The Takedown Newsletter 11.27.09

The Takedown 
W e s la c o H i g h S c h o o l
Panther Wrestling Newsletter
11.27.09  Volume 2 - Issue 2

Panthers Start Pre-Season with Eight Medalists

La Joya Juarez-Lincoln Hosts 1st Annual Freedom Tourney

La Joya, Texas, Friday, November 20, 2009: The wrestling season began this weekend in a hectic, disorganized, yet an overall enjoyable tournament. Problems included starting 2 ½ hours late, scheduled matches being called for wrestlers that were not in attendance, matches being moved from one mat to another, matches that had been rescheduled for the second day suddenly being called on the first day, updated brackets that were slow in being posted or not posted at all, the tournament format being revised Saturday morning to allow wrestlers in the consolation bracket a second or third match, four teams in similar red singlets, and people who refused to clear the aisles after repeatedly being asked to do so. Allowing the La Joya Juarez-Lincoln staff some slack for their first time effort, the tournament was successfully completed at 7:00 p.m. Saturday evening, giving the teams competing in the tournament a good first-look at this year’s squads and what techniques or strategies need tweaking before district commences on December 3rd.

Our Panthers - two boys and six girls medaled – one 1st, five 2nd;s, and two 3rd’s. Tournaments usually list the top six wrestlers of the meet; WHS had ten girls and three boys in the top six.

Panther fans (an assortment of parents, siblings, grandparents, and friends) were well represented. Among those noted were the Almaguer, Brown, Casarez, Garcia, Garner, Hernandez, Marines, Ozuna, Ponce, Sanchez, Soria, Trevino-Williams, Villarreal, Villanueva, and Villegas families. There were others in attendance that The Takedown was unable to meet or greet, but we will do so before long.

Teams competing were: La Joya Lincoln-Juarez High School, La Joya High School, La Joya Palmview High School, Rio Grande City High School, Mission Veterans Memorial High School, PSJA High School, McAllen Memorial High School, Victoria Memorial High School and Weslaco High School.

LizVillarreal’s victory over a wrestler from La Joya Juarez-Lincoln. 

Samantha Martinez controls Deborah Earl of McAllen Memorial. 

La Joya Juarez-Lincoln High School - Freedom Tourney – Results Lady Panthers Begin Season with 104 Pts/Third Place Tournament Finish

Lady Panthers:

102 Ashley Garcia won her first varsity match defeating fellow teammate Viviana Ponce (W) then lost in the finals to Araceli Handy of McAllen Memorial (L). Ashley finished in second place. Congratulations!

110 Samantha Martinez defeated Deborah Earl of McAllen Memorial (W) in her first round match, went on to defeat Jessica Solis of Rio Grande City (W) in the second round, and lost her finals match against Mallaly Aleman of La Joya Juarez-Lincoln (L). Samantha finished the tournament in second place. Congratulations!

119 Jessica Villegas lost her first varsity match to Sherry Hernandez of PSJA (L) then came back in the second round to win her first varsity match by defeating Noemi Arjona of La Joya Palmview (W) and completed her third place finish by defeating a wrestler from La Joya Juarez-Lincoln (W). Congratulations!

128 Liz Villarreal defeated Karina Marin of La Joya (W) in the first round, pinned BrendaMarquez of La Joya Juarez-Lincoln (W) in her second round match, before falling to Samantha Sepulveda of Rio Grande City (L) in the finals. Liz finished the tourney in second place. Congratulations!

138 Ana Almaguer defeated fellow teammate Danica Garner in her opening match (W), lost to Yolanda de Alejandro of La Joya Juarez-Lincoln (L) in her second round match, and defeated Leslie Lopez of Rio Grande City (W) in the third round before falling to a wrestler from PJSA (L). Ana won a third place medal for her efforts. Congratulations!

138 Danica Garner lost to fellow teammate Ana Almaguer in her first varsity match (L). Danica went on to defeat Alicia Guerrero of La Joya Palmview (W) in the second round for her first varsity win, Congratulations!

148 Selene Aleman, after a first round by, Selene won her first varsity match defeating fellow teammate Amanda Rodriguez (W) in the second round, went on to defeat Valeria Ramirez of La Joya Juarez-Lincoln (W) in the third round before falling to Jacqueline Cabrera of La Joya Palmview in her fourth match (L). Selene placed fourth in the tournament. Congratulations!

