Washington School Board considers cutting wrestling and tennis programs
State budget cuts may force Washington High School to drop its wrestling program and its boys and girls tennis programs.
Washington's School Board meets Monday (Feb. 13) and the activities committee will recomment that all three programs be discontinued.
Last year, financial demands forced the district to drop its golf, junior high soccer, and bowling teams.
Washington has had one of the greatest wrestling programs in PIAA history, but the program has gone through hard times the past several years.
Josh Barrette is in his fourth season as the Little Prexies coach. He started the season with 14 wrestlers, but that number has since dwindled to nine.
"The board has invited us to offer alternate solutions to the financial situation," Barrette said. "We've come up with a few creative ideas that could solve the problem."
Barrette and his assistant Adrian Turner have even offered to serve as unpaid coaches to cut costs.
"They will not allow us to work for free, but we could accept the check, then donate it back to the athletic department," Barrette said. "That's how much this program means to us. I have two young boys who will be coming up through this program and I don't want to see it end."
Barrette is also considering the option fund-raising to offset the costs of running the program.
"I'm optomistic that we can come up with a solution that the board will accept," Barrette said. "We'll just have to wait and see how things go at Monday's meeting.
Washington's School Board meets Monday (Feb. 13) and the activities committee will recomment that all three programs be discontinued.
Last year, financial demands forced the district to drop its golf, junior high soccer, and bowling teams.
Washington has had one of the greatest wrestling programs in PIAA history, but the program has gone through hard times the past several years.
Josh Barrette is in his fourth season as the Little Prexies coach. He started the season with 14 wrestlers, but that number has since dwindled to nine.
"The board has invited us to offer alternate solutions to the financial situation," Barrette said. "We've come up with a few creative ideas that could solve the problem."
Barrette and his assistant Adrian Turner have even offered to serve as unpaid coaches to cut costs.
"They will not allow us to work for free, but we could accept the check, then donate it back to the athletic department," Barrette said. "That's how much this program means to us. I have two young boys who will be coming up through this program and I don't want to see it end."
Barrette is also considering the option fund-raising to offset the costs of running the program.
"I'm optomistic that we can come up with a solution that the board will accept," Barrette said. "We'll just have to wait and see how things go at Monday's meeting.
wrestling