Though not without reservation, Tamaqua Area School Board has given the green light to its junior high wrestling team to participate at a tournament early next year.

On a 6-3 vote, the board approved the team's involvement at the annual District XI Coaches Association tournament Feb. 18-19.Directors Eileen Meiser, Melanie Dillman and board President Larry Wittig were opposed.Because one of the days the tournament falls on is a Sunday, approval was needed for the team's participation at the tournament.Before the vote, Wittig asked, "Are we going to automatically approve every Sunday activity?"Wittig reiterated that he believes the team's involvement at the tournament would compromise the policy."We have no teeth with this," Wittig said. "Either we have a policy or we don't have a policy."He added, "It's a meaningless policy."Wittig expressed the same concern when the matter was brought to the board in January, at which time he questioned the team's involvement because he said it could interfere with church attendance.Specifically, Wittig questioned at that time why that tournament had to be held on a Sunday, stating that he felt the matter was a "bad precedent to discourage church attendance."Regardless, the board later that month on a 4-2 vote, with Wittig among those opposed, approved the participation of the wrestling team at that tournament.Also on Tuesday, the board granted permission for the high school baseball team to attend a spring training weekend practice trip to Laurel, Maryland, March 17-19.The request includes an 8 a.m. early dismissal for students who participate.All costs will be funded by the Tamaqua Baseball Boosters.