The PCM High School Mustang Construction class this semester has begun to tackle a project that will have a lasting impact on the school’s wrestling program: building an additional wrestling room. The need for a second wrestling space became clear after the girls’ wrestling program officially formed, as well as the middle school program taking off over the past couple of years.
“Since we have a girls’ wrestling team now, we have to have more room,” Joe Shaver explained. “Our wrestling room already has the boys team and the youth program, so Rusty [Vos] thought we might as well use the space we have and make another room so everyone has enough room to practice.”
The renovation process has involved several steps. The class first hired someone to remove all the glass from the old space. Then the students removed the aluminum and steel framing before beginning the wall construction. The group worked in small sections, building and sheeting each wall before insulating the interior. One of the challenges that came along with this project was dealing with the old foundation. “Putting the walls up was definitely the hardest part,” Shaver said. “They’re heavy, and we had to use the skid loader to lift and wedge the walls into place.”
But, the day-by-day process hasn’t been so easy either. “We had to wait for the guys to tear out all the glass, so the five of us could build the walls, and we’re putting in insulation. Then after that, we’re really gonna work on the inside and try and get it done before we do the siding of the building,” said junior Addy Covington.
The wrestling room has multiple uses for boys and girls alike. “It’s just kinda like a separate space,” Covington said. “So, whether or not the little kids are going to be there, or if the boy’s team needs to practice there, or vice versa. It’s just an extra area to actually have practice without overlapping with time.”
Construction students hope to have the interior finished before it snows and winter weather sets in, just in time for wrestling season.