148 Amanda Rodriguez lost her first varsity match to fellow teammate Selene Aleman (L). Amanda came back in her second round match to win her first varsity match by defeating Valeria Ramirez of La Joya Juarez-Lincoln (W). In her final match of the tournament Amanda defeated Lisa Gonzalez of Rio Grande City (W) to capture a second place medal. Congratulations!

165 Clarissa Pina defeated Gloria Gonzalez of Rio Grande City in the first round (W) before losing to Yaressi Hernandez of La Joya Palmview (L) in the second round. Clarissa came back to defeat Brenda Martinez of La Joya Palmview (W) to capture third place in the tournament. Congratualtions!

185 Uncontested

215 Esmer Villegas lost her first varsity match to Adriana Pena of PSJA (L), defeated teammate Angelica Trevino (W) in the second round for her first varsity win, lost to a wrestler from La Joya Palmview (L) in the third round before defeating Ruby Alonzo of PSJA (W) to capture fifth place in the tournament. Congratulations!

215 Angelica Trevino lost her first varsity match to Maria M. of La Joya Palmview (L), then lost to fellow teammate Esmer Villegas (L) in the second round, won her first varsity match against a La Joya Palmview wrestler (W) Congratulations!, before bowing out of the tournament with a loss.

Panthers:

Charlie Villegas takes control of Ryan Blaha of McAllen Memorial   
in a second round match, on his way to the championship.
 Justin Ramirez maneuvers to pin Ramiro Torres of La Joya Juarez-Lincoln in his second match.

103 Justin Ramirez, defeated fellow teammate Santos Chavez (W), defeated Ramiro Torres of La Joya Juarez-Lincoln (W), and then lost to Jaime Flores of La Joya Palmview in the championship match, leading Flores in points before being pinned late in the 3rd period (L). Justin placed second in the tournament. Congratulations!

103 Santos Chavez lost his first varsity match to fellow teammate Justin Ramirez (L).

112 Madison Belcher, lost his first varsity match to Ramon Marquez of La Joya Palmview (L), and lost his second match to a Rio Grande City wrestler on the 5th/6th place mat.

119 Dennis Martinez lost his first varsity match to Espirio Campos of La Joya Juarez-Lincoln (L).

125 Juan C. (Charlie) Villegas, defeated William Rodriguez of La Joya (W), defeated Ryan Blaha of McAllen Memorial (W), defeated Benny Beltran of La Joya Palmview (W), and came from behind to defeat Carlos Olvera of La Joya Juarez-Lincoln in the 3rd period in the championship match (W). Charlie finished first in the tournament. Congratulations!

125 Mack Perez, lost in the first round to Benny Beltran of La Joya Palmview (L), and lost a close 6-4 overtime match to Joey Trevino of La Joya Juarez-Lincoln (L).

130 Jesse Rodriguez, lost his first varsity match to Albert Garza of La Joya (L), and came back to pin his second round opponent, Michael Trevino of Rio Grande City (W). Congratulations!

130 Gilbert (Gibby) Mata, lost his first varsity match to Ricardo Vasquez of PSJA (L), and lost his second match to David Marroquin of PSJA (L).

135 Nick Mireles, lost his first varsity match to Guadalupe Rodriguez of La Joya Palmview (L), and then came back to pin his second round opponent, Clay Mullins of Victoria Memorial, in the first period (W). Congratulations!

135 Gautier Tirado, lost his first varsity match to Justin Guerra of Mission Veterans Memorial (L), came back to defeat David Arredondo of Rio Grande City in his second round match (W), Congratulations!, and then lost to a wrestler from Victoria Memorial on a disqualification (L).

140 Josh (Chip) Cruz, lost his first varsity match to fellow teammate Hector Villanueva, Jr. (L), and lost his second round match to a wrestler from McAllen Memorial (L).

140 Hector Villanueva, Jr., defeated teammate Josh (Chip) Cruz (W), Congratulations!, then lost to Alex Becerra of La Joya Juarez-Lincoln (L) in the second round, and to Luis Cota of Rio Grande City (L) in the third round.

