City grants Boosters $1,500 for Bear Country

The Aledo City Council agreed to fund the Mercer County Sports Boosters $1,500 for their annual Bear Country Wrestling tournament at the council's Feb. 3meeting. Mercer County Booster Club President Jason Snyder appeared before the Aledo City Council to request funding for The Bear Country Wrestling Tournament the booster club puts on each year.

This year's event is scheduled for March 15. The day starts with a weigh-in at 7 a.m. and the day ends about 3 p.m. for the volunteers. This is the 36th year for the tournament. Snyder said the $1,500 the city has donated in the past provides trophies for the event. A total of 180 trophies are ordered. Last year 245 kids participated in the event. The kids wrestle three times. Between 1,000 and 1,200 people attend the event each year. Snyder said that many of the people come for the 7 a.m. weigh-in then head up town for breakfast since the actual wrestling doesn't start until 3 p.m.

"We draw people here from at least five states," said Snyder. "This is a booster club function where the money goes back into the club. Snyder reminded the council that the club supports more than just wrestling but other sports as well which are helped by the event.

The money was set aside in the 2013-14 budget beforehand.