(UPDATED) (Atlantic, Iowa) – In an effort to keep Atlantic in Class 2A where Wrestling is concerned, Atlantic School District Superintendent Steve Barber, Wednesday evening, recommended to the School Board, the District not renew its shared Wrestling program with the CAM School District. If the two were to continue the arrangement, it would mean a move from Class 2A to Class 3A in wrestling, and competition involving all metro-area schools.

Barber it all boils down to the District’s BEDS (Basic Educational Data Survey) results.

Mr. Barber said, looking at the current enrollment numbers in grades 6-through 8, the BEDS number will continue at this level, meaning the District would remain in the current classification for a number of years.

Steve Barber feels the larger schools have a competitive advantage over our kids, due to the number of students available and how many wrestlers change location, as wrestling is their number one priority to their education.

He said also, “I believe that our rivalry, not only in wrestling, exists with many of our Hawkeye 10 Schools where many are in the 2A classification. Obviously, in order to make this happen, we would have to severe our relationship with CAM,” he said. “By doing so, their 119 BED number would not count, and that would put us in 2A.”

Barber said the relationship Atlantic has had with CAM has been good, and severing the ties that bind the Districts “Is a tough decision.”

He said they have spoken with CAM and told them Atlantic will do what it can to help in the transition. He added Atlantic is “Still interested in partnering with girls wrestling and soccer, where out partnership does not put us in a competitive disadvantage.”

No action was taken on his recommendation, during the Board’s meeting.