Winter sports notes - news from our neighbors

Sauk Centre/Melrose will not merge their wrestling programs this season

The Sauk Centre School Board voted 5-2 not to merge the school's wrestling program with Melrose.

The Melrose School Board unanimously approved the merger at a meeting Wednesday,

About 35 people, mostly parents of current wrestlers, and members of the coaching staff of both the youth and varsity programs were on hand for Friday's special meeting. Almost all were outspoken against the measure that would have combined the two teams for the 2009-2010 season.

The following is from this week's sports column by Bryan Zollman, Sauk Centre Herald sports editor:

Sauk Centre and Melrose officials have been meeting to discuss the possibility of a merger between the two schools' wrestling programs. A decision is expected to be made this week. Sauk Centre head wrestling coach Ken Vogt was approached by Melrose coach Vaughn Glasener. Vogt said the idea had been mentioned in passing in the past, but that talks have become serious about the possibility of a merger.

Athletic Directors from both schools have met with each other and also have met with superintendents and coaches. "It's been talked about for the past few years, but nothing has been followed up on," said Melrose Athletic Director Jonathan Ruoff.

"We know our numbers will be down so we initiated it." Ruoff said Melrose is expected to have about 20 wrestlers out between grades 7-12. There are 14 weight classes at the varsity level. Ruoff said in the past couple years Melrose has had to forfeit as many as seven matches a night because they didn't have wrestlers to fill a weight class. Vogt said he expects to have approximately 22 wrestlers out this year and will likely have to forfeit weight classes against other teams. He said he has mixed emotions about a possible merger.

To read more information on this matter, grab a copy of this week's Sauk Centre Herald.