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Parents and members of the community turned out in full force to show their support for the wrestling program and coach Jay Vesperman. The program has been squeezed to find a practice location.

Vesperman has headed the team since 2001 and explained many of his team members are at risk youth. His goal in his presentation to the North Branch Area Schools Board of Education was to gain an added athletic facility, while providing students with a healthier lifestyle.

Vesperman said his 28-member high school team has been using the cafeteria to practice in, but it takes 20 minutes to set the mats up and take them back down. Practicing there is a short-term solution, he said.

The district has discussed providing the wrestling team with a multi-purpose room to use before as was the case in 2005. "We had the vision when the bond issue passed that something would be just for wrestling. We just didn't know what," he said.

North Branch Superintendent Al Piwinski said the idea of the multi-purpose room was thrown around before. Wrestling mats were ordered, then the fire marshal said it was against state safety regulations. "I have fully supported the use of the mezzanine," Piwinski said. "I do support wrestling and we should have a room for them. I support all athletics and academics in the district."

Vesperman said if the wrestling team's practices were relocated to the mezzanine in the gymnasium it would affect some athletic teams. Wrestling inside Ruth Fox Elementary School would be unsafe and unsanitary, he added.

North Branch Athletic Director Jim Fish said, "Jay is an excellent coach and does an excellent job. The mezzanine would impact our competitive cheer team, and baseball and softball utilizes cages. Physical education plays floor hockey. I think Ruth Fox is best, but we couldn't resolve a few times when the guy is in use. Using the mezzanine allows Jay to leave the mats out and it's more sanitary."

Concerns were expressed by members of the wrestling team that it was inconvenient to have to move wrestling mats around because they weigh up to 600 pounds. Vesperman said it would be nice to have a permanent location for the mats.

"Money should not be the issue to stop the idea of a multipurpose room," Vesperman said, and added his proposal would include a need for $15,000 worth of renovations and padding. The multi-purpose room Vesperman planned for was 2,604-square feet in size and could be utilized by middle school, high school, and youth wrestling programs, along with cheerleaders. "(A multi-purpose room) could be a revenue builder. It's not unusual for schools to have multi-purpose rooms."

Vesperman recommended moving some classrooms around to make room for a wrestling multi-purpose room, but some families of special needs students weren't happy. The proposal included moving some of their students around. "Mr. Vesperman's idea looked good on paper, but it's the only chance C.I. (cognitively impaired) students will get an education," said Denise Schlaud. "They're not going to go on to college. (The room) is close to the cafeteria. It's not very often that an ideal situation is at their feet."

One parent of a special needs child said "academics was playing second fiddle to athletics."

The wrestling community doesn't want to use the mezzanine, Vesperman said. Also, to use Ruth Fox would require a one-hour wait after school to ensure students were done using it.

More parents in the audience spoke out. "We're not trying to get a Taj Mahal, but the wrestling room they have in Clio is padded," said Eric Schwartz. "I don't want to do this half baked."

"I'm just trying to get a facility for the kids," Vesperman said.

After the discussion, a committee was formed. No action was taken on a wrestling room.

Jennifer Decker can be reached at (810) 664-0811, Ext. 8125 or jennifer.decker@lapeergroup.com