Booster Meeting Notes - 8/18/26

HAMPTON WRESTLING ASSOCIATION

BOOSTER MEETING MINUTES – AUGUST 18, 2026

(Called to Order at 6:05 pm – Adjourned at 6:56 pm)

Varsity & Jr. High Update:

• Summer Wrestling Program: The summer wrestling program was reviewed and considered a strong success.

  • The program ran for approximately 8 weeks, with 15 total workouts.

  • Average attendance was approximately 20–25 wrestlers per session.

  • Participants included Hampton wrestlers as well as wrestlers from Shaler, Seneca Valley, Fox Chapel, Central Catholic, Burrell, Ohio, and other surrounding programs.

  • Guest clinicians included college coaches, Division I and Division II All-Americans, national champions, club coaches, and high school coaches.

  • All summer wrestling sessions and guest instruction were provided at no cost to participants.

  • Coaches reported strong participation and positive feedback from wrestlers and families.

• Preseason Strength & Conditioning

  • Summer strength and conditioning included lifting and running sessions approximately three days per week in the high school weight room.

  • Coaches reported measurable improvement among athletes who participated consistently.

  • A preseason strength and conditioning program of approximately 2–3 days per week is being considered.

  • Final preseason plans will depend on gym/weight room availability and coaching logistics.

  • Additional open-room opportunities at Fox Chapel on Sundays and Wednesdays were discussed.

• High School Schedule & Tournaments

  • Coaches reviewed the preliminary wrestling schedule, including section and non-section matches.

  • The first official school practice date discussed for middle school/high school is November 20.

  • Some non-section matches and tournaments are still awaiting confirmation from the athletic office.

  • The team is considering returning to the Fred Bell Tournament, which would likely require an overnight hotel stay.

    • The Holiday Inn used previously will be contacted regarding room blocks and rates.

Youth Wrestling Program

• Youth registration/practices are targeted to begin around mid-November, if possible.

• Last season, the youth program included approximately 75 wrestlers representing roughly 50 families.

• A youth parent meeting is tentatively planned for the week of November 16.

• Youth wrestlers will be incorporated into booster fundraising and communications.

• Youth insurance was paid on August 4.

• The board discussed increasing youth registration fees by approximately $20 per wrestler to help offset insurance expenses.

• Youth tournament and tri/quad dates will be provided to the board once finalized.

Fundraising

The board discussed focusing on a smaller number of higher-performing fundraisers. Current and proposed fundraising activities include:

• Talbot Tailgate – October 2

• Dog Duals Tournament – December 12–13

  • Required paperwork still needs to be finalized.

  • School confirmation is needed for use of the gym, cafeteria, and kitchen.

  • Once school approval is received, the tournament will be posted on PY Wrestling.

• Digital fundraiser (Snap) – Target launch: December 1st

  • Campaign duration is 28 days.

  • Each athlete will be encouraged to collect approximately 20 email addresses and 20 phone numbers from potential supporters.

  • The minimum donation to receive the digital discount card is $25.

    • Digital discount cards can be used with participating national and local businesses.

  • Athlete rewards begin after reaching specified donation levels.

    • A team store featuring items such as hoodies and T-shirts can operate in conjunction with the campaign.

  • The board discussed providing parents with a worksheet and QR code at the preseason parent meeting to improve contact collection and participation.

• Local business sponsorships

  • Sponsorship/logo placements are available on the fundraising page.

• Golf Outing

  • Sponsorship results from the golf outing were discussed positively.

  • A preliminary registration form/page will be created to begin collecting participant information.

• The board would like to continue expanding local business sponsorships.

• Sponsor letters, flyers, and materials should be prepared in advance of upcoming parent meetings and events.

• Pasquale’s partnership

  • Hoagie ticket sales: A potential hoagie fundraiser structure was discussed in which wrestlers would sell a designated number of tickets or have the option of a fundraiser buyout.

• Local business sponsorships

  • The board also discussed expanding sponsorship outreach to local businesses and distributing sponsor information at parent meetings and tournaments.

• Concessions

  • Previous wrestling concessions, particularly during Senior Night, were reported to be profitable.

  • The board discussed expanding concession offerings beyond pizza and water.

  • Possible additions include chips, hoagies, and other snack items.

  • Pricing and product costs will be reviewed to ensure appropriate fundraising margins.

Financial Report

Current balances reported:

• Operating Account: $22,836.81

• Scholarship Account: $5,500

• Youth insurance/liability expenses were paid on August 4.

• Accounting software was upgraded at a cost of approximately $19 per month and will link directly with booster bank accounts.

• IRS Filing/Penalty

  • The organization received an IRS late-filing penalty of $1,225.

  • The filing had originally been mailed but was rejected.

  • H&R Block will be contacted regarding converting/resubmitting the filing electronically.

  • The booster organization will request that the IRS waive/abate the penalty based on the circumstances.

  • An update will be provided to the board once the issue is resolved.

Miscellaneous Items:

• The team store and apparel options were discussed.

• The board would like to improve senior and team posters for the upcoming season.

• Student photographers/videographers may be considered for match coverage and social content.

• The board discussed updating and filling booster officer/board positions.

  • The Treasurer position and other roles were discussed.

  • A possible Deer Lakes liaison position was also discussed.

Upcoming Important Dates:

• October 2: Talbot Tailgate

• Early November: Target youth registration/practice start

• Week of November 16: Proposed youth parent meeting

• November 20: Official MS/HS practice date discussed

• December 1: Target digital fundraiser launch

• December 12–13: Dog Duals Tournament

• January 6: Fox Chapel – possible Past, Present & Future Night

• January 13: Kiski – currently expected final home section match

• September 15: Next Booster Meeting

Next Meeting Priorities:

The next booster meeting should include updates on the high school and youth schedules, Fred Bell hotel arrangements, Dog Duals facility approval, fundraiser materials and parent meeting, sponsorship outreach, board positions, and resolution of the IRS filing penalty.

Meeting Attendees:

The next booster meeting is scheduled for September 15, 2026.

BOOSTER MEETING ATTENDEES:

Joe Bursick	Denice Postler	Ethan Headlee
Ben Shapert	Chris Ruggeri	Allan Murray
Greg Hunkele	Nick Endres	Gretchen Bennett
Ashley Downing	Aly Matkovich