Students and parents urge District 86 to provide girls wrestling coach, argue for equal athletic support

Students and parents at the Hinsdale Township High School District 86 meeting on Oct. 9 pressed the board to secure a coach and equitable support for girls wrestling and other girls sports at Hinsdale South.

Kelly (Cali) Carr, a junior at Hinsdale South, said she is the school’s only female wrestler and described repeated frustration with how the athletic director has handled hiring and support. "I am the only female wrestler at Hinsdale South," Carr said. She told the board she was not consulted about coach succession after the retirement of the previous coach and that the athletic director told her administrators would not approve hiring a coach until there was a full girls team.

Brooke and Tim Carr, parents of Kelly, and student Sloan Keefer gave specific examples they said showed unequal treatment: disparities in travel buses, new equipment and administrative support between boys and girls teams, and missed coaching continuity for girls programs. Keefer said girls teams had been forced to use older gear while boys teams received newer bags and warm-ups and called the pattern ‘‘a blatant disregard for the quality in women's sports here at Hinsdale South.’’

Speakers cited Title IX in their remarks, asked the board to evaluate resource allocations, and requested a prompt administrative plan to secure a qualified coach before the wrestling season. Several board members thanked the students and said they would take the concerns under review; Superintendent Locke and other board members said they were taking notes and would follow up with administration.

The board did not vote on athletic staffing at the meeting; members said the matter may be reviewed through HR and athletics channels and raised as a future agenda item.