Wrestling Camp
Welcome to the Liberty University Wrestling Camp, which offers excellent instruction from experienced college and high school coaches. Plus, the Liberty Wrestling team (4-time NCWA National Champions) will be on hand to assist in training. Campers will experience dorm life on the beautiful Liberty University campus while training three times a day. Technical, tactical, and physical training will be a major part of the camp, and there will be plenty of opportunities to compete in dual format teams during breakout sessions. Improve your technical skills through basic instruction, repetitive drills, and structured training sessions. A major aspect of this camp is the integration of biblical principles into a variety of life skills. It is our desire that each camper will leave camp with not only a better grasp on their skills but also a deeper faith in their walk with Christ.
Elementary, middle, and high school overnight fees cover the 3-day camp. Camp fees also cover entry into the annual Virginia Commonwealth Games wrestling events on July 16, 2025 ($40 value).
Camp Includes the following
- Low coach-to-athlete ratio
- One-on-one instruction & training
- Higher-level training with college wrestlers
- Extracurricular activities (swimming/games)
- College and high school-level coaching staff
- Daily devotional
Overnight campers receive dinner on Sunday, all 3 meals Monday-Tuesday, and breakfast on Wednesday. Commuter campers will receive dinner on Sunday as well as lunch and dinner on Monday and Tuesday.
Accommodations
Overnight campers (elementary, middle school, and high school) will stay in the residence halls with staff and camp counselors.
Each wrestler should come prepared with the following items:
- Running shoes
- Plenty of workout clothes
- Towel and toiletries
- Sheets, blankets, pillow
- Extra cash in case he/she wants a snack on campus
No camper driving to the camp will be allowed to drive off campus without permission from the camp administration. Transportation to and from camp will be the responsibility of each camper except in the case of those flying into Lynchburg. In that case, prior arrangements for pickup and drop-off times from the airport must be made.
(Coaches are welcome to attend and stay in dorms. The fee is $150 and includes housing, dinner on Sunday, all 3 meals Monday and Tuesday, as well as breakfast on Wednesday. Please register at the link below!)
Coaching Staff
Head Coach Jesse Castro
Coach Castro is used to setting precedents. He graduated from Liberty as the first wrestler to win over 100 career matches among NCAA DI, DII, and DIII, NAIA, and NCCAA competition. He became the first NAIA All-American and the first 5x NCCAA national champion in the history of the division. He has coached on virtually every level and is a member of 4 halls of fame, including the national coaches’ hall of fame in Stillwater, Okla. He was the National Coach of the Year in 2020 for the NCWA, where his teams have won 6 National Dual titles and 5 Grand National titles.
Chris Williamson
Williamson is the Head Coach at Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Mich. He was hired as the programs’ inaugural coach following 5 years as an assistant coach at Liberty. He has engendered the support of the university through raising money for a new training facility as well as recruiting a strong incoming class. As an athlete, Williamson Competed at Messiah University in Pennsylvania from 2011-15. He was a three-year starter and team captain, earning Academic All-American, and was a part of a sixth and third-place team finish at the NCAA DIII National Tournament.
Josh McIlhenny
Assistant Coach McIlhenny started his career with the Flames as a wrestler, competing for the team for 4 years. He served as a captain for 2 of those years and helped lead the team to 4 National Dual titles and 3 Grand National titles. He achieved All-American honors twice — his junior and senior year.
Charisse McIlhenny
Women’s Coach McIlhenny has served as Liberty Women’s coach for the past 6 seasons (2018-2024). As an athlete for Liberty University from 2018-2020, she achieved All-American honors for both of her competitive seasons. In 2019, McIlhenny earned the NCWA National Championship title at 143 lbs. McIlhenny has built the women’s program from the ground up and has been influential in developing and promoting women’s wrestling in Virginia.
Cendall Murphy
Assistant Coach Murphy has served alongside her sister, Coach McIhenny, for the past 6 seasons. Murphy made history by being the first female wrestler to compete for Liberty University in 2016. During her competitive seasons, Murphy became a 4x NCWA National Champion (2016-2020). Murphy was instrumental in starting the women’s program at Liberty and she continues to be influential in training competitive female athletes.
Camp Details
July 13-July 16, 2025
(Ages 8-19)
Commuters – $320
Overnight Campers – $415
Overnight Coaches – $150
10am Check-In will be at the Commons Residence Hall
Registration opens on January 15, 2025, at 8:00am
Camp Contact
Please email questions to:
wrestlingcamps@liberty.edu
Discounts
Early Bird
– Register by March 1: $40 off
– Register by April 1: $30 off
– Register by May 1: $20 off
Sibling Discount
$25 discount per registered sibling
Team Discount
$10 discount per player (5 or more players from the same team). A team coach, manager, or parent must email wrestlingcamps@liberty.edu to serve as their team liaison.
“I know that it can be concerning to send your son or daughter into an unfamiliar environment overnight. Hopefully, this will ease your mind. Unlike some camps that I have taken teams to in the years past, which offer much free time and limited mat time for your money, the Liberty camp keeps the wrestlers occupied for most of the day, from 7 a.m.-9 p.m.
In addition, the atmosphere that is created by the spiritual emphasis is both encouraging and challenging to any young man or woman involved in the sport. The staff and college counselors set the example with the intention of reinforcing the values and standards of the university.” – Jeff Lester, Wrestling Coach // Shady Springs High School, WV
New Refund Policy: There is a 4.5% processing fee for all refunds. That said, only 95.5% of the registration fee that was paid will be refunded. Please allow 7-10 business days for refunds to be returned to your card. All refund requests must be submitted 1 week prior to the start of your camper’s first camp.