Duval County (Jacksonville, FL) has 16 public High Schools. Due to budget shortfalls, the state has decided that 6 varsity sports will be cut, and of course wrestling is one. Our sport continues to be belittled and is not held in high regards of other athletics! These kids put too much sweat, blood, and tears into this sport for it to be taken away. Why are wrestlers expendable all the time?

Well we aren't going out without a fight here though! My officials association is teaming with all our local coaches/parents/athletes to fight back. We will be meeting this Sunday to brainstorm for proposals to our school board, not just for wrestling but for all the sports they are cutting. I know you all are in Ohio but I ask you to keep these athletes in your thoughts, the seniors to be this year whose dreams are dashed and scholarship opportunities now decrease.

If anyone has ever gone through anything like this in their school districts and had ideas that helped save sports and or wrestling please PM me. We could use any help or advice we can get.

I am including a link to the news about this as it broke today:
http://www.news4jax.com/news/27937947/detail.html

I didn't read the link but can current athletes who attend schools where wrestling will be cut enroll in other schools offering wrestling without an eligibility question?

THE4RINGZ;774288 wrote:I didn't read the link but can current athletes who attend schools where wrestling will be cut enroll in other schools offering wrestling without an eligibility question?

I don't know the answer to that question as the FHSAA hasn't said anything pertaining to this yet. This is Duval County's proposal so it is not official yet but we except them to pass this decision no question but we have to try!

http://valley.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/seymour_parents_save_wrestling_program_--_again/

I find this so ironic because wrestling probably has the lowest overhead of any sport. What equipment do you need? A singlet. Shoes are not provided, headgear is not provided, knee pads are not provided. There is some travel, but so is there in football where you often have to take two busses between players, coaches, equipment, cheerleaders, etc. Not to mention the equipment has to be inspected and rehabbed every year. Singlets just need to be washed. Plus it's one of the few sports where kids of all sizes can not only compete, but excel. I feel for you, Fab, and I hope some common sense prevails.

One step closer to club sports. Just because the school won't fund it doesn't mean that the sport itself cannot exist.

Well we got news that was good, better than we had feared. The school board has informed us if wrestling can come up with $70,000 the sport remains so with that said the march is on for fundraising and donations. Of course we know this is just a quick fix but it was better than expected.

Awesome! What do tournaments pull down for you? Some of our youth tournaments before payouts pull down 50k. Is that an option for you guys where the workers are all voluntary?

Yes and they are putting some tournaments together for the remainder of the summer to fundraise now as well as searching for private donors and corporations. Wheels are in motion.

pm or post where I can send a few dollars

charles feucht;778215 wrote:pm or post where I can send a few dollars

You got it, still getting things set up as soon as I know I will certainly post.

If anyone wants to make a trip to sunny Fl to wrestle on 7/2 or would like to make any sort of donation please contact the coach listed here:

Westside Open Help save Duval County Wrestling
Sponsored by Kiwanis International


Hosted: Ed White High School

When: July 2nd

Time: 7-8 am weigh-ins, 10 am wrestling.
This is a USA sanctioned event, Folkstyle wrestling
All ages, Bracket format
$15 dollars at the door

All proceeds will be donated to Save Duval County Sports

Tournament Director: Coach McCrary 904-576-4685
Contact for any questions and details

Also a story today in the paper here:
http://www.news4jax.com/education/28037887/detail.html