Albert Lea takes pride in its wrestling program. From head coach Larry Goodnature on down there are numerous coaches, wrestlers, supporters and fans that are responsible for putting together one of the best programs in the state.

However, the wrestling program is bigger than just the results it produces on the mat. It is a source of pride for the community. The Albert Lea community? Yes. The Glenville-Emmons community? Yes. The Alden-Conger community? Yes.

The co-op with these two schools serves Tiger wrestling well with everyone benefiting. Kids with a passion for wrestling have an opportunity to participate in the sport they love while the program continues to thrive because of it. Over the years these student-athletes have not only had success at the high school level, but it has helped them find direction in their next phase of life. The thought of taking away an extracurricular activity in the name of money does not benefit anyone.

The school board is asking for the co-op to be dissolved thus forcing wrestlers at both Alden-Conger and Glenville-Emmons to open enroll to be part of the team. This would mean more money for the school. But how much and at what cost?

Open enrollment simply will not happen because unlike metro schools many families in this community are not interested in having their children move schools, leave behind friends and have to sit out a year in the name of one sport.

Goodnature and many other wrestling supporters do not want this co-op to be dropped, and for a coach, staff and community that continually puts its wrestlers in the best position to succeed in whatever they are doing he must have good reasons.

People will tell you that kids participating in extracurricular activities do better in the classroom, and there may be no better example than the wrestling team. If you need proof just look at the state championship academic banners at the high school.

This change wouldn&8217;t just affect high schoolers. With the co-op gone it would mean no wrestling at the youth level either for A-C and G-E athletes. If you have ever seen the Tiger wrestling room on a night when the young kids are practicing it is quite a sight. You are kidding yourself if you believe wrestling is the only lesson being taught on those mats.

The other major effect the dropped co-op would have comes on the mat. Remember the classic battles the Tigers and Owatonna have waged over the years trying to make it to state. Well, cherish them because they will be gone. Sure, the two teams can still compete against one another but it will not have the same impact. Those special nights with gyms packed to the breaking point with passionate fans who may have become fans because of this one rivalry will be gone.

The Tiger wrestlers have performed under the idea of &8220;Never Give Up&8221; for some time and now we are asking the school board to do the same.