On November 4, Rollins will compete against some of the nation's top wrestlers at the Real Pro Wrestling Northern Region Qualifier in Mt. Vernon, Iowa. He will be vying for a spot on one of league's eight teams –- the California Claw, Chicago Groove, Iowa Stalkers, Minnesota Freeze, New York Outrage, Oklahoma Slam, Pennsylvania Hammer and the Texas Shooters.
Launched in 2005, Real Pro Wrestling is a new professional league of sport wrestling, similar to the amateur wrestling found in the Olympic Games and at the college and high school level.
Though it is considered a "professional" league because its members are paid, RPW isn't the same as traditional professional wrestling leagues like the WWE, which feature predetermined outcomes and operate under a different set of rules from amateur wrestling.
RPW features a hybrid style of wrestling that combines the classic styles of Greco-Roman and Freestyle, the two Olympic sanctioned sports, along with elements of college and Sumo wrestling. Some of the rules have been modified to make the action more intense. Among the most noticeable changes are the following:
• Two three-minute periods instead of three periods totaling seven minutes;
• If a wrestler pushes his opponent out of the ring he gets a point;
• The Bonus -- if a wrestler manages to stay in the center of the mat and stay aggressive, their bonus meter will go up. If they get the bonus, they get to go into a special position in which they can't lose any points and can gain points by throwing their opponents.
Another unique aspect of RPW is that the matches are conducted in a specially designed coliseum which showcases a raised circular mat to facilitate better camera angles and to afford the live audience a better viewing experience. The circular mat allows for 360-degree camera angles. Matches are recorded and later broadcast in prime time on PAX TV and Fox Sports Net.
Now starting its second season, RPW contacted wrestling programs throughout the country this summer in search of wrestlers to compete in four regional contests. The winners of these contests will go on to compete in super-regionals matches on January 7 in California
When RPW representatives contacted Dana Head Wrestling Coach Rich Fergola, he gave them several names of Dana wrestlers he believed had the talent and skill to compete in the Northern Region Qualifier. An RPW representative conducted phone interviews with each of the wrestlers, and ultimately selected Rollins.
"I'm always looking for ways to promote Dana wrestling and get more guys involved in freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling, and I thought this would be a great opportunity for both Jimmy and Dana's wrestling program," Fergola said. "Jimmy is a student coach for us, and he did very well for us as an athlete. This is an opportunity for him to elevate his level of competition, and at the same time bring a lot of attention to our program."
Since being notified of his selection to compete in the regional competition, Rollins has been rigorously training to compete against other world-class wrestlers like Luke Eustice, Nate Gallick, Shawn Bunch, Dylan Long, Mark Rial, Ryan Churrella, Kyle Ceminara, Greg Wagner and Mike Faust.
"The main challenge for me has been learning the rules of RPW since they are so different," he said. "I dabbled with freestyle and Greco-Roman before, but haven't competed in it since high school. I've been working to get my styles back and re-learn some of that stuff."
Current and former Dana wrestlers and Dana's wrestling coaches have been instrumental in the training process, he said.
Of his plan of attack, Rollins said: "I've got to stay with some of the bread-and-butter stuff that I've always used and try to pick up some new stuff here and there by watching other current wrestlers."
Though he's likely to face some of the toughest competition of his wrestling career at the RPW regional, Rollins said he looks forward to the challenge and to the chance to return to the mat.
"I'm nervous, but I'm excited too about being able to strap it up again and go out there and wrestle," he said. "I'm just going to train as hard as I can, get as prepared as I can, and go out there and let the chips fall where they may."
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