School board turns down request to let 2 Hickman Co. students on DCHS wrestling team

The Dickson County School Board rejected a request to allow two Hickman County students to participate on the Dickson County High School wrestling team. School board members voiced concerns Thursday night about last year’s vote to prohibit home-schooled students from playing on local school teams, whether out-of-county players would take the positions from local students and setting a precedent for other programs. Director of Schools Dr. Danny Weeks presented the request from the athletic director at East Hickman High School to allow two freshmen to join the Cougar wrestling squad because the school does not have a wrestling program. Weeks said TSSAA allows such participation from one school to another as well as across county lines, which he said is much more rare. Weeks said he had spoken with Cougar coach Tommy Badon and Principal Ed Littleton and said they were OK with the request. But board member Steve Haley cited the board’s decision last year to not allow home-schooled students living in Dickson County to participate in school activities, saying he has a hard time allowing someone from outside the county to play while the children of local taxpayers are denied. Board member Phil Buckner also worried that allowing out-of-county students to play might take away the opportunity for local students. Newest board member Rick Chandler, who was elected in August, said the board should look at the bigger picture and that playing in a sports program can help students stay in school and graduate. The board rejected the request 4-2 with Haley, Tim Potter, Kirk Vandivort and Josh Lewis voting in opposition.