The Blaine County Journal News-Opinion - We've Got The County Covered

On March 27, the Chinook High School Wrestling Program received new mats. They arrived from Resilite Sports Products located in Northumberland, Pennsylvania, at approximately 2:45 p.m., and the wrestlers gathered to unload them.

The new wrestling mats were carried into the Lloyd Sweet Auditorium where they will be rolled out and treated with a chemical preservative. They will remain locked away in that space for the next 14 days. During that time, no one will have access to the auditorium.

According to Chinook Athletic Director, Paula Molyneaux, these are $17,000.00 pieces of equipment that must go through a very specific curing process. “The chemicals used on the mats are not healthy for people, and bodies on the mats will interfere with the longevity and function of them until after this curing takes place,” she explained.

At the conclusion of this process, the mats will be relocated to their more permanent storage area south of the Floyd Bowen Gymnasium before they will be pressed into service for future wrestling events.