145 Chris Brown lost his first varsity match to Manuel Arriaga of La Joya Juarez-Lincoln (L). Chris won his second round match due to a forfeit from PSJA (W). Congratulations!

145 Gonzalo Gutierrez, won his first match against Miguel Saenz of Rio Grande City (W), Congratulations!, lost his second round match to Frank Rivera of La Joya High School (L) (who placed 6th at the state tournament last year), and lost his third round match to Edgar Vela of McAllen Memorial High School (L).

152 Adrian Sanchez, lost his first match to Daniel Salazar of Mission Veterans (L), then came back to win his second round match against Martin Chapa of Rio Grande City (W). Congratulations!

152 David Casarez, lost his first varsity match to a wrestler from McAllen Memorial (L), and lost his second round match to a wrestler from PSJA (L). (Names not posted on bracket.)

160 Andres (Andy) Sanchez, lost his first match to Jorge Ibarra of Rio Grande City (L), then came back to pin a wrestler from PSJA in the second round (W) Congratulations!, before falling to a wrestler from McAllen Memorial in the 5th/6th place mat (L).

171 Everardo Tirado lost his first round match to Stephen Badillo of La Joya Juarez-Lincoln (L), and his second match to a wrester from PSJA (L).

171 Tino Garces lost his first varsity match, in the second period, to Jose Reyna of Victoria Memorial (L). Garces forfeited his second match to Chris Salinas (L).

180 Nick Rodriguez lost his first varsity match to J. L. Garza of Rio Grande City (L), and his second round match to Pedro Balderas of PSJA (L).

189 Manuel (Manny) Cruz, after a bye in the first round, Manny lost in his first varsity match to Ricardo Escamilla of PJSA (L), and then lost his next match to Gilbert Garcia of Mission Veterans (L).

189 Matt Torres forfeited his first match to Joey Mayorga of Rio Grande City (L) and his second match to Joshua Ruiz of McAllen Memorial (L).

215 Uncontested.

285 Alex Solis, after waiting for a match that did not materialize on Friday, Alex consulted with Coach Pederson and opted to attend a college orientation session at Texas A & M – Kingsville on Saturday. Alex reported afterwards that he was accepted into the program of his choice, the Geosciences Department. Congratualtions Alex!

Of the twenty-three boys attending, three are seniors, six are juniors, eleven are sophomores, and three are freshmen. Fifteen of the boys were competing in their first wrestling tournament/matches; with five of these wrestlers winning their first official varsity match.

Next Up: Panthers Host San Benito Greyhounds in District Dual Meet: District dual matches for our Panthers begin Thursday, December 3, 2009, at 7:00 p.m. (Check with your wrestler on whether the dual matches will be in the Sepulveda Gym or the Lackey Gym.) The Panthers will travel to San Benito on Saturday, December 5th for the Greyhound’s annual tournament.

"If you have no confidence in self, you are twice defeated in the race of life. With confidence, you have won even before you have started." Marcus Tillius Cicero

The Takedown Newsletter 11.20.09

TheTakedown                           
W e s l a c o H i g h S c h o o l

Panther Wrestling Newsletter

11.20.09 Volume 02- Issue 1

YES!! OUR FAVORITE TIME OF YEAR IS HERE!

Years First Edition Brings Panther Wrestling Fans Up-To-Date

      
 Wrestler’s RETURN TO “HEAVEN”

"As I enter from the outside world and set foot onto the Panther wrestling mat, I transform into a being that words can no longer describe. I do not concern myself with worldly problems. I am in my domain. It is my Heaven here on Earth. With each stance that I take and every step I hear on the mat, I embrace punishment, fearing someone else may be working harder than me. I notice the smell of pride in the air, and this excites me. The blood, sweat and tears from the agony of defeat and sweet joy of victory bring about a feeling like no other I have ever been able to find. Deep within my heart there lies a security in knowing that not only has my pride contributed to this essence, but that the blood, sweat and tears of Panther Wrestlers past have contributed to it as well. And we must not forget the ones who taught us what pride really means. This is sacred to me. It reminds me that I have given everything I have and put it all into the great sport of wrestling. I have given my heart and soul to this sport. So whenever I leave my domain, I always take with me the anxiety and the yearning from deep within my soul that just can't wait until my next return to "Heaven."

