Your view: Sikeston proud

As a former Sikeston resident and graduate, I was proud to see both Sikeston's coach and heavyweight wrestler represented on Missouri's first national championship wrestling team. Ivan Robison and Robert Madison were both huge factors in the team's success.

As a parent of two of the other wrestlers on the team (Nick and Matt Lester), I got to see Ivan coaching up close and I walked away very impressed. Ivan has been a mainstay in Missouri wrestling for many years and this summer alone has coached on Missouri's national runner-up Cadet Greco team, national championship Cadet Freestyle team, 5th place Junior Greco team, and 7th place Junior Freestyle team. He was also very active at the Freestyle/Greco State Championships both promoting Missouri wrestling and improving Sikeston wrestling.

Hopefully Ivan's impact can also eventually be seen on the football team. At Eureka where my kids go to school, most football players also wrestle and it has really helped the football team's performance. Last year Eureka went 9-1 in a very tough conference and district, and most followers felt in was kind of a down year. A few years back Eureka was the state runner-up in football. Wrestling and football are a good fit and maybe in the future Ivan's ability to build Sikeston wrestling will help Bulldogs football as Eureka wrestling has helped build the Wildcat football program. I am still a big Sikeston football (and sports) fan so I would love to see it happen.

Again congratulations to both Ivan and Robert. It was great to have Sikeston residents as part of the Missouri team.

Greg Lester

Wildwood, Missouri