TROY, Ala. (TROJANVISION) — Among Troy’s many intramural clubs, the Wrestling Club fits a unique spot that others don’t.

Although wrestling is generally considered a midwestern sport, this club is looking to show that wrestling truly has a spot in the south and in the Wiregrass. Head coach Nicholas Gelsosomo came to Troy after serving in the military and saw a hole he believed wrestling could fill.

“I got out of the military and wanted to go back to school, so I picked Troy,” Gelsosomo said. “I wrestled for 20 plus years and saw they didn’t have a wrestling team or wrestling club so I figured it would be cool.

“The south region of the country is kinda slowly growing to wrestling, so I just wanted to help that and start a college club team.”

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The Wrestling Club began competing in 2023 and currently practices in the Elm Street gym. Though the club may be small now, they are a tight knit group. Its members work with each other to improve their skills on the mat.

For some of the wrestlers, the club is not just about competition, but also a way to share a passion close to them with others.

“Since wrestling was a big thing for me, that’s how I got through high school,” said Marcus Holder, the vice president and secretary of the wrestling club. “That was like my way of escape.”

“I want to get more people who understand it the way I do, and I want to get them to understand it the way I do.”

The Troy wrestling club looks to compete later this year with other clubs across the country. When asked what his goals were for this upcoming season, vice president Myles Wilson has one simple answer.

“To go kick butt honestly,” Wilson said. “That’s the main point, we got Auburn, Alabama, we got some Florida teams and some Georgia teams that we’re coming up against this season.”

“Really, with wrestling, we’re ready to go out there and lay it all out on the mat.”

The wrestling club is open to people of all experience levels, backgrounds, and majors. If you want to learn more about Troy wrestling, or would like to potentially join, you can contact the club on Instagram. The Wrestling Club has not yet announced its matchups for this upcoming season, but currently have a practice schedule on its Instagram page.