King of the Mat Tournament Held at Sharyland.

2nd Annual Wrestling Tourney Presented by Rodriguez Brothers & Extended Family… The Rodriguez Brothers - Daniel, Eli, and Mike - all Panther Alumni, put on their second annual King of the Mat Tourney on Saturday, April 4, 2009 at the Sharyland High School Wrestling Gym. (Additional tournaments were scheduled for June 20th and August 1st.) Congratulations to the Rodriguez' for running a smooth and well-paced tournament. There were wrestlers from the Valley as well as San Antonio and Austin represented. The format allowed each wrestler a minimum of three matches.

Panthers competing at this tournament were: Frank Hernandez (Class of 2008), 1st Place; Juan C. "Charlie" Villegas (Class of 2010), 1st Place; Ernie Garcia (Class of 2010), 2nd Place; Justin Ramirez (Class of 2010), 2nd Place; and A.J. Garcia (Class of 2010), 2nd Place. Also competing were Hector Villanueva, Jr. (Class of 2011) and Pro Sanchez (Class of 2008). Congratulations to all!

             King of the Mat:  Individual Weight Class Champs

                Panther Juan “Charlie” Villegas, center, 1st Place.

Miles Pederson New Panther Head Coach

Wednesday, November 18, 2009: Our new wrestling coach, Miles Pederson, held a parent’s meeting to introduce himself and his staff, his coaching philosophy, and the season’s wrestling schedule. Pederson stated that in developing the schedule he was looking at assuring each wrestler the opportunity of a minimum of 30 matches; which is needed in order to go to next level and be successful (regional & state tournaments). Coach Pederson went on to state that the team will travel to one tournament outside the valley this year – the Gulf Coast Duals – in Corpus Christi, and that as the team develops, he plans to add out-of-valley tournaments in subsequent years. Pederson’s assistant coaches are Moises Chavez (a Panther Wrestling alumnus) and Mary Vela. After-school practices will end at 6:15 p.m. with the goal of making our wrestlers better. Noting that wrestling is a family-oriented sport, Pederson introduced his wife, Sandra, and his children, Anthony and Noelle; stressing that it is important for parents to attend the matches as a wrestler tends to perform better when his/her family is there to support them. Noting that the third six weeks period is crucial to the team, Pederson said that the wrestlers will be in study hall for a portion of the wrestling athletic period for tutoring, asking that parents hold their wrestlers accountable. Coach went on to talk about weight control, noting that wrestling is a life-style, the wrestler choosing to be healthy; with a high school male’s goal of 7% body fat and a high school female’s goal of 12% body fat. Stressing that there will be little down time from now till the end of February, Coach Pederson asked that parents keep informed as to wrestling schedules and tournaments, as the team will practice during holidays, and will condition after matches as well. Welcome to WHS Coach Pederson!

Panther’s Train at U. of Iowa Hawkeye Camp

Left to Right:  Charlie Villegas, Justin Ramirez, University of

Iowa Coach, World and Olympic Champion legend Dan Gable,

Hector Villanueva, Jr. and A. J. Garcia after a training session.

L to R: Justin Ramirez, A. J. Garcia, Tom Brands, Charlie Villegas, Hector Villanueva, Jr.  Brands’ spoke on motivation and setting goals.

Iowa City, Iowa: After months of planning, Panther Wrestler’s Juan Carlos “Charlie” Villegas (Sr.), Justin Ramirez (Sr.), A.J. Garcia (Sr.) and Hector Villanueva, Jr. (Jr.) found themselves at the home of 24 time, and current, NCAA Wrestling Champions, the University of Iowa Hawkeyes. Training under the watchful eyes of famed coach, Dan Gable (National, World and Olympic Champion), current coach Tom Brands (National, World and Olympic Champion) and assistant coach Terry Brands (National Champion and Olympic Bronze Medalist), along with several of the U of I Hawkeye Wrestlers, the boys took part in thirteen – one hour forty-five minute sessions over a five day period. There were wrestlers from twelve different states, with the Panthers having traveled the furthest to attend the annual camp.

