If you are new to wrestling, you have probably heard terms like folkstyle, freestyle, and Greco-Roman and wondered what they actually mean. This guide gives you a clear, simple answer, plus how each style works and why it matters for your season.

At CMP Sportswear, we build wrestling uniforms for folkstyle, freestyle, and Greco-Roman programs across the country. We work with coaches and wrestling families every season, so we know this sport from the mat up.

Quick Answer: What Style Is High School Wrestling?

Short on time? Here is the fast version.

Now let’s break down what that actually means.

High School Wrestling Uses Folkstyle

High school wrestling in the United States uses a style called folkstyle. It is also called collegiate wrestling, since it is the same style used in college too.

Folkstyle grew out of old American folk wrestling traditions, which is where the name comes from. It is the style most kids learn first, whether they start in a youth club, a middle school program, or their first year of high school.

What Makes Folkstyle Different

Folkstyle is all about control. A wrestler does not just try to score points. They try to control their opponent and stay in charge of the match.

Every folkstyle match happens in one of three positions:

• Neutral: both wrestlers are on their feet, and either one can score a takedown.
• Top position: one wrestler is in control on top, working to turn their opponent for back points or a pin.
• Bottom position: the other wrestler is underneath, trying to escape or reverse the position.

Wrestlers score points mainly through takedowns, escapes, reversals, and near falls, which is when a wrestler almost gets their opponent’s back flat on the mat. If a wrestler pins their opponent’s shoulders to the mat, the match ends right there with a win.

How a High School Match Works

A high school match has three two-minute periods. Both wrestlers start the first period on their feet in the neutral position. Before the second and third periods, wrestlers get to choose their starting position, either on top, on the bottom, or neutral.

A wrestler can win a match a few different ways:

• By pin, which ends the match instantly
• By scoring more points than their opponent
• By their opponent breaking the rules too many times

If the score is tied when time runs out, the match goes into a short overtime period until someone scores.

Folkstyle vs Freestyle: What Is the Difference?

Freestyle is one of the two wrestling styles used in the Olympics, along with Greco-Roman. Most wrestlers try freestyle after their folkstyle season ends, and many keep wrestling it through college and beyond.

Freestyle plays out differently on the mat:

• There is no riding time, so control matters less than it does in folkstyle.
• Points come from exposing an opponent’s back to the mat, even without a pin.
• Wrestlers can score from the bottom position too, not just the top.
• Locked hands are allowed, which folk style does not allow.

Freestyle rewards fast, aggressive action. It is also the main style used in women’s wrestling competitions, so a lot of young female wrestlers end up learning freestyle earlier than boys typically do.

Folkstyle vs. Greco-Roman: What Is the Difference?

Greco-Roman is the other Olympic style, and it has one big rule that changes everything: no attacks below the waist. That means no leg takedowns at all.

Instead, Greco-Roman wrestlers rely on:

• Upper body throws and lifts
• Clinch work and locks
• Balance and grip strength, since every score starts from the upper body

Big, dramatic throws can score major points in Greco-Roman, which makes it a very different sport to watch and wrestle compared to folkstyle.

Why Folkstyle Is Where Most Wrestlers Start

Folkstyle builds the basics every wrestler needs, like discipline, positional control, and mental toughness. Since it is the standard style in American schools, it gives young wrestlers a shared foundation before they branch out into other styles.

Many wrestlers who compete in club programs alongside school stay busy with all three styles throughout the year, folkstyle during the school season, and freestyle or Greco-Roman once that season wraps up.

Should High School Wrestlers Learn Freestyle and Greco-Roman Too?

A lot of coaches recommend it, and there are real reasons why.

• A broader skill set: freestyle sharpens fast attacks and transitions, while Greco builds powerful throws and clinch control.
• Better adaptability: wrestling different scoring systems improves overall mat awareness.
• A competitive edge: wrestlers who compete in multiple styles tend to develop faster, with better agility and technique.
• College preparation: many college programs lean heavily on freestyle, so early exposure helps down the road.

Folkstyle will always be the foundation for high school wrestling. But cross-training in the off-season is one of the best ways to become a more complete athlete.

Style Comparison at a Glance

Common Questions Wrestlers and Parents Ask

Custom Gear for Every Style of Wrestling

Whether your team wrestles folkstyle, freestyle, or Greco-Roman, the right gear makes a real difference. At CMP Sportswear, we build custom wrestling singlets, compression gear, and team warmups made for every style and every season.

You can add your team name, logo, and colors to any piece. We offer screen printing for bold logos, sublimation for full color designs, and embroidery for a clean, durable finish, so your team looks sharp no matter which style they wrestle.

Ready to Gear Up?

Understanding the style of wrestling your team competes in is the first step. The right uniform is the next one. Folkstyle is where most high school wrestlers build their foundation, and the right gear helps them compete with confidence from day one.

If you are outfitting a team this season, CMP Sportswear can build custom wrestling gear made for every style, from folkstyle to freestyle to Greco-Roman. Get your custom quote today and gear up your team the right way.