I have been advised that at 2:OO today, Monday the 22nd of March. Newman University will annouce that they are adding Wrestling. This is great news for Kansas Wrestling. They are trying to be Division II. Will add more details after the press conference.

Darin Goodrum
Sunflower Wrestling

Sweet!

This could not come at a better time!

For too long there have been tremendous wrestlers who have chosen other sports in college because there weren't any colleges close to Wichita that offered wrestling!

I hope some of the other schools follow them!

Wouldn't it be awesome for Friends University to start a program!

Based on how Kansas Kids have done at the different College National Championships, it probably would not take very long to get a serious contender from Kansas (If Newman can get them to stay home)

I phoned Newman to verify this and all they would tell me is to watch Channel 12 News!

They are going to have a News Conference @ 2:00!

Live on TV at 2pm or what?

Newman has indicated that they are going to tape it @ 2:00 and it should be on the 5:00 News!

oh....that explains why soap operas are on, but it is about wrestling expansion though right? Are they adding other programs as well?

I contacted Newman University and they confirmed that they are indeed starting a Wrestling program and that Mark Stovall formerly of Bishop Carroll High School will be the head coach!

Wow!
What a way to start a program!

Congratulations Coach Stovall and Newman University!

Awesome...I've been informing my college alma mater and like anybody in the college community they are pumped...but, is Newman going to be NAIA or try to transition to NCAA if so Men's Volleyball isn't offered on D2 so they can have that as a D1 sport.

What is the coaching background of coach Stovall? Wasn't there a Stovall that was a sports personality on a television station? Probably too early but I'm curious as to his assistants, also will this program start effectively for the 2004-05 season?

It is going to start next year. Coach Stovall said he will begin recruiting about 3:00 this afternoon. They are NAIA right now, but are in a provisional year to go Div II. They complete that in June, they then will find out if accepted for Div. II.
Coach Stovall is originally from Texas, wrestled at LSU before they dropped the program.

Where will he be recruiting?

That is fantastic news for Kansas wrestling and even wrestling on the national scene as we drastically need schools to follow suit and add programs to counteract the cuts our sport has received over the years!

Way to go Newman!

This is all I have:

Thank you Wrestling God.

I would urge the Executive Council of Kansas Kids to hold a meeting at the earliest possible time to discuss adding Newman to the current fiscal years budget for schools who receive scholarship donations.

Per the norm, Kansas Newman adds a sport and there is nothing in the Wichita Eagle about it today. If it were a woman's sport that had been added it not only would have made the sports section but the front page and lifestyle section as well.

I am greatly disappointed in the Wichita Eagle this morning.

According Mike Juby we have 7258 youth wrestlers in our state. Add to this most of the High School Juniors and Seniors and we have a tremendous number of wrestlers in our state.

Year in and year out our state is very well represented at both the High School National level as well as all of the different college levels. What our state and our sport has needed very badly is a University to have the courage and fortitude to start a wrestling program.

We now have one!

But this is the entire coverage the Wichita Eagle gave to the great story!

Wichita Eagle 03-23-2004
Newman University announced Monday that the school will begin a wrestling team next season. Bishop Carroll's Mark Stovall has been hired as coach.

I do not recall any coverage or very little coverage of the fact that Zach Roberson won a college national title or that Matt Murray was a National Runner-up. I do recall reading a very small blip about Jake Klein.

We need the coverage and visibility to continue to grow our sport and to get the lay person to understand how great our sport is.

The coverage could have been a great boost for our sport, but instead it was simply a small blip!

When Newman gets on the National Map with their program, and I believe they will shortly, will the Eagle still not give them the coverage they deserve?

How cool is this. I am so pumped for my alma motter. I know that Newman will run a great program. I also know that Coach Stovall will lead them to success. Good Luck. Wichita, and Kansas, should get behind this program and start a new trend in wrestling, growth.

Unfortunatly in Kansas, those that are not directly associated with wrestling could care less. In order for wrestling to grow in Kansas we have to gain support from the community, but that will take some time to develop. I can't wait till it does.

Does anyone have a link that can confirm this? I checked Newmans website and couldnt find anything about them adding a wrestling program. Please add a link if you have one.

I found a link to confirm it.

http://www.themat.com/pressbox/pressdetail.asp?aid=9587

Good luck to Newman! This is awesome for Kansas Wrestling.

I would agree with sportsfan02's earlier comment that I would hope that USAWKS would soon add Newman to the list of schools to receive scholarship money. I also believe it is time for the clubs and individuals to stand up and donate to the school for scholarship funds. These things are critical, it is imperative that the wrestling community show its support of colleges that are willing to support the sport. I am sure they would tell any of us that any donated amount is appreciated. Since I live so close I will also be looking for season tickets.