An engaged and active youth leads to better outcomes for future generations. Lamar, Missouri, like many rural communities suffers from a lack of social activities for its youth. When options are not available for children to engage in after-school activities they resort to less than desirable stimulants. AOK in partnership with Chris Wyatt, President of CoxHealth Barton County, want to give children another option to become engaged during the long winter months. An outlet that allows each child to excel as an individual, learn life lessons of loss and overcoming defeat, self-discipline, taking ownership of actions, and testing the limits of their own physical ability.
This activity is one that Chris Wyatt has gained a passion for during his years of high school and college: wrestling. The sport will give those children that have not seen success in team sports to have an outlet to release energy and pave their own success without the subjective decisions of any coach. Wrestling allows the best wrestler a spot on the team without any subjective measurements. The great part is that at a young age each child will have an equal amount of time in matches as the next child. No one sits the bench.
With the long winning tradition of Lamar High School Football it is known that athletes are born here. Wrestling is a sport that will develop the next generation of football stars more than any other sport: tackling, positioning, mental toughness, winning with grace, accepting defeat only to help drive toward working harder, and physical conditioning like no other sport can offer.
The initial start-up costs are the most expensive part of any wrestling program. Mats can cost $5,000 each, but with proper care can last 10+ years.
This is where we are asking for your help. To start a successful program we need to raise $20,000:
2 mats = $10,000
Singlets: $2,000
Yearly Administrative Fees: $1,000 (USA wrestling costs)
$7,000: Remaining funds will be utilized only for those children that show an economic hardship. We want all children to be able to participate no matter their financial needs. Year-end awards and party for all participants. Any remaining funds will roll over toward the next year and possibly obtaining a 3rd mat if needed.
Future of Lamar Youth Wrestling:
Wrestling would begin with K-8 with the hopes that there would be enough interest to donate the program and mats to the Lamar School District, and begin a successful dynasty of state championships at the high school level.
Successful programs own 4 mats and will host 1-2 tournaments per year for the youth program. These tournaments will have 200-400 wrestlers from the 4 state region. These tournaments have been known to bring in $20,000 in revenue from a single, well-run, tournament. However, the requirements are also that each mat has its own score tower. These are the visions for the future, but the first step is with your donation.
Sponsorships: Your company name will be seen at 5-10 tournaments in SW Missouri each year.
Name/Logo on Lamar Youth Wrestling t-shirt
Copper: $100 3” x 3”
Bronze: $250 4” x 4”
Silver: $500 6” x 6”
Gold: $1000 Name across top back of shirt for 2 years
Platinum: $2,500 Your logo on the back of the singlets (3-5 year life-span)
- Logo on shirts for 1 year
Diamond: $5,000 Your large logo will be placed on the corner of the mat (8 available)
- Logo on shirts for 2 years