By ART PARKER
  
  Stanhope Elmore High School Athletic Director Jeff Foshee announced the beginning of a wrestling program for the school, which will compete in the upcoming 2007-2008 year. 
The head coach of the wrestling team will be Brian Bradford and the assistant coach will be Jason Brown. Both coaches have at least 3 years coaching the sport on the high school level. Both are also football coaches. Bradford is the offensive coordinator for the Mustangs and Brown is the offensive line coach.
  Foshee said the beginning of the wrestling program has been n the works for a while. "We've been talking about putting in a wrestling program for the last several years and it looks like it will now happen. Naturally, we got to iron out some wrinkles such as practice locations and other things you know, the normal things when you face when you start a new program," Foshee said. "The best thing we have going for us is having two experiences coaches that want to have a successful program. The lack of experienced coaches has always been the primary reason we could not start a wrestling program."
  Foshee said there are several athletes that have already expressed interest in wrestling. At most schools, many wrestlers at the higher weight levels are also football players. Being a winter sport, it gives football players a great way to stay in shape during an off period. The wrestling season normally starts after basketball season but usually ends several weeks before basketball holds its championship week. 
  It only takes a mat and uniforms to start a wrestling program but that does not mean it is inexpensive. Mats cost quite a bit of money. "I think we will be able to start the program with about $10,000-$12,000," Foshee said.  
In wrestling, Stanhope Elmore High School will be in Class 6A, Section 1, which includes the following schools:
Auburn, Carver (Montgomery), Central (Phenix City), Jeff Davis , Lanier, Sidney, Opelika, Prattville, R. E. Lee (Montgomery), Russell County 
Smiths Station , Wetumpka
 Weight classes in high school wrestling:
103 lb , 112 lb, 119 lb, 125 lb, 130 lb, 135 lb, 140 lb, 145 lb, 152 lb, 160 lb, 171 lb, 189 lb, 215 lb, 285 lb.