New Hampton Lions Club to host its 40th annual youth mat tourney Dec. 9
After the very first Lions Club Wrestling Tournament was held, an article in the New Hampton Tribune stated that “the event was so well-received, plans call for its perpetuation.”
That article was published April 6, 1978, and the tournament is still going strong.
Now in its 40th year, much has changed about the annual event.
First held in March, the tourney was switched to December years ago. In that first event there were only two divisions — a junior and a senior division — with 221 entries in all.
But a photo showing workers for the day had some familiar names. Tom Sauser and Paul Hereid were at the head table, while Stan Laures and Bill Roths were the managers of the tournament.
With all that experience, Lions Club members do know how to run a successful event. This year’s tournament will be held on Saturday, Dec. 9 at the New Hampton High School gymnasium.
--Details on the tourney, along with an entry form, may be found in the Nov. 17 Tribune.