Tigers Receive Grant for Wrestling Center

Central Christian College of Kansas is excited to announce that a facility, which will serve the McPherson Community and Central Christian wrestling programs, is one step closer to completion with the foundation receiving a $15,000 grant from the Kansas Health Foundation Children’s Grant administered by the McPherson County Community Foundation.

The funds will assist the college in converting an existing building into a training center for the wrestling teams as well as provide off-season training opportunities for youth wrestlers through the MAC Wrestling Club. “The College thanks the McPherson Community Foundation and the great work done by Coach Carr.” Said Central Christian President Dr. Leonard Favara “McPherson has had a long history of promoting wrestling and CCCK looks forwarding to partnering with the community to continue this heritage.”

The plan for the facility will include a two mat wrestling room, fitness area, office, restrooms, and a lounge area. The wrestling center will allow the college to build a bridge to the McPherson community by hosting youth wrestlers for practice, training sessions, and fellowship. It will also give the college a visible presence on Kansas Avenue, helping with the revitalization of that part of the city.

In commenting on the gift, Dr. David Ferrell, Executive Director of the Foundation of Central Christian College of Kansas shared, “The Foundation is pleased at the significant progress being made by Tom Carr and many others to turn the former Tidy Laundry building into a community/college wrestling facility.  We are excited to partner with the McPherson kids wrestling program in developing a quality wrestling center to be used by many youth and college students over the next many years.”

“We are proud to be part of the great wrestling tradition in McPherson and grateful for the support of the McPherson Community Foundation in assisting in making this a reality,” said Men’s Wrestling Coach Tom Carr, “Coaches like Lance Engel, Rich Settle, and Doug Kretzer have been able to change lives through the sport and this facility will give this great community a place to work hands-on with young men and women looking to grow through the sport”.

The grant will be used in combination with other fundraising resources as well as gifts from the community. Hutton Construction has already provided assistance in demolishing interior structures and Johns Manville has agreed to donate materials to assist in construction.

About Central Christian College

With a history that dates to 1884, Central Christian College believes in educating students from diverse backgrounds in character for heart, mind, body, and soul. Rated as one of the most diverse colleges in America by US News, Central is a small private four-year college offering over 40 majors, personal interactions and outstanding educational outcomes. Central Christian welcomes students of all faiths and creeds, backgrounds, races, color, abilities, or economic status. Our goal is to produce leaders of character who lead lives dedicated to the betterment of our greater society and the world. To learn more about who Central is, go to centralchristian.edu/about. Visit the Wrestling Complex Fund to financially support the community in this endeavor.