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Board to consider adding girls wrestling; startup costs modest, district boosters helped club season
Summary
Athletics staff told the board a club program this winter drew five to eight girls and youth programs count about 10 girls; cost to start a girls varsity program would be mainly uniforms and entry fees with coaching positions mirroring boys' staff.
Athletics staff recommended the district add an official girls wrestling program and asked the board to place the item on the agenda for approval next week.
Background and participation District athletics staff said the high‑school club program this winter practiced three days a week in the middle‑school wrestling room and competed in two tournaments; about five girls wrestled at each tournament and several others attended open mats. Youth wrestling organizers told the athletics staff they had roughly 10 girls involved at the youth level this season, and boosters and the broader wrestling community funded tournaments and equipment for the club participants.
Costs and logistics Staff said start‑up costs are modest because the district already has a wrestling room and mat. The requested initial uniform cycle (singlets and warmups) was estimated at about $1,700; tournament entry fees vary by event (typical school tournament fees cited at $300–$400 per event, although some early tournaments charge per wrestler at lower rates). Staffing would mirror the boys' program with a head coach and assistant coach; athletics staff said scheduling and travel logistics remain to be finalized, and that sharing coaches with the boys' squad is difficult because girls tournaments and boys tournaments often run separately.
Board action and next steps The athletics director asked the board to move a resolution to add girls wrestling to next week's agenda for approval; board members expressed support and asked athletics staff to return with firm budget numbers, transportation cost estimates and a mock schedule. The board indicated it would consider the item at the next meeting with those details in hand.
Ending If approved, the program would follow PIAA guidance for girls wrestling and the athletics office said it expects growth in participation based on regional trends and the district's youth program numbers.
