I rarely post here, usually because I feel my knowledge of wrestling is far below any of yours, so I just read and try to learn from you all. I am this time because I truly enjoyed reading the SJA article and I really hope that other schools, both private and public, can see this article and use themselves some of what SJA has done to build their program, simply because of the benefits that I have personally seen from the sport of wrestling, (for example, personal discipline, confidence in self, fitness, nutrition, to mention just a few).

In saying this I think we have to be very careful not to fling accusations or words around because we simply do not have enough knowledge of the surrounding facts to do this. Doing this is hurtful, sounds spiteful and petty and does not benefit the kids or the sport. My son has wrestled against Taylor and attended camps with him. Taylor is first, a great kid, an asset to ANY program, and will have a future after wrestling. The SJA community appears to work hard with and for the kids' programs and I imagine Will is right in there with the rest of them working hard for the programs in the school. However, most of you probably do not know, but Will also has helped kids clear out in southwestern Kansas who are wrestlers, offering them a place to stay and work out and rides. Will has done this to help them develop into better wrestlers and to allow them to forge friendships. This would in no way benefit the SJA program, so I think we have to be really really careful about making implications about improper behavior or groundless accusations. Here, we have a group called the Sports Boosters. We try to help all athletic teams in the school with expenses or equipment needs as they are presented to us. We hold countless fundraisers each year and have meetings (with lots of record keeping!) It’s a lot of work, but worth it for the kids….my point being, if there are some things your school is in need of, there are usually ways of funding it, it just takes some ingenuity and time.

Lets face it people move for a variety of reasons......they buy homes in certain school districts........this one's academic record is better, that one's basketball team goes to state every year.....the next one has a great music program.....I think you see what I mean. Remember this is supposed to be a positive avenue for information and comments, so let’s be careful, a lot of young men read this site too. The initial post here was to give access to those of us trying to learn how to build and start a program some ideas from how someone else did it……..that is always a good thing. This being said, I know there is always some frustration, but we are all here hopefully to do one thing….make a positive difference in the lives of the kids (borrowed from Randy..ty). Thanks for all your help and tolerance throughout these years!

Thea Schnittker
tschnitt@pld.com