New Wrestling Facility Opens in Roswell

After nearly a decade of fund raising, Roswell Hornet wrestlers will now have more space to train since their new 7,000 square foot wrestling facility officially opened during mid-November.

The “Under Ground,” located at 925 Woodstock Road, Suite 102-B, is a dream come true for many local athletes.

Having grown at every level for many years, it was clear the 1,200 square foot mat room at was no longer enough space to accomodate the over 150 wrestlers in the program.

Rather than to turn away wrestlers, commercial spaces were found in the basement below the Sports Fitness Experience (SFX) fitness center. The build out of the new facility was finally completed early this November, just in time for the start of the 2011-2012 wrestling season. 

The Under Ground is now the largest non-profit youth wrestling facility in Fulton County. 

Funds for the facility were raised by the wrestlers, parents and boosters over the nearly a decade via fundraising events. One of the program's largest events is the annual Roswell Hornets Folkstyle Classic Tournament, a Team Georgia/USA wrestling sanctioned event which draws in over 750 elementary and middle school wrestlers from all over Georgia and surrounding states.

Roswell's wrestling program is completely non-profit and run entirely by volunteers, with the exception of the high school coaches. The program encompasses the elementary, middle school and high school programs and trains wrestlers (boys and girls) from the age of six all the way through high school in the folk style or “collegiate” style of wrestling.

State Senator John Albers and Roswell Mayor, Jere Wood; Roswell High School Principal Jerome Huff; High School Head Coach Evan Goff; Middle School Head Coach and 2011 National Wrestling Hall of Fame inductee Randy Faires; Former Roswell High School Coach Wayne Smith and Roswell High School wrestling alumni were present for the grand opening on Nov. 19.