Joe Kania is on a mission to vary the way in which the general public perceives the game of wrestling.

Kania, a New Jersey native who wrestled at Bergen Catholic and Westfield excessive colleges within the late 2000s, created Fantasy Struggle League in 2020 as a option to get extra followers into the game. The web site works equally to every day fantasy sports activities video games for extra mainstream sports activities like soccer and basketball. 

“I’m a wrestling fan and comply with the game on all ranges, however there’s a fanbase on the market that doesn’t know a lot concerning the particular person wrestlers or the groups they compete for,” mentioned Kania, who now lives in Texas. “By introducing a fantasy or digital idea of the game, followers have the flexibility to be engaged and comply with alongside.”

FFL members pay a month-to-month subscription charge of $5. A leaderboard is up to date in real-time, and prizes are awarded to the leaders on a month-to-month foundation.

Winners do not obtain financial payouts, however this month’s prizes embody tickets to the NCAA Wrestling Championships, wrestling sneakers, trainers, a one-year paid subscription, and an autograph from wrestling legend Dan Gable.

“The most important battle was the monetary construction and the income mannequin,” Kania mentioned. “As soon as I figured that out, the remaining began to return collectively. I modified the subscription charge in July and I’ve teamed up with some nice sponsors and advertising and marketing companions that help with the prizes.”

Westfield's Joe Kania, in blue, goes up against Piscataway's Jeramie Powell during a 285-pound wrestling match at Westfield High School on Monday, February 9, 2009.

Kania spent 5 years working in media relations for the New York Giants and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. On the similar time, he began a weblog referred to as “Backyard State Wrestling.”

He later relocated to Texas and spent three years working on the FloWrestling division of FloSports, a subscription video streaming service.

“I discovered loads about net design and operations whereas working at FloWrestling,” mentioned Kania, who designed each the back and front finish of the FFL web site. “The important thing was to create one thing that was much less of a dedication than fantasy soccer, however nonetheless had the flexibility to hit the target market and wrestling fan base.”

The most well-liked competitors on FFL proper now’s faculty wrestling. For these competitions, FFL gamers decide 5 wrestlers for choose twin meets and three wrestlers for choose tournaments. 

“I’ll roll out nationwide highschool matchups and choices as they’re introduced, particularly for the big-name tournaments and twin matches,” Kania mentioned. “There’s principally some wrestling competitors occurring all year long, so it’s greater than only a seasonal idea.”

Kania mentioned the positioning is already worthwhile. 

“New members are always being added,” he mentioned. “I prefer to suppose that Fantasy Struggle League is simply one other option to make wrestling cool.”

Nick Gantaifis is a highschool sports activities reporter for NorthJersey.com. For full entry to dwell scores, breaking information and evaluation from our Varsity Aces group, subscribe at present. To get breaking information on to your inbox, join our e-newsletter and obtain our app. 

Electronic mail: [email protected] 

Twitter: @ngantaifis1 

Source: Asbury Park

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