Stephen Kolokithas

Stephen Kolokithas began wrestling as a freshman in high school with no previous wrestling experience and no family wrestling legacy.

One of his favorite stories to tell new wrestlers is that he actually tripped over the mat the first time he stepped onto it.

Once he started wrestling, however, he was hooked.

His freshman season ended with a 1–7 record—just enough to earn his varsity letter.

By his senior year, Stephen had transformed into a 46–4 wrestler. He entered the postseason undefeated. All four of his losses that season occurred during the road to and at the state tournament:

He finished his senior season 46–4 and qualified for the Michigan state tournament at 152 pounds.

His wrestling career continued into freestyle, where he won a Michigan freestyle state championship at 152 pounds and represented Team Michigan at nationals.

Stephen was later recruited to wrestle at Knox College. He competed at 157 pounds and finished his freshman collegiate season with a 14–7 record.

Stephen has been involved with coaching on and off since 2007.

He has remained connected to Chelsea wrestling, including helping with high school wrestlers.

He has also coached youth basketball, football, and baseball. Those experiences helped shape his belief that youth sports should focus on development rather than simply putting the “best” players on the field.

Wrestling is an individual sport with a strong team component, and Stephen is excited to help young wrestlers develop both individually and as teammates.

Stephen believes every child deserves an opportunity to find their own connection to wrestling.

For some children, that may eventually mean competing at a high level. For others, wrestling may be a place to have fun, burn some energy, make friends, become more confident, and learn something new. Both belong in the program.

A loss does not necessarily mean failure. Instead, it gives the wrestler and coach something to work toward.

If athletes consistently put in the work, winning can become a result of that work.

Stephen also believes no two children learn exactly the same way. Part of coaching is discovering how each wrestler connects with the sport and helping that child develop from there.

Youth wrestling should help develop:

At this age, Stephen believes wrestling should include plenty of fun and exploration rather than being overly strict or focused entirely on competition.

Stephen wants first-year wrestlers and their parents to know that they are in good hands. Children will be given the fundamentals and will not be pushed into competition before they are ready.

The goal is to progressively build their skills, comfort, confidence, and understanding of wrestling so they can move to the next level when they are ready.

For Stephen, “Building Bulldogs From the Mat Up” is quite literal. Every wrestler has a first step onto the mat.

Chelsea Wrestling Club should be the place where children can take that first step, learn the fundamentals, have fun, and build a foundation strong enough to take them wherever they want to go next.

Stephen believes this is where Chelsea Bulldog Wrestling begins. The foundation of these young wrestlers needs to be strong. By building that foundation at the youngest levels, these wrestlers can eventually grow beyond limits they may not even realize they have.

Stephen and his wife, Katie, are raising their three children: Jacob, Anna, and Lee.

His youngest, Lee, is in Young 5s and has plenty of energy, making wrestling a natural fit and giving Stephen another personal reason to help build a youth wrestling program families want to be part of.

Outside wrestling, Stephen is the owner and custom jeweler behind Jewelry Set in Stone, a Chelsea business he founded in 2015. His professional career has centered around working closely with people to turn ideas into something tangible through custom design.

In a different way, that reflects his approach to coaching: listen to the individual, understand where they are starting, build a strong foundation, and help them develop from there.

Years from now, Stephen does not necessarily need a former wrestler to remember how many matches they won. He would rather have them remember:

Even if that wrestler eventually chooses another sport, Stephen hopes wrestling helped build the confidence, discipline, toughness, and belief in themselves that made them a stronger athlete and person.