There is a proposal to drop Wrestling at Wamego High School. There is a public meeting Tuesday March 23rd at 6:00pm. Please send me a pm or e-mail. For any suggestions. They can talk about budget cuts all they want but I really don't think it is about that. Rather you like me or not we can not loose wrestling programs. We have money in our wrestling fund and I am willing to forfeit my coaching salary to keep this sport here.

Kevin Cathcart
Head Wrestling Coach
Wamego High School
801 N. Lincoln
Wamego, KS 66547
Cathcartk@usd320.com
(785) 213-6969

If it isn't about money, what is the reason?

I have given the AD proposals to eliminate cost.

Kevin: you need to organize your Parent wrestling club and see if they will be a voice for you. If it is a personnel issue between Coaching staff and Administration you may have some diffculty. If this is open to the Public then I can see several Parents,Community Folks and yourself speaking about saving the wrestling program. I know your XC program is a top three in the State every year and I don't think they will cut XC?. The administration has to have several reasons to cut the program. I am sure they gave you the rationale. It will do you no good to get angry and upset. Local People solve Local Problems. I am sure you will get some good suggestions. I am in meetings in Topeka the next two days and will be willing to adjust my schedule to come over and speak to the administration on behalf of the Wamego wrestling program. I spoke years ago to the DeSoto School Board of Education and the local club was able to save the High School wrestling program. I don't think the Administration will want to hear from me or anyone else that is not from Wamego. But I am willing to give my time for this cause. RMG

When I went through this issue with our school(Republic County) last year we organised as a group an went to the board meeting, I told them that wrestling parents are very loyal to the sport and in our case there was 6-7 students that would move out of district if the program was cut so the school would actually lose money by cutting the program.
Adam Polasnky
Republic County High School

Any update on how this went?

They haven't decided anything yet. Our biggest cost has been the buses, I told the Administration we need to take Vans instead. The Superintendent went through a lot of ideas for cuts. Three sports were on the list, Tennis, Golf, and Wrestling. There is another Board meeting Monday March 29th at 6:00pm at Wamego Middle School where I should have an opportunity to speak. I want to especially thank Coach Gonzales for calling and speaking to the Superintendent and pledging Money from his own program to help save ours. You can get on USD 320's website and see a breakdown of the list. http://www.usd320.k12.ks.us/About/Strate...mmendations.pdf

Typically these types of decisions are decided before a board meeting ever begins. I would encourage you and the other partrons of the district to start calling board members individually and making your feelings known. Start a petition as well for those that would not otherwise call or cannot be at the board meeting to show support.

I know that it can take a lot of support to keep a program growing.
In Holton this past Jr High Wrestling season , the Parents and Grand Parents fund raised enough money to purchase new singlets for the entire JR High team at roughly $65 per singlet for over 32 kids on the current team.
The Jackson County Wrestling Club has also purchased for use by the Holton Jr High and the Holton High School wrestling programs:
a Dollarmur Mat at roughly $8000, a new weigh scale, mat mop, and new score clock. Our kids club also provides at NO COST to the school all table workers, towel tappers and gate(money) takers at all JR High and High School wrestling events! This helps to save the school system alot of money in hourly wages! We VOLUNTEER constantly!!! We want to keep wrestling in our school and we are dedicated to the cause! Please go to your school board members and rally around your program! Get your parents involved! I know in a community that Wrestling takes 3rd seat most of the time..to Football and Basketball...it does in Holton also! But we do have an awesome AD and he is an avid Wrestling Supporter! Mr Beims works with our jr high/high school and kids programs to promote and support wrestling in our area!
Don't give up...just reach out to those around you. You can do it!

I know that you can not coach with out pay..per the rules. But possibly your kids club could "gift" the cost of coaching to the School District with the funds going towards the cost of coaching and in return your family could give back to your kids club some how along the way. Or "gift" a monetary donation for fuel and bus driver expense.

Kim Lovvorn
Holton

Meeting is Continued tonight at 6pm.

Update.
They moved High School Wrestling to Tier 3
and Middle School Wrestling to Tier 2

Tier 1 is first line of cuts than proceed to other Tiers if they have to. I am trying to get Middle School Wrestling moved to Tier 3. We are preparing for next Season and our Home Invitational is looking Promising with a couple new Teams in the mix. Thanks for your Support. KDC