ot a little bit bigger – and younger.
Both Clancy and Boulder Elementary school boards have approved policies allowing eighth graders to “wrestle up” and join the Jefferson High School wrestling team, potentially providing athletes for weight classes that have been unfilled for the Panthers in recent seasons.
The policy is still under consideration for Montana City School.
The decisions could be a boon to the Panther wrestling program, since teams score points in competition by having participants in each of 13 weight classes.
“[Jefferson High] has not had anyone at 103 pounds in two years, and did not have anyone at 113 this year as well,” read a rationale for the new policy written and presented to the boards by Jefferson High Head Wrestling Coach Troy Humphrey. “Forecasting into next year, [Jefferson High] will most likely not have a participant at 103, 113 and 120 pounds.”
While filling these lower weight classes – which has become “extremely difficult” as high schoolers have become larger on average, according to Humphrey – there are no plans for eighth graders to push high schoolers out of varsity positions.
“The intent of this request is not to fill up a varsity roster with eighth graders, or have one take the place of a current varsity wrestler who is a freshman through senior,” Humphrey wrote. “The eighth graders will be used to fill openings in the lighter weight classes and provide a supportive role (junior varsity) in the heavier weight classes.”
Humphrey said that the new policy would allow Jefferson High coaching staff “to make a positive impact on a student-athlete for one additional year,” adding that wrestling provides a sport for athletes who don’t thrive in team environments.
Although Montana City School board members acknowledged that the policy would provide eighth graders with new athletic opportunities, they voiced concerns regarding 13-year-olds being around 18-year-olds and being exposed to age-inappropriate behaviors – especially while traveling and on overnight trips.
“I’m not trying to sink the ship,” Daryl Mikesell, the school’s K-5 principal and activities director, told the board during its August meeting, adding that he himself is a Jefferson High wrestling parent.
Humphrey told The Monitor that he will continue to hold his team to the same high standards, integrating the eighth graders into the team culture.
“I have zero tolerance for poor sportsmanship, bullying, profanity and all inappropriate behaviors. This doesn’t include age only, but gender appropriate actions as well. We have female managers as well as female wrestlers and, like our younger wrestlers, they needed to be treated with respect as well,” Humphrey said.
He also emphasizes to the team at the beginning of the season that freshmen – and, soon, eighth graders – are just as important to the team’s success as the juniors and seniors.
“A freshman or eighth grader has the same chance to score points for the team as a senior,” Humphrey explained. “Because of this, there is a greater level of respect for these younger athletes.”
Humphrey also told The Monitor that during travel, coaches ensure all players sit in appropriate areas of the bus and are assigned responsible roommates.
Montana City School Superintendent Tony Kloker questioned what eligibility standards would apply to eighth-grade wrestlers.
“I would propose these eighth grade athletes follow academic guidelines for both Jefferson High School and the elementary school district they are currently attending,” Humphrey’s proposal to the board read.
Kloker said the district would review questions proposed by the school’s attorney regarding the policy.
Eighth graders participating at the high school level will be subject to the transfer rule, per the Montana High School Association’s policy: For example, if a Montana City School wrestler were to participate in the Jefferson High program for 20 or more days, they would be ineligible to compete the following season at any other high school. This rule essentially requires junior high students to commit to the program they enter into.
However, wrestling up will not prevent athletes from participating in their final year of junior high wrestling. MHSA rules restrict athletes from competing in both high school and junior high sports at the same time. But because the junior high wrestling season commences after the high school season wraps up on Feb. 10 at the state tournament, athletes can do both.
Since Clancy and Montana City do not currently offer wrestling programs, this new policy allowing them to participate at the high school level provides them with an extra year in the sport they would have otherwise had.
Aside from Montana City School’s individual concerns, Humphrey said all the school boards in Jefferson County shared one concern: Will the rest of the sports follow?
“It cracks the door,” Mikesell told the Montana City School Board.
“The Jefferson school board and administration are very concerned about eighth graders taking varsity spots from high school athletes, and for this reason, they expressed apprehension for allowing them to participate at the high school level,” Humphrey told The Monitor, again clarifying that the younger wrestlers will fill empty varsity weight classes and support the program as junior varsity players.
The Montana City School Board will review and vote on the proposal during its Sept. 13 meeting.
