Hart district officials are looking at the addition of wrestling to the sports offerings for Santa Clarita Valley high school students next year as a self-sustaining program, officials said Wednesday.

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“There is a demonstrated high level of support for wrestling in the Santa Clarita Valley, with four local programs currently hosting more than 150 members, ages 3 to 21,” according to the William S. Hart Union High School District agenda. “Local supporters have stepped forward to offer training facilities and expertise.”

It’s the second self-sustaining program the district has added in as many years, which will be seeking to follow the growth and success of lacrosse, which was added by the board in 2012.

Related article: Hart District Officials OK Addition Of Lacrosse

“The district has had interest in a wrestling program for many, many years,” said Gail Pinsker, Hart district spokeswoman. “And following the acceptance of the lacrosse program, it’s been determined that we could do the same for wrestling in the district.”

The lacrosse program was piloted by participating students and their parents for the 2012-13 school year, and it was added at Valencia High for this most recent school year.

Hart district officials recently received an application to add a third self-sustained team at Hart High from students and parents there. If four schools decide to create a program, district officials could petition the CIF — the state’s governing body for interscholastic sports — to sanction league play.

Related article: West Ranch Boys Lacrosse Dominates In Home Opener

“Two qualified coaches have been selected to direct the team, and there is sufficient financial means among the parent support group community to ensure the long term viability of a program at Valencia High School,” according to a Hart district staff report.

The parents in charge of the program are required to create a 501c3 nonprofit organization to handle the financial aspects of the new program, Pinsker said.

Hart district board member Bob Jensen said he looked forward to the discussion at Wednesday’s board meeting.

If there’s adequate support, then it benefits the district to offer programs that give students a variety of extracurricular options, as well as academic ones.

“There’s no question there absolutely has to be the support among students, among parents among the community, and there has to be the financial support,” Jensen said. “You can come up with a number of things you want to do, but if you do the support then a lot of things aren’t viable.”

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