Girard Wrestling Receives R.E.A.C.H.E.S. Grant
The Girard wrestling team in Girard, PA has been awarded a grant through the R.E.A.C.H.E.S. organization. The Girard wrestling team is a combined program for youth through varsity wrestling. Our team was on the brink of being cut with low participation and high costs to support a varsity wrestling program. The past few years my staff and I have done a lot in the schools and community to recruit kids to our sport, and that has paid off tremendously. This past season we were able to move 7 kids into the district tournament in one of the toughest wrestling districts in Pennsylvania. That is almost double the number of kids we had participating on the team 4 years ago. Our team now consists of 24 varsity and junior varsity wrestlers and 14 junior high wrestlers. With the expansion of our program has come many more costs. The funding has provided our team with new shoes, headgear and workout shorts. The new gear means a lot to our growing program. Many of our kids do not have the financial capability to purchase their own gear, so this equipment will go a long way. Also, we are used to using outdated gear. This will give our team a fresh look that it most definitely needs.
I (Jason Johnson, Head Coach Girard Wrestling) would like to thank the R.E.A.C.H.E.S. organization and Walter Fisk for everything they have done for the Girard wrestling program and other programs across the country. Without organizations like this many programs are fighting to keep going. Thank you all for what you do!
