KINGWOOD — Representatives of Preston County’s wrestling programs would like to find a better, permanent home for the programs to practice.
Preston Mat Club, middle and Preston High programs all practice at a building on the county farm dubbed “the Wrestling Barn” for its origins and shape. But it’s too small and isn’t energy efficient, said Ike Dixon.
“We spend $6,000 to $8,000 on the Wrestling Barn each year, and that’s money that we raise,” Dixon said. “We’re wanting to see where we can build a new building or what we can do to fix the problem … We’re just throwing money away.”
The commission doesn’t charge rent; the money is for utilities.
Dixon said they have discussed tearing the building down.
“We’re looking for a long-term partner and a long-time home,” said Buddy Turner. While they are grateful for the barn, Turner said, more mat space is needed. Kids have to be “cycled through” practices, he said.
And the numbers of participants is growing, Turner said. The middle school has about 15 weight classes, for example.
“The long-term solution is a 42-by-84-foot mat surface area, which is two full wrestling mats, which would allow the teams to be able to practice up there,” Turner said.
There’s also the possibility the building could be used by other sports, he said. Former Commissioner Craig Jennings suggested at one time that cheerleaders could use it as well for practice.
Turner said some weight machines could be donated, if there was space for them. Both boys and girls wrestle, and better locker rooms are needed.
They would like a long-term lease from the commission, which the groups hope would at least provide the land.
“Wrestling is one of those sports, especially for Preston County, that the ties run family deep, and we all call ourselves family,” Turner said.
As an example he pointed to PHS graduate and two-time national wrestling champ Terrance Fanning, who returns to help coach at Preston.
Commissioners Don Smith and Samantha Stone asked the group to meet with County Administrator Kathy Mace to discuss the plan further. Commissioner Dave Price was not at the meeting.
In 2016, the commission paid The Mills Group to draw up plans to renovate the existing barn. The architects estimated it would cost $370,830 for the work, including upgrading HVAC, bringing electrical up to code, removing interior ceiling tiles, replacing and insulating the roof, adding a public restroom, adding locker rooms, insulating and siding the exterior, and adding a vestibule and storage area.
Commissioners chose not to proceed with that plan but did put about $8,000 into correcting drainage issues at the lot in 2017. It bought materials and the mat club provided labor to repair the roof.
And last year, Mace said the furnace needs to be replaced and suggested adding air conditioning.
