SOUTH WAYNE - If the Black Hawk school district determines a wrestling co-op is the route to take, administrators will be reassured to know two wrestling programs will roll out the welcome mat.
Black Hawk Principal and Athletic Director Jerry Mortimer, after discussing Black Hawk's wrestling program with district Administrator Charles McNulty, contacted Darlington and Monroe about exploring a co-op.
"It's really one of those tough lines," Mortimer said. "We are not saying we will do it, we are just exploring. It's really a tough thing. We have a proud program. We want to make sure we have a place to go for the kids to wrestle."
While the Darlington program has 28 wrestlers and isn't in jeopardy of becoming extinct, Black Hawk will survey middle school students to see if dwindling numbers are an aberration or trend.
Mortimer said Black Hawk will have nine returning wrestlers for the 14 weight classes next year. Black Hawk has several middle school wrestlers, but most of them are in seventh grade.
If Black Hawk determines a wrestling co-op is in its future for next year, a series of steps are required. Both Black Hawk and either Darlington or the Monroe school boards would have to approve a co-op. The WIAA has an April 1 deadline to apply for a co-op program. The conference Black Hawk would wrestle in (SWAL or Badger South) also would have to approve any co-op.
Darlington Athletic Director Brian Bennett discussed Black Hawk's co-op inquiry with the Darlington School Board. He said the board would support a co-op if that's what Black Hawk wants.
Monroe wrestling coach Jeriamy Jackson believes a co-op could be a win-win for both schools. However, no decision has been made and it may be premature for the school board to consider a co-op without a definitive direction.
"I think it would help both programs," Jackson said. "It's kind of in their court now. I'm not sure if they want to jump to a Division 1 program," he said, referencing a possible jump to Division 1 based on the enrollments of both schools.
In 1982, the WIAA membership approved an amendment to the Constitution, Bylaws and Rules of Eligibility permitting cooperative teams. The co-op must include two schools from the same geographic area and the agreement is for two years.
"It's not an issue of numbers for us," Bennett said. "It's all now kind of back in Black Hawk's lap. They have to make the decision to pursue it. It's up to them whether it will become reality or not."
Darlington wrestling coach Tom Mathias isn't shocked by the development. Mathias said he has discussed a wrestling co-op with Black Hawk coaches for several years.
"It's not brand new territory or like it's never been brought up before," Mathias said. "I think it would be good to combine us with Black Hawk. Both schools could maintain their programs."
Mathias said discussions about a wrestling co-op have been ongoing with youth coaches.
If Black Hawk decides to co-op with Darlington, Mathias said the team probably would be bumped up to Division 2 based on enrollments.
"We have been through the tough times when we have had 12 wrestlers," Mathias said. "If it's definitely something Black Hawk wants to pursue, we are definitely open to combining both programs and producing an even better program."
Black Hawk Principal and Athletic Director Jerry Mortimer, after discussing Black Hawk's wrestling program with district Administrator Charles McNulty, contacted Darlington and Monroe about exploring a co-op.
"It's really one of those tough lines," Mortimer said. "We are not saying we will do it, we are just exploring. It's really a tough thing. We have a proud program. We want to make sure we have a place to go for the kids to wrestle."
While the Darlington program has 28 wrestlers and isn't in jeopardy of becoming extinct, Black Hawk will survey middle school students to see if dwindling numbers are an aberration or trend.
Mortimer said Black Hawk will have nine returning wrestlers for the 14 weight classes next year. Black Hawk has several middle school wrestlers, but most of them are in seventh grade.
If Black Hawk determines a wrestling co-op is in its future for next year, a series of steps are required. Both Black Hawk and either Darlington or the Monroe school boards would have to approve a co-op. The WIAA has an April 1 deadline to apply for a co-op program. The conference Black Hawk would wrestle in (SWAL or Badger South) also would have to approve any co-op.
Darlington Athletic Director Brian Bennett discussed Black Hawk's co-op inquiry with the Darlington School Board. He said the board would support a co-op if that's what Black Hawk wants.
Monroe wrestling coach Jeriamy Jackson believes a co-op could be a win-win for both schools. However, no decision has been made and it may be premature for the school board to consider a co-op without a definitive direction.
"I think it would help both programs," Jackson said. "It's kind of in their court now. I'm not sure if they want to jump to a Division 1 program," he said, referencing a possible jump to Division 1 based on the enrollments of both schools.
In 1982, the WIAA membership approved an amendment to the Constitution, Bylaws and Rules of Eligibility permitting cooperative teams. The co-op must include two schools from the same geographic area and the agreement is for two years.
"It's not an issue of numbers for us," Bennett said. "It's all now kind of back in Black Hawk's lap. They have to make the decision to pursue it. It's up to them whether it will become reality or not."
Darlington wrestling coach Tom Mathias isn't shocked by the development. Mathias said he has discussed a wrestling co-op with Black Hawk coaches for several years.
"It's not brand new territory or like it's never been brought up before," Mathias said. "I think it would be good to combine us with Black Hawk. Both schools could maintain their programs."
Mathias said discussions about a wrestling co-op have been ongoing with youth coaches.
If Black Hawk decides to co-op with Darlington, Mathias said the team probably would be bumped up to Division 2 based on enrollments.
"We have been through the tough times when we have had 12 wrestlers," Mathias said. "If it's definitely something Black Hawk wants to pursue, we are definitely open to combining both programs and producing an even better program."
