Schools

Minutemen Need A New Home

K of C no longer suitable for wrestling program.

In late February the Berlin Youth Wrestling team ventured back to the old Knights of Columbus Hall on Percival Ave. for one last time. The team cleaned out of all its equipment as the building that has served as their home for the last five years was being closed due to a leaking roof. The Town of Berlin allowed the group to use the facility for practices and meets but with plans to demolish the building on the horizon no money was going to be spent to get the building back into shape to be used.

The youth program has grown in the past fifteen years from a handful of boys from second to fifth grade to a program that boasts over 90 ranging from four year olds to eighth graders. Last year the club crowned their first two New England Youth Champions in Seth Pelletier and Michael Patterson.  Roger Moss of Berlin has been the head coach for the past thirteen years and has watched the program grow.  With the help of many assistances and parent support the program has grown and established itself as a top-notch program.  The team now draws participants from not only Berlin but New Britain, Cromwell, Rocky Hill and even Portland.

The youth club is in search of a new home. Moss explains, “We can’t use the schools because the gyms are dedicated to basketball which we understand.  Also the amount of room our mats take even when rolled up prohibit us from using space that might be available.”  Moss went on to say, “The high school wrestling room is just that for high school students with exercise equipment that would just become an attractive nuisance for our young wrestlers. It also is not adequate for home matches to allow parents and visitors to watch the meet. Last year we lost two weeks of practice due to snow closures that would not happen if we weren’t at a school.”

Find out what's happening in Berlinwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Board of Directors met recently to start to plan for the 2011-12 season, which will start the first Monday after Thanksgiving and run through the New England Championships in early March. The main discussion was to find a new home for the season. Moss said, “two years ago we started to explore the possibility of a new location and found that commercial space was going to be cost prohibitive for the program at the standard rates property owners were asking for rent.  If we could find a space that is not being utilized and pay utilities and a minimal rental fee we should be able to swing it. We determined we need between 3,000 and 4,000 sq. ft. of open floor to be able to handle the program.” 

Pete Veleas a coach with the programs oldest group and board member added, “The Board was hopeful that a local businessman who has unused space might find it appealing to help the youth of our community and do something good.” He added, “A commercial space with retail near by would do well as we don’t allow the parents to stay in the room during practice and they would love to be able to step out and go next door rather than drive home and back again.”

Find out what's happening in Berlinwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Details of the youth program may be found at www.berlinyouthwrestling.com or anyone with possible space may contact Roger Moss at 860-828-9818. 

Moss said in closing, “Berlin has a long tradition of excellence in the sport of wrestling and we just want to continue to offer a first class program to Berlin residents and those in surrounding towns who want to participate. Everyone involved with the program is a volunteer and are involved because of their love of the sport.”


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