Arizona State axes wrestling, 2 other men's sports

Cyclone62 · 05-19-2008, 12:18 PM

Originally Posted by cloneu

Also big in places like Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, California, New Jersey, and Utah. Wrestling seems to be limited to a couple of states when you look at college success (Minnesota, Iowa, Oklahoma usually), but HS it is a lot bigger then most people seem to think.

Exactly, and when the interest for high school keeps getting larger, the Universities are more likely to add the sport as well. There was talk a couple years ago about some of the Texas schools thinking about adding it, and if the high school interest keeps rising, that possibility gets greater.

theshadow · 05-19-2008, 12:26 PM

Wrestling is no different than other minor sports, in that there is a heavy regional feel. Very few teams in the Mountain and Pacific time zones. No teams in the southeast.

Lacrosse, for example, hardly has any teams outside the Eastern time zone. Their "West" region includes teams from Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio and Colorado. Virginia and Georgetown are considered "Southeast".

Water polo is a coastal thing.

theshadow · 05-23-2008, 07:34 PM

Financial Support From Local Civic Leadership Secures ASU Wrestling

ASU Reinstates Wrestling Program As 21st Varsity Sport The Sun Devils will compete fully in 2008-09

May 23, 2008

TEMPE, Ariz. - Arizona State University Vice President for Athletics Lisa Love announced Friday that the athletic department is fully reinstating the sport of varsity wrestling, effective immediately, due to financial support from local civic leadership. The reinstatement of wrestling gives ASU 21 sports in its varsity athletic program.

"It is with great pleasure that I announce the reinstatement of the varsity sport of wrestling at ASU," says Love. "The wrestling community, both locally and nationally, accepted this as a challenge to do something wonderful for the sport. ASU is forever grateful for that passion and unwavering support. Something special is happening on our campus thanks to civic leadership that cares deeply about ASU wrestling."

ASU had announced on May 13, 2008 that it was discontinuing the sport of wrestling due to the rising cost of operating a 22-sport varsity program. It was determined at that time that sponsoring a 20-sport program would better fit ASU¹s athletic financial profile. Love indicated at the time that if the wrestling community were able to raise enough financial support the sport could be reinstated. That commitment is there and the sport will continue at Arizona State.

Love said that fundraising for the sport of wrestling will be an ongoing process. The objective is not just to sponsor wrestling as a varsity sport, but to position the sport as one of the top programs in the country.

The Sun Devil wrestling team is a member of the Pacific-10 Conference.

For more information regarding giving to assist the Sun Devil varsity sports

programs, visit www.sundevilclub.com.

Cyclone62 · 05-23-2008, 07:39 PM

I may have missed the part about "Love indicated at the time that if the wrestling community were able to raise enough financial support the sport could be reinstated." the first time around. The financial support for ASU wrestling has been, and likely will continue to be there. This is good news.

theshadow · 05-23-2008, 07:41 PM

She said it would take $8 Million to endow wrestling, but only $5 Million each for swimming and tennis. They've got a big-money wrestling guy down there. He is one of the main bigwigs behind the Sunkist Kids freestyle/greco training program.

Cyclone62 · 05-23-2008, 07:57 PM

Originally Posted by theshadow

She said it would take $8 Million to endow wrestling, but only $5 Million each for swimming and tennis. They've got a big-money wrestling guy down there. He is one of the main bigwigs behind the Sunkist Kids freestyle/greco training program.

I've been wondering about this for a while. Does anyone know how much money comes through the Wrestling Club here? I've been wondering if either ISU or Iowa wrestling were basically self-sufficient in that regard.

theshadow · 05-24-2008, 12:13 AM

I think the main goal of the Cyclone Wrestling Club is to help with training expenses for freestyle and greco tournaments.

1100011CS · 05-24-2008, 12:17 AM

Good new for wrestling in general.

cybsball20 · 05-24-2008, 12:18 AM

Would have been nice if Bruce gave baseball that option...

drlove · 05-24-2008, 12:58 AM

No doubt about it Cybsball20. If Bruce could have given baseball and men's swimming a number to raise, what would it have hurt?

Cyclone62 · 05-24-2008, 06:05 AM

Originally Posted by theshadow

I think the main goal of the Cyclone Wrestling Club is to help with training expenses for freestyle and greco tournaments.

Even so, if it's purpose had to switch? That was my main question I guess.

54cy · 05-24-2008, 09:02 AM

My brother is on the Athletic Staff at Arizona State, and he said when the announcement came down about wrestling being droped, money started pouring in. The biggest donar ASU has is huge on wrestling. To bad there wasn't that passion around here when baseball went.

I also know for a fact that Bruce V. got a bad wrap for what Gene Smith left him financially. It was a mess. Bruce just needed more sack and he would have been fine.