Springfield senior urges District 186 to add IESA wrestling for middle schools

Cody Stevens, a graduating senior at Springfield High School, told the Springfield Public Schools District 186 Board of Education on May 5, 2025, that the district should offer an Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA) wrestling program for fifth through eighth graders so younger students can gain experience before high school.

Stevens, who said he discovered wrestling only in ninth grade, told the board: "Wrestling has been one of the most important things in my life." He described wrestling as teaching resilience, confidence and leadership and said those benefits would reach students earlier if an IESA program were available.

Stevens said the district's high schools cover costs for gear and uniform items and that wrestling is inexpensive compared with other athletics. "The District 186 high schools are willing to pay for all the costs, such as head gears, singlets, shoes, and more," he said, arguing that middle-school participation would increase competitive readiness and retention among younger athletes.

He also said other area schools already run IESA programs and that some classmates who began wrestling earlier had competitive advantages; he asked the board to "please allow our middle schoolers to have an opportunity of IESA wrestling team, which I was never able to have."

The comments were made during the public comment portion of the May 5 meeting. The board did not take formal action on the request during that session; no motion, referral or staff direction on the topic was recorded.

Stevens’ remarks join a running list of public comments urging expanded extracurricular offerings; the board may address the request in a future agenda item if members direct staff to prepare information or a proposal.