SHARON Mat club may lose quarters at school

The district needs the space to accommodate a new fitness program.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
SHARON, Pa. -- It looks like the Sharon City School District's wrestling program is going to get bumped out of its high school basement quarters, and backers of the program aren't happy.
Gary Gulla, an officer in the Wrestling Club and a 30-year veteran of Sharon's wrestling program, first as an athlete and then as a coach, told the school board Wednesday that the club passed a resolution at its meeting Tuesday asking the board to review the matter carefully before making any decisions.
The program has about 100 children participating and parents are concerned that the district plans to take away one of its two basement practice rooms to make way for $300,000 in new fitness equipment provided through the National School Fitness Foundation.
The equipment comes as part of a wide ranging fitness program for students in grades seven through 12.
Lost one of its rooms
Gulla said the wrestling program had one of its rooms taken away a couple of years ago as part of a building renovation project.
"We're trying to accommodate both programs as best we can," said Dr. Donna DeBonis, superintendent.
The district has to come up with 1,800 square feet of space for the National Fitness equipment quickly to qualify for that program, she said.
There is no intent by the board or administration to hurt the wrestling program, said Melvin Bandzak, board president.
The only feasible place for the new equipment is apparently the basement wrestling room, he said.
"This is an opportunity we can't pass up," he said.
Program given priority
The district is working to get that program in place for the start of school this fall and it was given first priority, Bandzak said, adding that the district may be able to provide space for the wrestling program when it does some renovations at Case Avenue Elementary School in a year or so.
School Director Dom Russo said he feels that the district has treated the wrestling program "like an unwanted stepchild" over the years.
A lot of money has been poured into renovations of the gymnasium and the football stadium, but the wrestling team has been relegated to the basement, he said.
He proposed that a largely vacant former automotive repair classroom in a four-bay garage attached to the school be converted into a permanent home for the wrestling program.
The district should be willing to spend what it has to make that happen, Russo said, adding, "I think there should be equality here."