Rockmart’s youth wrestling organization is gearing up for the start of its season, with its first practice scheduled for Oct. 29 in preparation for the first tournament on Nov. 24.

Eric Durocher, president of the Takedown Club, said wrestling is a great indoor winter sport that helps build self-confidence and develop character. The organization teaches “folkstyle” wrestling, with children divided into categories by age: 4 to 6, 7 and 8, 9 and 10, 11 and 12, and the oldest group, teens ages 13 and 14.

“It teaches discipline, it promotes healthier food choices and good physical health and it develops motor skills,” Durocher said. “It’s a great participation sport and it gets the kids off the computer.

“Once kids come here and try it, they fall in love with it. If we can get them here, we tend to keep them.”

The organization travels out of town on weekends to 13 tournaments during the season, which stretches from October to March. Trips are generally to other communities in the greater northwest Georgia region and around Atlanta.

Durocher said 11 Takedown Club wrestlers competed last year in the state tournament. They had finalists come in first, second, third and fourth in their divisions.

Head Coach David Duchmen is in his third year with the organization.

Sign-ups will continue through the month of October, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. each Monday, Tuesday and Thursday at the old Rockmart High School gym, now part of the Rockmart Municipal Complex, off Piedmont Avenue.