By Scott Kiefer
Sparta High School hosted a wrestling camp last week in order to weigh the interest of beginning a program. According to coach Joe Bevis, the interest is high.
“I think the interest is quite high,” said Bevis. “I have talked to a lot of the students and to quite a few parents, as well, and they are in support of a program.”
Bevis said that the camp was designed to teach the basic fundamentals of wrestling in order to get the participant ready for a small match.
“I wanted them to be able to be ready for a basic six-minute match by the end of the week," Bevis said. "I believe we accomplished that goal."
Bevis said there were only twelve students ranging from fifth grade through high school that participated in the camp, but he knows the interest is quite a bit larger.
“We were up against the Grand American going on, and a lot of the students who would have normally participated were committed to working out there, and you can't blame them for that,” Bevis said. “However, they did say they would have liked to have been a part of the camp.”
Bevis, who is employed by the district as a physical education teacher, and will serve as an assistant football coach, says that the need for an additional winter sport at the high school level is high.
“We have basketball, of course, but there are a number of athletes who just don't fit in to the basketball criteria, or they just aren't suited for that sport,”  added Bevis. “Also, there are others who excel better in individual sports. I know the need is there, and I think that through a wrestling program, we can fill that void.”
Bevis also said that wrestling is a sport that teaches discipline and builds character.
“I am all for team sports, don't get me wrong, but wrestling is more about the individual than the team,” Bevis said. “It teaches the wrestler that he has to maintain a weight regimen, which involves certain exercising routines and eating habits. With the holidays from Thanksgiving to New Year's going on during the season, it makes it especially difficult for the athlete. They have the food thing, plus being totally away from the school environment. I can watch them while they are in school, but otherwise, they are totally on their own. That’s where the responsibility issues come in.”
As far as building character, Bevis said that the individual wins and losses come into play.
“A win is great, but a loss has to be dealt with, too,” Bevis said. “Being a wrestler is being part of a team, but it's the individual who competes against another of the same weight class,  and that makes it more personal. Taking a loss is difficult no matter what, but individually, especially for a high school student, it is even tougher. How the athlete handles the loss and takes it constructively is how he builds character.”
Bevis said that he is scheduled to address the school board at their August meeting regarding implementing a new wrestling program.
“I am slated to address them at the next meeting,” Bevis said. “I will have an explanation of the costs involved after the program is put in place, because we have a benefactor who is putting up the money to get the program off the ground.”
Bevis said that Mark Mestenacher, a wrestling enthusiast, is willing to put up $15,000 to get the program off the ground.
“He is an avid wrestling fan, and he wants to see the kids continue the sport,” said Bevis. “He is willing to pay for the upstart of the program in order to provide the additional winter sport here at Sparta. He is a good friend of mine, and this isn't the first school that he is doing this for. In fact, it will be the ninth school that would be taking him up on his offer.”
After the initial start up of the program, the only cost to the district would be for the maintenance of the equipment and other general items, according to Bevis.
“Of course there would be transportation expenses and stipends, things like that, but this is an opportunity for the district to get a sports program implemented at no cost and operate it annually for very little. Most importantly, it's a benefit for the kids, and that's what it's all about in the long run.”
Bevis will address the school board  August 15.