Camp sessions covered standing basics, standing defenses, standing leg attacks, standing essentials, bottom techniques, top techniques, free-style and Greco, along with talks on nutrition, strength, motivation, goal setting and academics. The Hawkeyes, practicing as a club, were also in camp. “The warm-ups alone were tough, and then we still had an hour and a half to go!” said Villanueva after the first full day of camp. Garcia added that Gable stayed true to his coaching beliefs as “the camp wrestling gym was not air-conditioned. I liked that he (Gable) expected as much from us, as he does his wrestlers.”

Gable based his final talk on the book, Heart of a Champion, written by Olympic Champion Bob Richards. Gable had with him a first edition copy of the book, which he received when he was thirteen years old. The basis of the book, “What makes a champion?” is an underlying theme in each of the stories. Becoming a champion is due to a will to win no matter what the odds. The athletes highlighted all had to overcome hardship, disability, racism, sexism, and more to become the best the world has ever seen. In essence, a celebration of hard work and the indomitable human spirit. Each of the Iowa Hawkeye wrestlers has committed himself to this concept and is in the process of writing his own championship story.

Tom Brands spoke on the “selfishness” that is needed in order to be a champion. Noting that a champion has to have the need to “be the highlight” of a match or tournament, Brands stressed that “sacrifice and making the right choices” are needed to get there. “You have to stand up to yourself; you can’t be like everyone else!” Brand completed his remarks on the “wrestling side of life” and then proceeded to talk about the “human being” side of life. “You need to stand-up for what is right, every day of your life.”

Panthers Medal at Oklahoma State Camp

                                                                                          
A. J. Garcia, Charlie Villegas, Justin Ramirez and Hector Villanueva, Jr. in front of the Spirit Rider of Oklahoma State University.

 A wrestling clinic session being conducted by OSU assistant coach Eric Guerrero at the OSU Gallagher – Iba Arena, July 15, 2009.

Stillwater, Oklahoma: Three days after completing the Hawkeye Camp, Villegas, Ramirez, Garcia and Villanueva entered another five day technique camp at Oklahoma State University. They boys were glad to see some familiar faces in McHi’s Sam Mangum (2009 State Champion), Scott Inskeep (2009 State 5th Place Finish) along with three other McHi Wrestlers and four wrestlers from Sharyland High School. Fourteen states were represented by 320 wrestlers in the combined intensive and technique camps.

The ten sessions placed an emphasis on high percentage takedown techniques, leg attack set-ups and finishes, standing-up from the bottom position and the safest and most effective methods to score from the bottom. A series of different rides, breakdowns and turns were taught from the top position. At the end of each three session day, the boys competed in two live matches before retiring for the night.

On the last day of camp, a single elimination format tournament was held in the famed Gallaher-Iba Arena, under the banners noting Oklahoma State University’s 34 National Championships. Wrestling multiple times in a span of three hours, Villegas, Ramirez and Garcia each won a bronze medal in their respective weight divisions.

“I enjoyed the competition each day; facing a tougher level of wrestling talent” said Ramirez while packing his bags for the trip home. Picking up his things on the other side of the dorm room, Villegas stated that “while it was tough, it was well worth it being here (camp). I gained insight and made new friends.”

After 20 days and 3,240 miles of travel, the boys arrived home with new skills and a plan of action to use during the upcoming Panther wrestling season.

2009 – 2010 Weslaco Panther Wrestling Schedule:

(Left to Right)  DATE - OPPONENT - SITE - TIME

11/20/09, Juarez-Lincoln Tournament, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln High School, 3:00pm

11/21/09, Juarez-Lincoln Tournament, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln High School, 9:00am

12/03/09, San Benito Dual Meet, Weslaco High School, 7:00pm

12/05/09, San Benito Tournament, San Benito High School, 9:00am

12/10/09, To Be Announced, To Be Announced, 7:00pm

12/12/09, Weslaco East Tournament, Weslaco East High School, 9:00am

12/17/09, PSJA Memorial Dual Meet, PSJA Memorial High School – Alamo, 7:00pm

12/18/09, Gulf Coast Duals, Corpus Christi Ray High School, 9:00am

12/19/09, Gulf Coast Duals, Corpus Christi Ray High School, 9:00am

01/02/10, Tomas Garces Tournament, Weslaco High School, 9:00am

01/05/10, Weslaco East Dual, Weslaco East High School, 7:00pm

01/07/10, Rio Hondo Dual Meet, Weslaco High School, 7:00pm (Alumni Night)

