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Resident urges Waxahachie ISD to add high‑school wrestling program
Summary
Pat Moriarty told trustees that wrestling offers affordable, inclusive athletic opportunities and classroom‑behavior benefits, estimating mats cost $10,000–$15,000 and noting girls’ wrestling programs exist; he asked the district to follow neighboring schools that already offer wrestling.
Pat Moriarty, speaking during the board’s public comment period, urged the Waxahachie Independent School District to establish a wrestling program, saying the sport is affordable and can reach students who might not fit traditional team sports. "That sport is wrestling that we don't have currently," Moriarty said, describing his decades of experience as a wrestler and a high‑school official.
Moriarty told trustees that initial equipment costs would be limited — "a wrestling mat, 10 to $15,000" — and that mats can last 15–20 years if cared for. He argued wrestling supports accountability and individual responsibility because matches are one‑on‑one: "There's no hiding. There's no blaming. You are taught responsibility and accountability that can transfer to the classroom and in the life." He also noted opportunities for female athletes and cited examples of football professionals with wrestling backgrounds to underline transferable skills.
The superintendent and trustees did not take action during the meeting; the public comment was recorded for board consideration under the district’s rules for patron input.
