Photo Courtesy of Mid-Prairie Wrestling Social Media
Tuesday, voters in the Mid-Prairie School District passed a public measure to secure $8.7 million dollars of funding for the district. One of the initiatives included in the list of uses for monies is a new wrestling and activities center on the high school campus.
The project that led to the current wrestling room began with a fundraising campaign in 1988. Construction on the facility started in the first half of 1989, stretching into the summer and early fall, undertaken by community members. That new wrestling room saw it’s first live action during the 1989-90 season following a dedication ceremony that included then varsity wrestling coach Jim Cayton, several members of the varsity team, junior high head wrestling coach Randy Billups, athletic booster president Kirk Bailey, Mid-Prairie alum and University of Iowa wrestler Terry McCain and legendary Iowa head wrestling coach Dan Gable. Prior to the building’s completion, the team had been practicing behind a set of bleachers on the stage that overlooked the gym. Cost of the final building, including labor and materials, according to 1989 news sources was listed as $75,000.
Nearly 35 seasons later, with increased numbers and a new girl’s program, the Golden Hawks are in need of a new facility. Their current practices see the boys and girls in separate locations, one being the wrestling room, the other, the upstairs section of the indoor facility on the north side of campus, due to lack of one space large enough to accommodate all of the athletes simultaneously . This week, following the measure’s passage, Billups, current varsity wrestling coach spoke with KCII Sports about what this means for the future of the program. “It’s going to mean everything to our program. We are not in a good spot right now. Where we’re wrestling is not safe. We’re constantly having to adjust our drills, adjust our practices. We would love to have our team together, our girls, our boys, all in the same room. We can’t do that right now. It’s a great problem. We have close to 50 kids. If we can get them all in the same room, teaching them the same stuff, they all learn at the same time, they help each other through the conditioning, they help build each other up. The kids are excited to see this happen. I think it’s going to mean a lot to our program, from little kids all the way up through varsity.”
Other district projects earmarked for funding include parking and traffic improvements at East and West Elementaries and new classrooms and HVAC work at West Elementary. Voters passed the measure with a 70% majority.