I received an email from Mark Stovall requesting some information on some of my wrestlers for next year. Mark said he was the new Head Coach at Wichita State Univ. and it was not going to be a club team but a full Varsity Sport with a schedule comprised againist all levels of competition. NAIA, NCAA II and Div. I opponents.

I didn't have time to call Mark today and get more info, but I am hoping this is not a late April Fools joke. Has anyone else heard anything about this. I know Brian Shelton would pull something like this on me but I didn't think Mark would.

Let's hope the Shocks field a team.

This would be awesome!!! To say the least!!!

Yeah ive talked to coach stovall. The deal is they are still a NCWA team which means they compete with other club teams at the national tournament, but he plans to compete in NAIA D2 and JUCO tournaments until the post-season.

A great opportunity for Kansas wrestlers to continue their careers while working towards an education that will carry them once their knees are too shot to continue. Stovall can push this past the club level, but the wrestling community has to show their support in all ways possible. Buying the shirts and beanies, and hoodies is one thing, joining the team is another, but we need to put butts in the stands!!! We won't have an "Iowa" experience at a dual, but it has to start somewhere.

This could be huge for Kansas Wrestling. Being able to compete at the college level at an affordable price is rare to find. I coached in the NAIA and the amount these kids pay for school is crazy. The key is us coaches and fans have to get behind it. The city league finaly has an affordable outlet to send our kids to college, I am thrilled. As a Wichita State Alumni Go Shockers.

Coach Talbott

Boy I sure hope this is the truth. Sure would get behind this and I don't think support from the community would be a problem if it is true.

I talked to Coach Stovall, it is true he is getting a team together. They are competing in the NWCA national tournament but will compete in season amongst the big boys. Time to step it up KANSAS wrestling and get this program to the next level (DIV I). It is going to take a lot of work to convince WSU that this is a viable sport to support. We are going to need a lot of outside funding and fundraisers to get this going. Will have more details at a later date.

National Collegiate Wrestling Association Mission Statement

An NCWA wrestling team at Wichita State University is NOT new. During the 2007-2008 season Wichita State University, as well as Kansas State University and Newman University teams traveled to the NCWA National Championships hosted at The University on Central Florida in Orlando, Florida.

This past season Wichita State University and Kansas State University teams traveled to The Apprentice School in Newport News, Virginia for the NCWA National Championship Tournament.

Kansas State Universtiy, through the efforts of Beau Tillman (Pratt High School) and others, has for several years fielded an NCWA team and with lesser success K.U. has had a team.

The NCWA was established in 1998 and this past season hosted its eleventh (11th) national championship tournament.

From the NCWA Mision Statement:

"Despite the fact that wrestling is the fastest growing male interscholastic sport, colleges and universities have been unable to offer wrestling opportunities for these incoming students within their athletic departments. The NCWA helps to build programs under the student services or recreational sports departments of universities. We provide a national governing body for competition, communication and promotion of collegiate style wrestling.

The NCWA is committed to a vision that has at its core increased athletic opportunity for all students. We hope to provide a spawning ground for new wrestling teams. Teams that draw students who will chose an institution of higher education for its academic excellence. With college wrestling at its most limited level in history, and more wrestling athletes graduating from high school, many wrestlers are left to choose between continuing the sport they love and their first academic choice for schooling. The NCWA is designed to help solve this challenge.

Since the university is not adding members to its athletic department, but rather to its club sports department, it can properly balance opportunity ratios, and because NCWA teams are primarily funded by students themselves and outside community resources, there are no university budgetary concerns. If and when a school does have room for athletic expansion, it is our hope that since the wrestling program will be up and running, and in compliance with NCAA rules, that it will be a first choice for ultimate inclusion in the schools athletic curriculum.

The NCWA was founded with the student athlete in mind. We are composed of non-paid volunteers committed to helping our young people accomplish their goals and dreams, and to reach for excellence in everything they do. Through athletic endeavor, club leadership responsibilities and community involvement, NCWA students will leave college life to meet a competitive world head on. They will have been equipped through their academic involvement and athletic success to take the competition to the mat, score and emerge a champion."

so if you would like to buy wichita state wrestling apparel to help support the new program where would you go to find??
who to contact, number, website?? any help woud be nice to help support them!!!!

WSU Club Sports - Wrestling

thanks richard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!