St. Johns Country Day School opened a dedicated wrestling training center on Thursday, Oct. 29, giving the Orange Park school's wrestling program a permanent home.

The facility, called the Agoge Training Center, sits adjacent to the Brown Gym. It was converted from a physical education coaches' office area, as first reported by Clay Today. The finished space holds two wrestling mats, wall mats to protect wrestlers from concrete, lockers and observation areas.

Wrestling head coach Hunter Hill said an anonymous donation gave the program its start. Additional fundraising covered mats, signs, lockers and other equipment. Rebuilding began in April.

Hill, a former Clay High assistant, said the name ties to the school's Spartan identity. "Agoge" refers to the ancient Greek training system in Sparta. "Arete," displayed on the opposite wall, is a Greek-linked term that Hill described as symbolizing achieving at the highest level.

The program has already produced results on the mat. Seventh-grader Bryce Fiore finished the 2025-26 season 38-0 and won the 2026 FHSAA Class 1A 113-pound state championship, according to News4JAX. He also became the first seventh-grader to win an FHSAA wrestling state title, according to the school's announcement. Teammate Colt Hill placed third in the Class 1A 285-pound weight class.

Hill said the state title and several wrestlers reaching regionals and state helped build momentum with the school's administration. He described the program growing from an elementary-school class to attracting high schoolers.

Athletic director John Dwyer credited Hill's energy for the administration's investment in wrestling. Dwyer, who spent four years at St. Johns Country Day before starting as athletic director, said there was no question Hill could make an impact quickly.

Wrestling joins soccer, baseball, weightlifting and track among sports that have produced state championships at St. Johns Country Day.