Nominations and Elections for Somerset Wrestling Club

8 years ago Featured

The last time I checked this was a free country and people were allowed to have a voice in the transfer of their hard earned money and where it is to be dispensed and used for .I believe in Mike and the others for the right to vote and have an impact with a voice. Now is the time for open meetings and elections!

Like him or not, Mike is one of those guys that always puts the kids first. He has a genuine passion for the sport and for teaching it to kids. With what he has done in the past for the wrestling community in Somerset it's absurd to try to exile him from the club. Regardless if it is Mike or someone else trying to help the club, meetings should be open to the public, and positions should be elected by the people who it affects the most, the wrestling families. I've personally learned so much more than just the fundamentals of wrestling from Mike, which has helped guide me to become a better all around person, he strives to help all the kids he coaches in anyway possible on or off the mat.

We have been a part of the wrestling program here in Somerset ever since we moved here 9 years ago. Both my son and daughter have wrestled and loved it. I have been involved with wrestling my whole life and was a successful wrestler myself, so I have a pretty good idea what it takes to have a successful program. This program has evolved and gradually gotten better every year. That is a compliment to everyone involved now and in the past. Obviously there are always things that we as parents would like to see done differently, based on what goes on in the practice room, and at the tournaments, but myself included base that off of what is going on with our own children. The coaches are doing what they think is best for the whole team, and I think they do a great job. I don't pretend to know what it takes to run a club or organize everything that is involved with it. That being said I think our club is being run very well, The tournament is getting better and bigger every year, the summer camp is outstanding, and to finally have a great group of coaches throughout the entire program ( youth, middle school and high school) is a sigh of relief. To actually have the same coaches for more than one or two years and be able to have some consistancey through the coaching I think is one of the biggest parts of developing a successful program. I know Mike pretty well on and off the mat, and to loose him as a coach would be a step in the wrong direction. I don't agree with letting Mike go and I think the program will suffer from it. I am all about making changes that will benefit the program, but this is not a good decision. I think the only fair way to make a decision like this is to put it to a vote, and let the parents and the wrestlers decide who is the best person to be coaching. That being said I think the program is run very well, and Mike is a big part of it.

I am a full supporter of Mike Nappers, and this cause. Praying for change.

Mike is one of the few guys I would trust to teach my son how to wrestle and do it the right way.

I would like to see Coach Kappers kept with the kids as their coach. I have never seen another coach at any other school that any of my family members kids go to pay so much attention to the kids unless they thought that that child would go far in the sport. And I am talking all sports. And I have not seen those coaches for wrestling on the mats with a lot of kids. I have heard many parents at tournaments from other schools say that they wish the kids coaches would show up. I have seen our Somerset Youth Wrestling Coaches show up to almost all of the matches and even when we were told that the coaches wouldn't be there I have seen them there. Coach Kappers has been on those mats supporting all of our children and been there for them. I have never heard ill will about Coach Kappers. I have seen parents and other coaches at tournaments say things to there kids things that should never be said or how they disappointed the coaches and that they needed the wins to make the school look good. This also in my opinion is not ok. This is not about the school this about the children. And I challenge anyone on the board that says Coach Kappers should be done to step up and do it themselves. This is a pretty tough job and I hate to see the ones get hurt and affected by this that matter the most and that is OUR CHILDREN!!!

Kappers is a great coach, my son Jake loved him.

Mike taught us more about wrestling than any other coach. He taught many of us how to use wrestling fundamentals into everyday of life. With sacrifice, hard work, dedication, and self motivation, we could accomplish more in life than the average person. Be above average and do more than most people are willing to do. You shall be respected and rewards will be generous in the future days. I believe in this 100%. So Mike, you have my approval.

This maligned error started from the leadership that hired the current coaches ... Not any different from the SBA (3) years ago .... that for years orchestrated behind closed doors , without public notice of monthly meetings , financials , full disclosure , elections , annual meeting updates. "In house only " w/o members is in direct violation of the 501 3c requirement per the non profit statutes . It just took a few people to disband the dinasaur . Looks like wrestling has an overwhelming amount of support for full transparency . Mike and the rest of the real supporters are important . BUT , the long term invested interests of the KIDS will pay dividends !

8 years ago Featured

I was on the Wrestling club board back in the days of Sgt. Miller in name only-no meetings-no financial reports- should be open for all to speak there mind

I was on the board back in the days of SGT Miller-in name only-no meetings -no financial reports-did not know it is continuing today

Mike has a true love for the sport and loves working with kids. He would be an asset to any program.

The club needs to have full open meetings. Minutes should be taken agendas voted on and officers nominated and voted in. Financials should be gone over in some fashion every meeting. When Mike, I and Dan started and ran the club we typically had 20 to 30 people in attendence each meeting not all but most. It needs to get back to that when I stepped away from the club with Mike there was $15,000 in the account and Mike and I had went and picked up the current varsity mat the club and school purchased. Entramce fees were paid for by the club, usa cards ect. We had mutiable wrestlerd competeing at Fargo, Iowa, Northern Plains, state freestlye and greco. We had state champions and multiable state place winners 1 wrestler with over a 160 career wins and 7 with over 100 career H.S wins. It takes a solid club with dedicated coaches and wrestlers for this to happen and Mike has always been there his commient to SHS wrestling is and always will be there.

Need to Vote

Hope this gets enough signatures!

Mike coaches my grandson for baseball and wrestling. He is not only a great coach but an awesome role model for my grandson and his teammates .

Clean the act up

I can and will vauge for mike's character . As long as I have known him , he has put his family first , quickly followed by his friends and loved ones . Can't think of a better person to teach the youngins!

Mike is an outstanding man no matter what he does. Not only does he care about what benefits the community as a whole, he is constantly making efforts to make the community and everyone involved better. Mike is a positive influence on these young lives and it would be a shame if all this positivity, coaching, encouragement, caring and love was taken away.

I have seen kappers work with the little ones for wrestling, he is a great coach. Everyone loves him, he includes everyone, teaches all, is a positive role model...i could go on and being a part of wrestling and the community for so long, I don't see why he would not be able to be a coach still. Meetings should be open, positions should be voted upon. Who decides who can/can't be a coach? I believe this is an unfair decision.