Highland wrestlers taking out-of-state trip

RIVERSIDE ? The Highland High School wrestling team will travel out of state for a tournament this season.

Wrestling coach Clint Jones asked the school board for permission to travel to the tournament at the meeting Monday evening. He also told the board a little bit about the tournament.

?We?ve been fortunate to be invited to a wrestling tournament in Harrisonville, Mo., to participate in a two-day wrestling tournament, which would be Dec. 18 and 19,? Jones said.

They would leave Friday, Dec. 18, at 7 a.m.

?Wrestling starts at 4,? Jones said. ?Weigh-in would be at 2:30 and wrestling matches would end probably at 9:30, I would say. The next day weigh-in is at 8 [a.m.]. Wrestling starts at 9 and moves along very quickly. They use about seven mats. They use two gyms and I think even a cafeteria.?

The tournament would end at 6:30 p.m. and the wrestlers would return to Highland about 1 a.m. the next day, Jones added.

Since the meet takes place out of state, Jones had to seek approval from the Iowa Athletic Association to compete. He asked the board for permission to attend the meet.

School board president Kevin Engle asked Jones where the tournament was. Jones said Harrisonville is 30 minutes south of Kansas City, Mo.

Board member Tara Black asked Jones if the team would need to raise more funds to attend. Jones said yes. The entry fee is $300 and lodging would cost $700.

About 12 to 14 students would attend the tournament, Jones said. This would include the managers and only the wrestlers who are participating in the tournament.

The school board approved Jones? request.