Rising Above Wrestling

04/10/2026

VENI
VIDI
VICI
- Caesar

🚨 BREAKING NEWS 🚨

The City of Rochester is officially joining the Greater Rochester Youth Wrestling League for the 2027 season.

Through the Rising Above Wrestling (RAW) program, the City of Rochester will now have its own team competing within the GRYWL, marking a major step forward for youth wrestling in our region.

Rising Above Wrestling (RAW) is a non-for-profit program dedicated to growing the sport of wrestling among Rochester city youth.

This has been a long time coming.

The GRYWL is proud to finally welcome a City of Rochester youth wrestling team into the league, expanding both our reach and our mission.

With this addition, the league now anticipates 21 clubs competing in the 2027 season, continuing to solidify GRYWL as one of the premier development-focused youth wrestling leagues in the country.

This is more than expansion.
This is impact.
This is growth.

Welcome to the league, Rochester. 🟣⚫️

04/08/2026

JOIN THE RAW JOURNEY!

Join us for an exciting FREE Youth Wrestling Program for ages 8–15! This is a great opportunity for participants of all skill levels to learn the fundamentals of wrestling, build confidence, and have fun in a supportive and encouraging environment.

03/28/2026

https://rawroc.com/free-youth-wrestling-rochester-donations/

Rising Above Wrestling offers free youth wrestling in Rochester NY for inner-city kids. Learn why donations and community support keep the program growing.

03/27/2026

03/21/2026

RAW Practice This Week
Tuesday & Thursday 6-7:30pm

03/21/2026

Rising Above Wrestling (RAW Rochester) is proud to announce Frankie Gissendanner as Head Coach.

A true product of the City of Rochester, Frankie was born and raised in Rochester and remains deeply rooted in the same community he now steps forward to serve.

Frankie is one of the most decorated wrestlers to come out of Rochester in recent history.

Six-time Section V Champion
Six-time New York State Qualifier
Five-time New York State place winner
Four-time New York State Champion
2016 Cadet Fargo National Champion

Following his dominant high school career, Frankie continued his journey at Rider University before transferring to Niagara County Community College, where he became a two-time All-American. He later earned his bachelor’s degree from the University at Buffalo.

But what makes this moment matter isn’t just the accolades, it’s the full-circle impact.

“I’m proud to be in a position to give back to the same city and community that raised me,” Gissendanner said. “Wrestling gave me discipline, direction, and opportunity. Now it’s my turn to pass that on to the next generation.”

As Head Coach of Rising Above Wrestling, Frankie will lead the development of our student-athletes both on and off the mat, instilling discipline, accountability, and confidence in youth across the City of Rochester.

This is exactly what RAW is about.
Not just building wrestlers:
building stronger young men and women, right here in our city.

To support Rising Above Wrestling visit https://rawroc.com/donate/

03/16/2026

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/rising-above-wrestling-raw-rochester_rising-above-wrestling-earns-501c3-status-activity-7426090133994643456-EMLQ?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAEv4hioBxYKlXCNjD4Uwq9vkuyF1NzscEEw

Rising Above Wrestling is now a 501(c)(3), enabling sustainable funding, partnerships, and expanded youth programming. Read the full update to learn what’s next. https://lnkd.in/gTpJ-ZsR

03/04/2026

Rising Above Wrestling, Rochester Wrestling

01/12/2026

01/12/2026

Good Luck to Carter Schubert and the Oklahoma Wrestling, as they take on The Cowboys of Oklahoma State, Carter was very generous with our RAW Wrestlers this past winter break coming in and working with us!!

It's Bedlam time in Oklahoma.

🆚 | No. 5 Oklahoma State
⏰ | 5 PM CT
🏟️ | Gallagher-Iba Arena
📺 | ESPN+
📊 | bit.ly/4szCTh7

01/12/2026

Good Luck to Carter Schubert and the Oklahoma Wrestling, as they take on The Cowboys of Oklahoma State, Carter was very generous with our RAW Wrestlers this past winter break coming in and working with us!!