Cardinals Wrestling Club was founded in 2022 by Head Coach Michael Metzroth, who wanted to create a local opportunity for his children—and others in Pleasant Plains—to experience the sport of wrestling. What started as one parent’s vision quickly grew into a shared mission, with several local families eager to get involved. A handful of parents with wrestling backgrounds stepped up as volunteer coaches, and the foundation of the club was laid.
Of course, while Mike may have founded the club, everyone on the team knows that his wife, Jenny Metzroth, is the one who really keeps things running. Now a certified coach and the club’s resident wrestling mom, Jenny has become the heart of the program—organizing, encouraging, and supporting wrestlers and families at every step.
With early support from Mike’s former high school coach Bob Nesbitt, and a generous donation from Prairie State Armory LLC that allowed us to purchase mats from Sparta Youth Wrestling Club, the team held its first practices in the gym loft at Pleasant Plains High School. Special thanks also goes to PORTA High School Wrestling Coach Jeff Hill, whose guidance and donation helped us get off the ground.
In just three years, the club has grown from under 30 wrestlers to nearly 60, making Cardinals Wrestling Club one of the largest youth wrestling programs in downstate Illinois. Our coaching staff has grown to nearly 13, including several female coaches, and we’ve seen tremendous growth in the number of girls participating in wrestling—mirroring the surge in female wrestling participation nationwide.
We’re proud of how far we’ve come and even more excited about where we’re going.
For more team history, milestones, and memories, visit our Facebook page: facebook.com/cardinalswrestlingclub
Welcome to Cardinals Wrestling Club, Inc. 