By Aaron Schwab
Staff Writer
Wrestling is an overlooked sport without adequate funding. Consisting of roughly 80 students, as one of the oldest sports standing, the wrestling tradition may soon come to an unnecessary end.
Because of donations, fundraisers, and school events, sports, such as football, with lots of players and high-attendance rates are more financially stable. Funded by its independent booster club, wrestling has never been supported by the school funding. Except for the winter season, coach Jimmy Chaney volunteers to coach the wrestling team on his own time, five days a week, from 2 to 3:30.
Without a coach on a school payroll for the majority of the year, the team depends on volunteer work. During the off-season, without income, the wrestling coach has more than one job in order to be sufficient, causing the coach to miss Tuesday and Saturday practices. With more sufficient funding the coach could receive a more steady salary throughout the year.
According to their booster club, wrestling is not funded by the school because all the money goes to the mainstream sports. All sports should be evaluated equally in the eyes of the school to receive fair funding.
Sponsored by parents of the wrestlers, the team made $13,120 in donations last year, covering only 30% of their total income, and covering the cost of only 27 out of the 70 team members. The other half was $17,200 in fundraisers, covering the season and leaving only a little left over for the 2013-2014 year.
Some Costa Students say only popular sports should be funded because the more spectators mean more money for the school and the team. All sports should be given financial support because they all represent Mira Costa.
Without participation in the hometown fair, a large amount of funds for the 2013-2014 wrestling season is still missing, with only $8,020 out of the average $23,000. With season coming up fast, donations from sponsors and team fundraisers may be the key to the teams survival for the coming year. The team needs to utilize advertisements around Costa to make their fundraising more profitable.
One of the oldest sports in the history of the school, the Wrestling team should be maintained as tradition. If school funding is not possible due to budgetary concerns, Mira Costa’s students should be more supportive of this sport, by donating money and attending matches.
As of the 2012-13, all of the sports programs — not just wrestling — are funded through booster clubs. The District only pays for the trainer and safety equipment (such as football helmets). ASB pays for officials/referees. Bboosters/parents pay for or raise the money for everything else — coaches stipends, bus transportation, uniforms, tournament fees.