01/09/10, Boys – To Be Announced, To Be Announced, 9:00am

01/09/10, Girls – Rio Grande City, Rio Grande City High School, 9:00am

01/14/10, PSJA North Dual, Weslaco High School, 7:00pm (Parent's Night)

01/16/10, Sharyland Tournament, Sharyland High School, 9:00am

01/16/10, Mission Girls Tournament, Mission High School, 9:00am

01/21/10, PSJA Dual, PSJA High School - San Juan, 7:00pm

01/22/10, La Joya High School Tournament, La Joya High School, 9:00am

01/23/10, La Joya High School Tournament, La Joya High School, 9:00am

01/29/10, Junior Varsity District Tournament, Weslaco East High School, TBA

02/04/10, District 32 Varsity Tournament, Weslaco High School, TBA

02/12&13/10, UIL Region IV Championships, San Antonio, TBA

02/26&27/10, UIL Texas State Championships, Austin, TBA

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Best wishes to senior wrestler – Alex Solis - on November 12th.

UIL Booster Club Rules:

Visit our blog, www.weslacopantherwrestling.blogspot.com for an updated list of guidelines, roles, policies, and restrictions that we as parents and boosters must comply with. This will give everyone an understanding of the role UIL, WISD, and parents play regarding athletic activities. (UIL Athletic Booster Guidelines – November 20, 2009 listing.)

"The higher we soar, the smaller we appear to those who cannot fly."

Friedrich Nietzsche

UIL Athletic Booster Guidelines

UIL Booster Club Guidelines

(Excerpts of Athletic Guidelines)

The Role of Competition: Participation teaches that it is a privilege and an honor to represent one’s school. Students learn to win without boasting and to lose without bitterness. Self-motivation and intellectual curiosity are essential to the best academic participants. Artistic commitment and a desire to excel are traits found in music participants. Physical training and good health habits are essential to the best athletes. Interscholastic competition is a fine way to encourage youngsters to enrich their education and expand their horizons. Leadership and citizenship experiences through school activities help prepare students for a useful and wholesome life. Plus, competition is fun!

Role of the Superintendent: Member schools make UIL rules and determine policies regarding penalties to schools, school district personnel and student participants. The superintendent is solely responsible for the entire UIL program. All school activities, organizations, events and personnel are under the jurisdiction of the superintendent. Booster clubs must recognize this authority and work within a framework prescribed by the school administration.

Role of Booster Clubs: Neighborhood patrons form booster clubs to help enrich the school’s participation in extracurricular activities. The fund-raising role of booster clubs is particularly crucial in today’s economic climate.

Written Policies: Booster clubs should develop and annually review policies to cover: how to obtain administrative approval before beginning projects; how to plan and publicize meetings; bookkeeping and fund administration including process to obtain superintendent’s approval prior to raising funds; election of officers (suggestion: one president; one secretary; one treasurer; and three vice - presidents: one vice president to oversee fall, winter and spring sports); taking, distributing and filing minutes; public communication; proper interaction with fine arts directors and academic and athletic coaches through the lines of authority as established by the school board; a sportsmanship code governing behavior of booster club members and fans at contests, treatment of officials, guests, judges, etc.; and plans to support the school regardless of success in competition, keeping the educational goals of competition at the forefront of all policies.

Relationship with the School: The superintendent or a designee who does not coach or direct a UIL contest has approval authority over booster clubs and should be invited to all meetings. All meetings should be open to the public.

• Booster clubs do not have authority to direct the duties of a school district employee. The scheduling of contests, rules for participation, methods of earning letters and all other criteria dealing with inter-school programs are under the jurisdiction of the local school administration.

• Minutes should be taken at each meeting and kept on file at the school.

• School administration should apprise booster clubs of all school activities.

• Booster clubs should apprise school administrators of all club activities.

• Periodic financial statements itemizing all receipts and expenditures should be made to the general club membership and kept on file at the school.

