Important Safety Update

Written By David Fiore

Dear Families,

We are writing to you in light of the disturbing news reported recently regarding an incident at Branchburg Middle School a few years back that we were made aware of.

While we want to be explicitly clear that the Somerville Jr. Pioneers Wrestling Club is not associated with the Middle School program or the district mentioned in the article, nor were we aware, but we know how deeply this news affects the entire wrestling community. It is heartbreaking to read, and our thoughts are with the families involved.

Because safety is our absolute priority, we wanted to take a moment to reassure you of our existing protocols and our commitment to your children. We align our supervision policies with USA Wrestling and the U.S. Center for SafeSport’s Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies (MAAPP).

Our Current Safety Standards:

We have been, and will continue to be, proactive regarding supervision.

  • Arrive Ready Unlike the school teams, our club members do not change before or after practice at the facility. Kids arrive in gear and leave in gear, eliminating the need for locker room usage during practice sessions.

  • The Rule of Two: In accordance with SafeSport, we strictly prohibit 1 on 1 situations in closed areas. We require a second adult/coach to be present, or a minimum of two athletes together if a discussion is happening on the side.

  • Bathroom Policy & No Lingering: Currently, we only allow girls to utilize the bathroom/locker room solo to ensure privacy. For boys, we generally utilize a team bathroom break schedule. Crucially, coaches do not allow lingering or loitering in these areas; athletes are instructed to use the facility and immediately return to the mat.

Next Steps & Match Days:

We will immediately regroup as a Board and Coaching staff to review these rules and discuss if further changes are needed (specifically regarding bathroom protocols) to ensure we meet the standard of safety.

Additionally, regarding home matches: As stated in our previous GameChanger communications, there are often gaps during events (matches and tournaments). Please remember that parents are responsible for the supervision of their own children during these sessions when not specifically wrestling.

Community Clarity:

We know rumors can confuse our Club/team with the Middle School program. If you hear concerns in the community, please help us clarify the situation by sharing these key facts:

  • We are a separate entity: SJPWC is a private club, not the Middle School team.

  • No Locker Room Usage: Our practice structure does not involve changing clothes on-site.

  • Strict Supervision: We use the guidance from SafeSport/MAAPP and supervision rules to ensure no child is left isolated.

Thank you for trusting us with your children. We remain committed to keeping them safe on and off the mat.

Sincerely,

The Somerville Jr. Pioneers Wrestling Club Board & Coaching Staff

David Fiore