Noroton Wrestling brings skill-building, structure, and community to fill a major gap in local wrestling.
Norwalk, CT — April 9, 2025 — Bobby Valentine’s Sports Academy (BVSA) proudly welcomes Noroton Wrestling, a nonprofit organization founded by Bill & Cliff to expand the community of youth athletes with year-round training.
Noroton Wrestling was established due to a noticeable fall in local wrestling programs following the COVID-19 pandemic. “There were few wrestling clubs left in Lower Fairfield County, specifically Darien, Norwalk, and Stamford”, said Cliff. “We wanted to create a facility where kids could get training all year and truly be part of a wrestling club.”
As business owners and parents to young wrestlers, Bill and Cliff bring their passion to their mission. Bill developed an interest in wrestling during high school in New Jersey. Cliff’s interest in the sport grew through his sons, Lincoln and Christian, and he quickly saw wrestling’s value beyond competition.
Noroton Wrestling is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that promotes wrestling in Southwestern Connecticut. They cater to kids from second grade through high school. Their program is unique due to its location and age-specific programs, including:
- A Kids Program (ages 4–7)
- Elementary school program for kids up to 5th grade
- Middle and High School training
- Options for beginners through advanced athletes
During the season, they focus on folkstyle wrestling, and in the spring season, they offer freestyle, Greco-Roman, and folkstyle. Their training includes three weekly practices (90 minutes each), seasonal clinics, and private coaching. This summer, they will host their first set of clinics featuring top clinicians and dedicated sessions for the women’s wrestling community.
“We hope to provide more kids with access to the sport, especially during the off-season,” said Bill. “That’s when strength, confidence, and real progress happen.”
Partnering with Bobby Valentine’s Sports Academy (BVSA) provides a big boost by offering amenities, including a front desk, shared resources, a cafe and a massive sports community. It’s a great addition to the building filling the vacancy of the Instant Replay Sporting Goods store front.
“We are thrilled to have Noroton Wrestling join us in our efforts to develop young athletes.. Our experience with Cliff, Bill and team over the last few months has been fantastic. From day one, they’ve demonstrated exceptional organization, professionalism, and a strong commitment to developing athletes.. Their practices are well-structured, their coaches deeply engaged, and the energy they bring to the facility is contagious. We’re proud to support their continued growth and to have them as part of our athletic community.” – Frank Ramppen, Managing Partner of BVSA.
The Noroton Wrestling program is further supported by Evolution Physical Therapy & Fitness, which operates on-site and specializes in working with athletes. Evolution offers expert-led strength training, injury prevention, and recovery services, giving wrestlers access to the same performance-focused care used by top-level competitors.
Looking forward, Noroton Wrestling is preparing to launch its first summer clinic series, with high-profile clinicians who have marquee names. They also hope to have more summer clinics for women’s wrestling, which is in high demand.
To learn more about Noroton Wrestling, visit https://www.norotonwrestling.com/ or reach out via email (info@norotonwrestling.com).