Booster Club Finances

Fundraising

Spending

Stipends

Gifts to Coaches

Money given to a school cannot be earmarked for any particular expense. Booster clubs may make recommendations, but cash or other valuable consideration must be given to the school to use at its discretion.

• Fund-raising projects are subject to state law. Nonprofit or tax-exempt status may be obtained from the Internal Revenue Service.

• Community-wide sales campaigns should be coordinated through the school administration to minimize simultaneous sales campaigns.

• Sales campaigns should be planned carefully to insure that the projects provide dollar value for items sold, and that most of the money raised stays at home. Otherwise donations are often more rewarding than letting the major part of the money go to outside promoters.

• Fund-raising activities should support the educational goals of the school and should not exploit students. Activities and projects should be investigated carefully before committing the school’s support.

• Individuals who actively coach or direct a UIL activity should serve in an advisory capacity to the booster club and should not have control or signature authority over booster club funds, including petty cash or miscellaneous discretionary funds. Coaches wish-lists should have received prior approval from school administration before submission to boosters.

• Coaches and directors of UIL academics, athletics and fine arts may not accept more than $500 in money, product or service from any source in recognition of or appreciation for coaching, directing or sponsoring UIL activities. The $500 limit is cumulative for a calendar year and is not specific to any one particular gift.

• The district may pay a stipend, fixed at the beginning of the year, as part of the annual employment contract. The amount of the stipend can’t depend on the success of a team or individual. In other words, a coach can’t receive more money if a team or individual qualifies to region or state.

• Funds are to be used to support school activities. To provide such funding for non-school activities would violate UIL rules and the public trust through which funds are earned.

ATHLETIC BOOSTERS:  Club Restrictions: Booster clubs cannot give anything to students, including awards. Check with school administrators before giving anything to a student, school sponsor or coach. Schools must give prior approval for any banquet or get-together given for students. All fans, not just members of the booster club, should be aware of this rule. It affects the entire community.

Unlike music and academic booster clubs, athletic booster club funds shall not be used to support athletic camps, clinics, private instruction or any activity outside of the school.

Booster groups or individuals may donate money or merchandise to the school with prior approval of the administration. These kinds of donations are often made to cover the cost of commercial transportation and to cover costs for out-of-town meals. It would be a violation for booster groups or individuals to pay for such costs directly.

Individuals should be informed of the seriousness of violating the athletic amateur rule. The penalty to a student-athlete is forfeiture of varsity athletic eligibility in the sport for which the violation occurred for one calendar year from the date of the violation. Student athletes are prohibited from accepting valuable consideration for participation in school athletics - anything that is not given or offered to the entire student body on the same basis that it is given or offered to an athlete. Valuable consideration is defined as tangible or intangible property or service including anything that is usable, wearable, salable or consumable.

Local school districts superintendents have the discretion to allow student athletes to accept, from their fellow students, small ‘goodie bags’ that contain candy, cookies or other items that have no intrinsic value and are not considered valuable consideration.

Homemade “spirit signs” made from paper and normal supplies a student purchases for school use may be placed on the students’ lockers or in their yards. Trinkets and food items cannot be attached. Yard signs made of commercial quality wood, plastic, etc. if not purchased or made by the individual player’s parent, must be returned after the season.

The school may provide meals for contests held away from the home school only. If the school does not pay for meals, the individual parents need to purchase their own child’s food. Parents may purchase anything they wish for their own child but may not provide food or other items of valuable consideration for their child’s teammates. The school may also provide supplies for games and practices and transportation for school field trips. Students should pay admission fees during school field trips.

Parties for athletes are governed by the following State Executive Committee interpretation of Section 441 of the UIL Constitution & Contest Rules.

Section 441: VALUABLE CONSIDERATION SCHOOL TEAMS AND ATHLETES MAY ACCEPT:

1. Pre-season. School athletic teams may be given no more than one pre-season meal, per sport, per school year such as a fish fry, ice cream supper, etc. provided it is approved by the school and given by a nonprofit organization, usually the booster club, before the team plays in its first contest. It may be given after a scrimmage.

2. Post-season. School athletic teams are limited to no more than one post-season meal or banquet per sport, per school year, and it must be given by a nonprofit organization and approved by the school. Banquet favors or gifts are considered valuable consideration and are a violation if they are given to a student athlete at any time.

