I would like to say Lindsborg ran a great sub and on top of that they had results posted early sunday morning. So what is the deal with the rest of the subs?

District 3 did a super job of running the tournament job well done

Smokey Valley...GREAT JOB for a very well run tournament. You all did a wonderful job and need to be recognized for a job well done.

Thank you for your responses regarding our tournament here in Smoky Valley last weekend. It was a big undertaking to have our first tournament be a qualifying tournament as well. We have terrific parents in our club, all of whom worked hard to make sure that the day went well and that visiting clubs felt welcome. Many of the clubs in our west sub-district were very helpful with everything from table workers to helping set up brackets following the seeding meeting. We appreciate everyone who helped make our tournament successful. We hope to host another tournament and have many of you back again. Thanks!
Smoky Valley Mom

This is interesting that Lindsborg hosted a Sub-District, I had the understanding that Smoky Valley HS did not have a wrestling team....does this mean that there are efforts in the community to start a program?

I sure hope so, that would be exciting and a plus for the sport! There is evidently enough interest, enthusiasm, organization, support, at the youth level in the community....seeing as how you hosted a Sub-District and are getting plenty of compliments for your work. Are there efforts to start a high school program? I am just curious.

Way to go SV!

Smoky Valley will be implementing wrestling at the High School level this next school year 2004-2005. Our head coach and other club members approached the school board 5 years ago and asked for a HS program. It took 4 years, and many public sessions, but we finally got the go ahead from the school board. Our club is currently in its 5th year and will be paying for the majority of the costs to get the High School program up and running. The club is paying all of the expenses related to the HS program except the coaches salary. This has taken a great deal of work on the part of the team to raise the funds needed to not only keep our club going, but raise enough to pay for the HS program as well. We are excited to have something at the HS level for our kids to move into when they get to 9th grade. Smoky Valley was only 1 of 3 4A schools in the state that did NOT have a HS program. We are hoping this will be a real plus not only for our federation kids, but will get some new kids involved as well and offer an option other than basketball during the winter months. My appreciation to all of the parents again in our club, it is really amazing that we have been able to raise the funds necessary to provide a HS program at Smoky Valley. Thanks for your interest.
Smoky Valley Mom

Smoky Valley Mom,

Props to you and all your club members for taking the initiative to get the high school program going. A word of warning though the need for funding doesn't cease once the high school is up and running. You can never have too many mats and eventually they need refinished or replaced. Also, help your school find a good coach with the first hire. Find out what teaching positions are open within the high school and help to put the word out that a coaching/teaching position is available. A bad coach can really set a program back and can be deadly for a new program. Best of luck to your club and school in the future. Now, who are those two other 4A schools that don't have wrestling? We'll get to work on them!

Fantastic! That is great news for our sport! Congrats to you and I compliment your perseverance in your efforts with the school board.

It is unfortunate you have had to raise the funding (the mat is really the only major expense), but in today's school budget scene, it is difficult for school boards to add an extra-curricular offering when they are having a hard enough time as it is balancing the funding of current curricular and extra-curricular programs.

Hopefully, once you can prove that the high school program will be a successful endeavor then the school district can take on the expenses real soon!

Congrats again to those in your community who helped make this happen!