Hillside wrestling. What was it like? Share your experience down below with pics,videos and stories

PUNCHED AND PINNED (1)

10/06/2022 12:18 PM

Really like some info / history on this event. Sounds like it was a great time,and an annual thing, but many of us never knew it happened. Like to know where, when, how it was conducted, etc. Thank, is it planned again?

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JasonFL (21)

10/06/2022 10:31 PM

(In reply to this)

Hillside Wrestling Weekend was arguably the biggest and longest-running of all the various national Wrestling Weekends; it was held every year in July from 1994 to 2011, (not held in 2012-2014), and again in 2015 and 2016. I think there was an attempt to have it in 2017 as well. The wrestling weekends drew large turnouts from all over the USA, Mexico, Canada, and Europe, with mat areas for different styles of wrestling (freestyle, submission, oil), and also a pro ring. The freestyle mat had classes available for those interested and a freestyle tournament; the pro guys would put on a show Saturday night.

The Hillside campground is a 235+ acre campground for men located in the Endless Mountains region of Pennsylvania, between Scranton, PA and Binghamton, NY. Most wrestlers camped in their own tent near the regulation mats on site; for those without a tent, limited space was available to sleep on the main mats under the big tent after wrestling was concluded, and sometimes there were a few tents available on a first-come-first-served basis. There were some hotels/motels a short drive away as well.

The camp fee was reasonable and included meals; although it was called a “weekend”, some guys actually arrived as early as Wednesday and wrestled all five days (and nights). The “structure” was catch-as-catch-can (pun intended), with guys arriving and leaving on different days and at different times; it was up to a guy to ask (or challenge) someone else to a match.

In addition to wrestling, activities at the campground included swimming, volleyball, hiking, evening campfires, and disco for those wishing to shake their groove thing. There was also a talent show which allowed combatants to show off their other talents. For instance, in 2004, the pro show began not with the national anthem, but with one of the pro wrestlers attending the weekend starting the show with an acapella rendition of “Summertime” from Porgy and Bess!

{I am indebted to Nick Z for his historical chronicles of Hillside. Any errors are mine alone.}

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PUNCHED AND PINNED (1)

10/07/2022 3:03 AM

(In reply to this)

WOW !!!! What caused it's demise? Sounds like it was a HELL OF A TIME!!!

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WrslrJim (12)

10/12/2022 7:34 PM

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It took a lot to organize. The location is remote so a lot fell on to Bob and his partner to organize. There were tents (not the camping kind but for the mats), mats, food, drink, and all the other logistics that needed to be figured out. Of course, there were always some that weren’t happy but that’s what happens with a big event. The last of my 3 times going was 2010. I flew in from the west coast and it rained almost all weekend. Since I had a rental car, I ditched and visited my family 2 hours away.

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JasonFL (21)

10/13/2022 12:47 AM

(In reply to this)

Rain was always a part of the weekend!

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WrslrJim (12)

10/14/2022 4:32 AM

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Very true but 2010 was torrential and it was starting to be a bit too much for me.

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NHBFighter (12)

10/02/2022 1:55 PM

Great time. Wonderful friends. Guys were fun to wrestle, or just to hang out with. Lots of laughs!

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GrapplingHB (320 )

9/27/2022 7:03 PM

I’ve been there 2009, it was great

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Bigchest (2)

9/27/2022 3:09 PM

Hello any links for the videos from it

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NJWoodbridge (140)

9/23/2022 7:29 PM

Harvey, NickZ has a website with a lot of photos:

http://palaestra.us.com/index.html

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Italwrestler (71)

9/23/2022 3:34 PM

I went to Hillside for a day, only once many years ago when I was still married. I had an awesome time and wrestled with some great guys who I still consider my friends! The set up was awesome and Bob Sayers did an excellent job of organizing this event for many years. He and I had wrestled at his place prior to the event, and he encouraged me to attend, which I did. I forget what excuse I used to attend but I was so happy that I did! That day will always be a meaningful day as I realized that there were many men who had the same love of wresting that I do! I am sad to hear that it no longer is happening but realize the great effort it took to organize this yearly event! I don't have any pics from that day but remember my matches vididly!

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bobster (30)

9/23/2022 4:23 AM

All my pics of Hillside are on some drive somewhere. Other than that I truly miss the whole set up. From the freestyle, the instruction, the friendship, the pro match Sat night, the whole camping aspect of it and the food was AWESOME. Bob did a fantastic job of setting it all up, I also have to give a shout out to Andy, Bob's partner, for putting up with all of it.
It was a 2 day drive for me to get there and every mile was worth it. I looked forward to the matches and just getting to meet great new buddies. I really can't say enough positive comments on it.

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Harvey Dale (5 )

9/23/2022 5:29 AM

(In reply to this)

Oh thats super cool! I would love to see your pictures. it sounds like a fun time

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joeytheslayer (40 )

9/23/2022 3:37 AM

Hillside was fun. I went in 2010. It’s actually only about 40-45 minutes from my house so I used to go up for the other weekends they had too. Met some cool wrestlers that week I was there for the wrestling event

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Harvey Dale (5 )

9/23/2022 12:02 AM

So as the title goes share how your experience was during the earlier years or later years. A personal favorite match that I found was this. If you know how this match played out and if there's a video out there let me know! Happy discussion y'all! Please log in to view gallery photos.

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