3. Other. School athletic teams and athletes may be invited to and may attend functions where free admission is offered or where refreshments and/or meals are served, provided all students from that high school are invited to attend for the same fee and on the same basis as the athletes or the athletic team. Athletes or athletic teams may be recognized at these functions but may not accept anything that is not given to all other students.

VALUABLE CONSIDERATION THAT SCHOOL TEAMS AND ATHLETES MAY NOT ACCEPT:

Examples of items deemed to be valuable consideration and thus a violation of this rule include but are not limited to:

1. Meals, snacks or snack foods during or after practices;

2. Parties provided by parents or other students strictly for an athletic team;

3. Anything that is not given or offered to the entire student body on the same basis that it is given to or offered to an athlete.

Local school district superintendents have the discretion to allow student athletes to accept, from their fellow students, small “goodie bags” that contain candy, cookies or other items that have no intrinsic value and are not considered valuable consideration.

Gatherings of school athletic teams at parents’ or patrons’ homes require each athlete to contribute equally to any food or refreshment. The burden of proof will be on the athlete, his or her head coach and the school if these occasions are questioned. No overnight lodging or sports instruction or practice is permitted.

The rules for athletics are different than the rules for academics and music. Athletes are restricted by the Athletic Amateur Rule, which states that athletes cannot accept money or valuable consideration for participating in a UIL sport or for allowing their names to be used in promoting a product, plan or service related to a UIL contest.

Weslaco Panther Wrestling Schedule

Weslaco Panther Wrestling Schedule

2009 * 2010

Juarez-Lincoln Huskie Tournament     
Juarez-Lincoln High School, La Joya
Friday, November 20, 2009

3:00 p.m.

Saturday, November 21, 2009    

Juarez-Lincoln Huskie Tournament

Juarez-Lincoln High School, La Joya

9:00 a.m.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

San Benito Greyhound Dual
Weslaco High School

7:00 p.m.

Saturday, December 5, 2009

San Benito Greyhound Tournament

San Benito High School, San Benito

9:00 a.m.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

To Be Announced
To Be Announced

7:00 p.m.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Weslaco East Wildcat Tournament

Weslaco East High School, Weslaco

9:00 a.m.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

PSJA Memorial Wolverines Dual

PSJA Memorial High School, Alamo

7:00 p.m.

Friday, December 18, 2009

Gulf Coast Duals Tournament

Corpus Christi Ray High School

9:00 a.m.

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Gulf Coast Duals Tournament

Corpus Christi Ray High School

9:00 a.m.

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Tomas Garces Memorial Tournament

Weslaco High School

9:00 a.m.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Weslaco East Wildcats Dual

Weslaco East High School

7:00 p.m.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Rio Hondo Bobcats Dual

Weslaco High School

7:00 p.m.

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Boys - To Be Announced

Girls - Rio Grande City Tournament

Boys - To Be Announced

Girls - Rio Grande City High School

Boys - To Be Announced

Girls - 9:00 a.m.

Thursday, January 14, 2010
PSJA North Raiders Dual
Weslaco High School
7:00 p.m.

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Sharyland Rattler Tournament

Sharyland High School, Sharyland

9:00 a.m.

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Mission Girls Tournament

Mission High School, Mission

9:00 a.m.

Thursday, January 21, 2010

PSJA Bears Dual

PSJA High School, San Juan

7:00 p.m.

Friday, January 22, 2010

La Joya High School Tournament

La Joya High School, La Joya

9:00 a.m.

Saturday, January 23, 2010

La Joya High School Tournament

La Joya High School, La Joya

9:00 a.m.

Friday, January 29, 2010

Junior Varsity District Tournament

Weslaco East High School, Weslaco

9:00 a.m.

Thursday, February 04, 2010

District 32 Varsity Tournament

Weslaco High School

9:00 a.m.

Friday, February 12, 2010/Saturday, February 13, 2010

UIL Region IV Championships

Blossom Center, San Antonio, Texas

TBA

Friday, February 26, 2010/Saturday, February 27, 2010
UIL Texas State Wrestling Championships
Delco Centre, Austin, Texas
TBA