Jackson High School’s athletic department has undergone recent changes including a new wrestling room and weight room.
The new wrestling room, gives the wrestling program a chance to expand. The program could potentially increase the groups of wrestlers outside of Jackson High. Northeast Elementary School health teacher and Jackson High’s head wrestling coach, Steven Chapman, is working on expanding the program by having youth winter wrestling programs and hosting wrestling clinics.
Chapman is not only working with the high school age group, but also trying to get students started at a younger age. Chapman believes that working with elementary aged kids could potentially increase the amount of wrestlers in the future.
In the process of renovating the old weight room, which is now the new wrestling room, they had to remove all of the weights inside. Changes made to the room include a fresh coat of paint, new mats on the floor and walls, and several chin up bars for practice. The start of the season began November 21st. Both wrestlers and coaches were looking forward to starting practice in the new room.
“I’m too excited,” Chapman said. “It’s now a place to call home.”
Chapman’s goal this season is for an improved team record, along with at least one individual state qualifier. When it comes to individual goals, he expects wrestlers Brandon Palumbo, Tighler Truman, and Jarred Webb to have a dramatic improvement this season. During the off season they still worked hard and focused on wrestling.
“With the new room, we now have more time for practice,” Sophomore Jarred Webb said. “In the past we had to roll out mats before practice, but now we can get straight to wrestling.”
The wrestling room was funded by a bond passed a few years ago. To make the changes happen, Jackson Public Schools head of facilities Rod Walz had to approve.
“It’s sweet, it helps us practice more,” junior Tighler Truman said. “The intensity of the room keeps the team focused.”
The new room is a place only dedicated to wrestling and will be available for wrestlers after school for practice. It could possibly increase local wrestling, and groups outside of Jackson High could become involved in the future.