CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – After postponing their decision in August, the Clarksville-Montgomery County School Board narrowly approved a proposal that would implement sanctioned middle school wrestling in the 2026-27 budget last night.

The vote, split 4-1 with one abstention, came after board members wrestled with amendments from Aron Maberry that would have obligated future boards to add or vote on a new middle school sport every two years. That drew sharp criticism from county commissioners, who warned that current boards cannot bind future ones.

“You threw us a curveball, Aron,” said Kacie Bryant from District 3.

Middle school wrestling proposal

The initial proposal from Maberry called for adding boys and girls wrestling to CMCSS middle schools beginning with the 2026-27 school year. Under the plan, the district would begin setting aside funds for equipment and facilities, with an estimated startup cost of about $260,000 across the eight middle schools.

During the formal board meeting on Aug. 26, district staff recommended two options: Delay the program to allow for long-term planning and facility improvements or approve funding immediately for basic equipment and space needs to launch wrestling in 2026-27. However, the board had concerns over the funding, as well the overlap wrestling has with other winter sports.

1 new sport every 2 years

As the board kicked off discussions on Tuesday for what many expected to be the original proposal for middle school wrestling, the board was thrown a curveball: one new middle school sport every two years.

“I make a motion to have the district roll out a new middle school sport at least every two years, starting in the 26-27 school budget, beginning with middle school wrestling.”

Board member Jimmie Garland expressed concerns about the district being financially ready for this sort of plan. “I really do think we need to talk with the County Commission before we actually entertain this again.”

Maberry added a new amendment to his new motion that would obligate the board to vote on adding a new sport every two years. “I make a motion to have the district place in the budget a new middle school sport at least every two years, starting in the 2026-27 school year budget, starting with wrestling, before the board’s consideration.”

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Other board members like Chris Lanier, were taken aback by the sudden shift from middle school wrestling to adding a new sport every two years. “Not that middle school wrestling is a bad thing or anything, but I think what you did is throw us for a loop. … I think just the motion, I think we kind of got off from wrestling into this other kind of gamut.”

Eventually, Maberry withdrew his new motions in favor of voting on his original proposal: adding middle school wrestling to the 2026-27 budget.

Later, County Commissioner Harper admonished the board for considering this proposal, saying, “You cannot obligate future boards to take a certain direction, because you do not have that power.”

Middle school wrestling passes in narrow vote

Speaking for the proposal, Bryant said, “Sports basically saved my life. I had a pretty rough time in high school, and I got a soccer scholarship. … And so it’s because of sports that I’m probably not dead in a ditch right now. And it put me through college.”

Carol Berry, speaking against the proposal, said, “When I think about wrestling, it’s a dangerous sport. It’s near and dear to my heart because we have a child in this very district who got his neck broken … and we haven’t said a word about that.”

The vote passed 4-1, with the District 3 seat empty following Herb Nelson’s resignation. Bryant, Lanier, Garland and Maberry voted yes. Berry voted no, and Kent Griffy abstained.

Jazmin Login contributed to this report.

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