Hall to pursue wrestling co-op with PC

SPRING VALLEY — If they're invited, Hall wrestlers will be there.

That was the message approved by the Hall High School Board Wednesday.

The board has discussed entering a wrestling co-op with Putnam County High School since November when assistant principal Eric Bryant asked the board for permission to look into a request from the other school to form a co-op.

On Wednesday, Bryant said estimated start-up costs would include about $3,900 for 25 sets of new varsity uniforms and warm-ups with the Putnam County-Hall Co-op insignia on the front. Hall would not need to purchase mats, which Bryant said would have been a considerable expense.

Costs for such things as travel expenses, coaching stipends, tournament fees and official fees are estimated to be about $11,000, and would be evenly divided between the districts at the end of the year.

In addition, the wrestlers would practice at Putnam County, so a bus schedule would need to be worked out.

Bryant said about 30 students are interested.

"If we get half of those, that would be perfect," Bryant said. "Competition breeds success, and if these kids are competing for spots with a lot of kids, it's a really good thing."

One issue that's being worked out is a slight difference in the athletic codes between the two schools.

"You could possibly have one of our kids and one of their kids make a mistake together, and you don't want to have different consequences," Superintendent Mike Struna said. "We have to make sure it's fair and consistent."

Board member Marty Herrmann asked if the co-op would move Putnam County out of its current 1A classification. At a combined enrollment of about 700 students, the co-op would still be far short of the 752 students that would move it into 2A.

"They're going to get some numbers, and they're not going to get bumped up," Struna said.

Struna said co-oping with Hall would also give Putnam County the opportunity to be part of the new Three Rivers Conference.

Hall hasn't had a wrestling program since 2005, when money and the number of students wrestling caused the Hall board to eliminate the sport on a 4-3 vote.