for years the Frontenac kids, and Girard kids have wrestled with the Pittsburg Wrestling Club. In high school they were allowed to COOP (practice and compete together until state tournament series at which time each competitor competes withing his schools classification)with Pittsburg High School USD 250.
about six years ago Pittsburg decided not to COOP in wrestling for anyone who didn't pay property taxes within the USD 250 boudaries. for reason that seem silly to some, very valid to others.
this allowed Nick Whetzell who graduated from COLGAN HIGH SCHOOL, to continue to wrestle in high school.
it excluded Kyle Johnson from Girard. this is the same Kyle Johnson who finished as a 4x state medalist, and a 3x runner-up, for Columbus High School. you see Kyle could have quit wrestling, and stayed with his life long friends in Girard. Kyle was a wrestler, he has NO quit in him. they didn't tie up the courts! they fought in a better way. they searched for a school who would COOP. Columbus welcomed Kyle, and his family in Junior High. He ultimately transferred to Columbus, and has signed a letter of intent to wrestle for Fort Hays. you see i was Kyle's coach here in Pittsburg, and am very proud of the fact that he decided to stay in the circle and battle rather than run to the table, complain, and try to blame someone else for his situation.
a few years back the Pittsburg Kids club finished in the top 10 as a team. they had 5 state champs, and 11 state qualifiers. 3 of those state champs, and 6 of the state qualifiers were enrolled in Frank Layden elementary school in Frontenac USD 249. Zac Hensley, Tyler Hensley, and Brandon Mlekus were state champs, were would never be allowed to compete in wrestling in high school because their school didn't offer the sport, and a previously mentioned Pittsburg would not COOP. Dylan Flora and Andrew Forrest, state qualifiers, would have to hang up the wrestling shoes in junior high, for the same reason. These boys have very loving parents, Denny and Rhonda Hensley, Randy Flora, Monica Maus among other who decided that they needed to fight for their sons. these great folks wanted to fight for their sons, so they could wrestle. they could have taken PHS to court, they could have taught their kids to sit back and point blame. they chose to fight. first they got their own club. then they showed the school board the interest. then they got a junior high team. this year they competed for the first time ever as a high school. i am very proud of these young men, and their parents for doing the right thing. they stayed on the mat, and away from the table, to do battle, and in the next few years they WILL be earning some 321A hardware as individuals, and probably a team.
sorry so long, but these stories portray how wrestlers fight!
