Hazing/Stealing – Zero tolerance

Effort & Attitude

Team Mindset – Support and encourage your teammates. Be a good workout partner by providing constructive resistance—enough to challenge them without making it unrealistic or unhelpful.
Effort – Give full effort in every drill and practice. Limit unnecessary breaks and avoid repeatedly stepping away for water or unnecessary rest. You can do more than you think you can - just stay safe and check in with the coach when needed.
Stay informed – It’s your responsibility to stay up to date even if you are absent. Information is shared at practice, through GroupMe, the website, and occasionally by email or phone.

✅ Weight Certification (Start of Winter Season)

All high school wrestlers in California must complete this required certification. It determines the lowest safe weight you can compete at for the season.

We’ll complete this together as a team in early winter. There will be a primary date and one backup date.

If you miss both dates, you will not be eligible to compete.

Calendar

Check the Team Calendar for the most up-to-date practice times, tournaments, and events.

Support the Team

Your support is crucial in helping us elevate the wrestling experience for all our athletes. Every bit counts—thank you for being part of DP Wrestling!

Volunteer Opportunities

Connect with families and support the team!

Volunteer

Direct Donations

Give via cash, check, or online. Every gift helps.

Donate

Equipment

Support the team via our Amazon wish list

Buy Team Equipment

Sponsorships

Support the team and get business exposure.

Sponsor the Team

Join The Wrestling Club and Level Up Your Skills

Ready to get better, faster? Join our year-round program designed to help wrestlers sharpen their skills and become more competitive. Coached by the DPHS staff and held at the DPHS wrestling room, we welcome athletes of all ages and experience levels.

Learn More

Join Now

What’s Next?

We know that getting started with a new sport can be a lot to take in. The information above provides a solid foundation, but as the season progresses, you'll naturally have more questions. We're here to help you every step of the way.

Introduction to Wrestling

Your guide to joining the team, team culture, health, competitions, and getting involved. Each section links to a dedicated page covering key topics:

We’ll continue adding more to each section as the year unfolds.

Welcome to DPHS Wrestling - Everything you need to know for the high school team, including how to join, required gear, team policies, and schedules.
Welcome to Lab Wrestling - Your guide to the club wrestling program, including how to join, required gear, team policies, and schedules.
Weight & Health – Focuses on weight classes, weight certification, nutrition, hygiene, and keeping athletes safe.
Rules of Wrestling – An overview of the basic objective and rules.

Upcoming:

Team and Community – Team structure, communication, and connecting with families.
Building Community – Booster Club, volunteering, and fundraising.
Competitions – Formats, packing lists, what to expect, and parent etiquette.
Alumni & History – Program highlights and photo archives.
Long-Term Development – Off-season opportunities and preventing burnout.

No matter where you are in the season, this is the place to start and the place to come back to.

Introduction to Wrestling

Sneak peek of the series on the best high school dual meet in the country! Watch the full video on the Get Involved page.

Go to the Get Involved Page

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