Note from Coach Murray:

*Parent meeting is November 2nd, 7pm at the Shakopee community center*

My name is Aaron Murray and I’m excited to be coaching the Middle School program! I have been Middle School head coach for the past two years and a wrestler my whole life. I am a teacher at West, and will be going into my 10th year in education and coaching. I am looking forward to the continued progression of the Middle School program and guiding a strong in/post season team.

As most of you have heard, due to budget cuts within the Shakopee school district all Jr. High athletic programs are no longer a part of the Shakopee school’s athletic department.  As with all sports programs, this created a large concern for the wrestling community on how to continue our success at the high school level if we don’t have a program in Jr. High.  With support from our youth program we are excited that Jr. High Wrestling will continue in Shakopee!  There are some things we want to make sure you are aware of.

• Registration – is handled through the Shakopeewrestling.com website - click link (Youth registration) 
• Registration fee – JH wrestling will be $175 and will include: practices running from end of November through early March, USA wrestling card, T-shirt, and shorts
• USA Wrestling membership – all JH wrestlers must have a USA wrestling card as the Mat Club is a USA wrestling club which provides insurance and other wrestling opportunities for its members.  USA wrestling card will be purchased by the Mat Club for each kid.
• Fundraiser – with Mat Club’s yearly fundraiser all kids will be expected to participate to keep cost low, more details to come
• Practices will continue at Shakopee West Junior High School right after school!  Practice time will be 3:00pm- 4:30pm.
• Practices will be 5 days a week from end of Nov through middle of January during the official JH season, then move to 3 times per week until MNUSA State Tournament in early March.
• Activities bus will continue to run between East Jr. High and West JH to get kids to practice
• Equipment – Singlet and headgear will be provided by the Mat Club and will require a deposit check of $50.  Check will be destroyed once equipment is returned.
• Tournament/duals bussing – Event schedule is still TBD. For some events, we will have busses available. For other events, we may need the help of parents getting the kids to and from events. 

We will be hosting a parent meeting on November 2nd at 7pm at the community center that will provide additional details on the season and help answer any questions you may have.  If you have any questions prior to the parent meeting, please don’t hesitate to reach out.  This is new for everyone so there are additional details that are still being figured out. I am looking forward to meeting you and your athletes soon!

Alex Lloyd