I just found out earlier this morning that in the past 72 hours or so that East Carolina University is adding men's wrestling as a club team (could be a positive step in the right direction).

Also the University of Great Falls (UGF) in Montana will start a varsity program in the fall becoming only the 2nd program in Montana on the college level.

Great news for wrestling Expansion in a time where programs are often cut.

what is the other school from montana that has wrestling?

Montana State-Northern

This is great news!!

Now only if K-state or Ku would get the hint
maybe we should all write letters to both of these schools w/ examples of the type of kansas athletes they are missing out on? who knows

As I have already mentioned on another thread, why not Wichita State instead of KU or K-State? No football, nice facilities, big talent pool and lots of opponents near by.

Think about it...

I agree with BigRedcoach about Wichita State. It seems like a natural with all that talent in the Wichita area. It would also draw talent from the rest of Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Texas. There is probably a greater amount of general wrestling interest in Wichita than all of the other bigger cities in Kansas. I would like to see it happen there.

That would be nice then jris could be a two sport athlete. Wrestling and bowling.

I would kill Jhris in bowling. Bring it on big man.

A KU or a K-state could be a force in the Big 12 if they just cough up the money. Their is plenty of talent in the state of Kansas to come up with one or even two rosters.

Title 9 and athletic underfunding has slowly destroyed our sport. As much as I love KU, I still want to punch the guy(s) in the face who made the judgement call to remove wrestling. Also, which is interesting, KU has a women's tennis and soccer team, but no men's tennis or soccer team.

doesn't ku also have a row team? correct me if i'm wrong but i believe that rowing should take place somewhere where there is actually water to row on, wrestling on the other hand is a high school sport and is loved by a number of people in this state. I just wish that ku, k-state, wsu, would pull their head out of their proverbial money sucking a** and figure out a way to add wrestling.

Dear Eagle:

The Kansas River runs through Lawrence, as well as the Wakarusa River. Lawrence also has Clinton Lake.

Sweazy's statement "East Carolina University is adding men's wrestling as a club team" is somewhat misleading. The University will have absolutely no involvement in the program. The only relationship which will exist between the program and the University is students from the University will be able to participate in the club sport, much like the Chess club.

This particular club will not be provided wrestling mats, or use of any university facilities, and will practice at a local high school.

This sport will be an intramural sport as is club wrestling at both K.U. and K-State.

Students start club wrestling team

Students start club wrestling team
Team looks for full schedule this fall

Eric Gilmore, Staff Writer
April 01, 2004

This is no April Fools joke. Students have formed and started a wrestling team at the club level. Equivalent to a j.v. squad, the team will begin a full schedule in the fall semester.

Students Mike Davanco and Warren Gheen founded the team. Davanco was the force behind the team, "We combined forces together, applied, got approval and started a wrestling team."

Mike felt the need for ECU to have a club wrestling team considering ECU is one of the last teams in the state to form a team. However, ECU had a team in the early 70's. The team folded due to lack of participants, but ex-wrestlers are still scattered throughout the community.

The team, which consists of 13 wrestlers, practices three times a week at J.H. Rose High School. Practices take place every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 5p.m.-7 p.m. Davanco and Gheen both share in coaching and organizing practices.

"We are still looking for people to come out. We would ideally like to have about 20 to 25 wrestlers. We are going to be at freshman orientation [recruiting]. We are throwing out ideas about having a Purple-Gold scrimmage," said Davanco.

"We just got things started in the middle of the semester so we are still trying to get some matches in before school ends. We are looking into playing NC State.

"We want to be competitive and have fun too. It's a lot of work, but its fun to bring [the team] back.

"We are trying to get into the NCWA or National Collegiate Wrestling Association," Davanco said.

The organization would be the governing body for club wrestling teams. The NCWA would organize weigh-ins and hold state and national tournaments. There would be 11 weight classes just like any other college wrestling team.

"We have a bunch of guys who wrestled in high school," Davanco said.

There is really no place for these wrestlers to go after participating in high school.

Davanco and Gheen have both provided opportunities for that passion to continue.

This writer can be contacted at sports@theeastcarolinian.com.

does lawrence high have a row team, and if so where is the state finals held?

Do members of the row team at K.U. receive athletic scholarships or tuition assistance?

Is not the row team little more than an intramural sport also?

Some years ago at Wichita State University, the row team, both mens and womens, was comprised of all walk on athletes, and received NO financial aide. W.S.U. had row competitions with K.U. and K-State as well as several other Universities, and held fundraising activities to help defray the cost(s) of competition, as the University provided very little, if any financial assistance.

Dear Eagle:

I found the answer(s) to several of my questions on the K.U. Web Site. It appears only Womens Rowing is offered, and is offered as a Varsity Level Sport in response to Title IX.

Page last modified: 21:18:44 - Monday, March 15, 2004 Now: 10:30:27 - Friday, April 02, 2004

Kansas Rowing!

Why Kansas Rowing?

Rowing at Kansas can provide an exhilarating and competitive opportunity for any woman. Previous rowing experience is not necessary. Consider the fact that only 300 high schools across the country have rowing programs and most of the current Jayhawk team members never rowed before they arrived at Kansas.

"Rowing gives women the opportunity to compete in college athletics, namely at the Division I level," head coach Rob Catloth said. "As a varsity level sport, the chance to earn a scholarship and compete as a Jayhawk is now available to many more women on the Kansas campus."

With your decision to row at the University of Kansas, the Jayhawk coaching staff will teach you the fundamentals of rowing. You will begin as a novice rower, and with encouragement and assistance from coaches and fellow teammates, you have the opportunity to advance to varsity level competition.

Women's rowing and soccer are the first varsity level sports Kansas has added since the 1970's. During the 1994-95 academic year, rowing began the transition from a club sport to gaining full varsity status in the fall of 1995.

As a club sport for 17 years, the Jayhawks enjoyed a tremendous amount of success. The Jayhawks have earned five gold medals at the Midwest Rowing Championships over the years and five boats have rowed in the Collegiate National Rowing Championships with one earning silver medal honors. Coach Rob Catloth gained his initial rowing experience as a member of the Kansas club team.

"College is not just about the academic experience," Catloth said. "Being a part of the rowing team really broadens the college experience. Our athletes learn teamwork and self-discipline."

The success does not end when the races are over. The Jayhawk rowers have had tremendous overall success in the classroom. In Spring 2001 there were 47 rowers that earned Jayhawk Scholar honors. The team combined for a 3.19 grade point average. Kansas rowers have gone on to do great things after their collegiate careers were over also. Several are currently enrolled at the University of Kansas Medical School. Others are currently in law and engineering graduate school programs. Still, others are pilots in the military. When your career is over, the accomplishments do not have to end.

The Kansas rowing team also received its first graduation rate this year. This rate reflects the percentage of Kansas rowers who leave the university and the rowing program with a college degree. Illustrating, once again, the well-rounded experience the Kansas rowing program has to offer, the Jayhawks notched an outstanding 94.7 percent graduation rate.

KU also competes on the varsity level with eight other women's programs: basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track and field, and volleyball.

that makes sense, that darn title IX gets in the way all the time. I still think there can be a way to figure out how to get one of the three div 1 universities a wrestling program. I agree that wsu is probably the best shot b/c they don't have football. I guess you can say the same thing about the ku football team, maybe they can drop them and get a wrestling team.

KU's womens crew is a scholarship sport. However, KU's mens and co-rec crew are both club activities.