Local Wrestling Program Asks Long Valley School Board For Funds

LONG VALLEY, NJ — A representative from the Long Valley Wolfpack wrestling program recently petitioned the school district for additional funding, citing unsafe practice conditions for current wrestlers.

The Long Valley Wolfpack wrestling program offers wrestling instruction and competitive opportunities to wrestlers of all skill levels through the eighth grade.

The program, which is separate from the schools, offers a wide range of wrestling opportunities for beginners, intermediates and advanced wrestlers.

Lloyd Flemming spoke out for the wrestling program at a recent school board meeting, claiming that he had previously written the board a letter expressing his concerns and grievances about the materials that the wrestling program was left to work with.

"The Long Valley wrestling program is currently at a lack of funding," Flemming said.

The more dire need stems from the old and outdated wrestling mats that the kids are left to practice and compete with. Flemming states that the mats that are currently being used are more than 30 years old.

"They are kind of posing a health risk now. They're the old, kind of sponge-like mats where dirt, bacteria, MRSA, all these things can get into it and the kids are wrestling on them. Also, they are very heavy," Flemming said.

On average, each mat weighs approximately 600 pounds, and they are all transported by the program leaders from West Morris Central over to Cucinella School every day during the wrestling season.

The Long Valley Wolfpack wrestling program was once a school function and operated as a school team; however, the team split from the school district as a result of budget cuts, according to Flemming. "We disbanded because the same recreation program was during the school program, so we saved on busing and other costs; however, we lost funding."

In order to replace all the mats and appropriately fund the other expenses for the team, Flemming asked for $15,000 from the school.

The wrestling program has been self-funding this improvement plan, which includes fundraising and applying for other types of grants.

"We have a fundraiser coming up at the end of June this year, but at the end of the day, we would like some help, like other organizations. Baseball teams get baseball fields, basketball get basketball courts, we have not gotten any funding from the school for a long time," Flemming said.

In addition to the lack of funding, Flemming noted that the program is charged more than $1,000 per year in janitorial fees in order to practice on school grounds.

"We have been self-sustaining for a long time, and we are asking for about $15,000. It's for mats, a trailer and uniforms," Flemming said.

In response, Superintendent Peter Turnamian offered to meet with Flemming and members of the Long Valley Wolfpack wrestling program to see if they could work out an agreement.

"A couple of thoughts about what you shared this evening that I want to explore with you is that line between recreation programs and what the schools are funding and our programming and how our monies are dedicated to certain services. If there are ways that we can be a good partner, we want to explore that," Turnamian said.