Freshman Maddy Arnold gives a presentation at the school board meeting with her team behind her. From left to right, Kaylyn Carpenter, Mars Skiffington, Jordan Dempsey, Kayleigh Miller and assistant coach Carl Springer.
Maddy Arnold and her teammates have made history and are ready to make more.
The freshman wrestler told the school board Wednesday night that they are ready for their own independent girls’ team.
“Our goal is to make Eudora come on the right side of history,” Arnold said.
A decision was not made Wednesday to approve a separate wrestling program for the girls. However, both parties may reach a compromise while still striving to maintain the girls’ independence.
Another head coaching position specifically for the girls wrestlers could be created under the already existing program.
This idea came down to a solution that would both benefit the girls without having to fundraise the approximate $12,000 needed to start a new program.
The board was collectively impressed with the presentation and the booklets made by the girls and assistant coach Carl Springer that contained all the information both logistically and financially.
Arnold’s biggest goal was to show the board her level of dedication. While she and her wrestlers came out of the meeting with a different outcome than what they set out for, she was still happy with the result.
“I’m glad we are possibly getting our own coaches and have our own senior night. I think the other girls will be happy because the more tournaments that we get by ourselves, the more we will be recognized. I know they will be stoked,” Arnold said.
Activities director Cara Kimberlin came up to speak on behalf of the girls, providing answers to the board and the impact wrestling has had on girls.
“Years ago, we struggled to get kids in the wrestling room [even] boys. There has been an explosion on the boys’ and girls’ end,” Kimberlin said.
Springer was pleased with the option the board gave to possibly hire a new head coach.
“The board’s proposal to have a second head coach and an assistant under the current program is an even better outcome than what we asked for when we wanted to separate and raise our own funds. The girls still get their own coaches while maintaining their own identity,” Springer said.
Springer also said he would still like to go for the position of head coach for the girls. In his speech to the board, he made multiple points that the need for more women coaches is at the top of the girls’ needs.
Before the wrestlers’ presentation, the board approved Miles Cleveland as the new head wrestling head coach. Cleveland has experience coaching under The Farm Wrestling Club.
Springer was happy about Cleveland’s new position. Cleveland has been teaching most of the wrestlers in the middle and high schools since they were kids, making him a perfect fit, he said.
“I think for the high school he is a great fit. The system he’s taught them from 5 years old is what he’s teaching them at the high school, so that they’re not learning any crazy new systems. It’s the same moves, the same coaching style.” Springer said.
Superintendent Stu Moeckel, along with the rest of the board members, will relay the final options to the wrestling program before the next school board meeting in June.
“We are very excited about their opportunity. They all did a tremendous amount of work, especially Maddy, putting it together. I think we just need some more clarification if we need to follow through with a new club status or if we can just make something happen in June. We want them to have options to choose from,” Moeckel said.
From there, the girls will choose if having a new head coach and assistant is the right path for their goal of making history.
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Reach reporter William Crow at [email protected].