Congrats to Chas Thompson becoming the new wrestling coach at FHSU. Now build this program up into a national powerhouse, and fast. Their should be great improvement in the first two years. (I didn't say win it all but a top 5 finish would be great measuring stick, remember a lot of the wrestlers were recruited by Coach Thompson).
I believe these first two years are very critical to Chas to help with his future recruiting as his personal credentials aren’t going to sell kids to come wrestle at FHSU. I suspect this year’s team will be much improved from last. I am also glad a native Kansan was hired. Another positive is Chas already has a great relationship with the entire athletic department, therefore more dollars thrown wrestling’s way immediately and if not I would think its time to throw more of our trust/money from a investment stand point into Newman.
I talked with Athletic Director Curtis Hammeke yesterday and let’s just say we don’t agree with how important winning national wrestling titles at FHSU and winning in general is. It’s not his top priority. I believe College athletes should be ran as a business where your measured foremost by winning on the mat, a very very close second academics, third how you play the game (respect, class act, role model citizen, etc.), and lastly which all contribute to what I mentioned above recruiting, stability, fundraising,public acceptance, (and the tangent of the results you post compared to how much money you don't cost the Athletic Department). The conversation was interesting to say the least and I look forward to talking with Curtis Hammeke, Cody Bickely, and Chas Thompson whether it is for complements, critiquing, or about ideas.
Let it be no secret, I plan on getting a masters degree in Higher Education while training the next four years and I wouldn’t mind having a Administrative job at Fort Hays someday(or one like it in Kansas). I did tell him how important it was to get more funding to wrestling through the Administration and how easy it would be for FHSU to win a DII national wrestling title with the talent Kansas produces on a yearly basis. I hope receiving phone calls and emails from myself and others will help.
As far as getting a donation from me and others, show some serious progress like producing a national champion in the next two years to generate some real excitement. They also need to design a cool shirt and sell the heck out of it because I would definitely buy one right way and so would many others. I would also like to see and hear about Chas attending Kids and High School wrestling events as much as possible. They need to announce his/and every other college wrestling coaches name every time he enters a gym/arena to watch and recruit. At Kids state every year they need to announce Chas and all college coaches names and they need to have a booth where they all sell shirts and sign camp brochures. I believe this is the best way to gather interest for Kansas college wrestling and it would reach all the elite Kansas wrestlers at one time.

Now, a tough question is why did they choose Chas Thompson over Eric Akin? It just doesn’t make a lot of sense if Eric applied which I am told he did by multiple reliable sources.

A second tough question is what does Chas Thompson bring to the table that Cody Bickley didn’t that will lead to individual national and team championships? And if Administration support at FHSU is the problem how do we fix it? Side note:It’s a fact that Kearney gets 1.6 scholarships a year from the University and they fundraise the rest of the scholarship money given out.

I will support Coach Thompson and would give him a special deal to use me in his FHSU camps as my/if name grows and if he so chooses. Building their camps to raise money to supplement coach’s salaries and the program should be a top priority. Now, to all associated to FHSU and Kansas College Wrestling, make it happen and win individual national wrestling and academic championships!
Sincerely, Eric Luedke
(785) 443-3001
ericlued@hotmail.com

“AT THE END OF THE DAY YOU ARE DEFINED BY WINNING AND LOSING”