I posted these comments a couple of days ago on the KANSAS COLLEGE WRESTLING FUND topic. Think it is important enough to post here also!!!Contarian
Talked to a gentleman at the Leavenworth Challanger who was running a KWCA and Kansas College Wrestling Fund table. I had just read about the NCWA dual to be wrestled at Wichita State last week (added: also, just read that Wichita State will be attending the NCWA Nationals in January). I asked the gentleman at the table if the wrestling fund supported the wrestling clubs at Wichita State, K State, KU,or other Kansas colleges or universities that did not have school supported/financed wrestling programs. He told me that the Wrestling Fund could only support wrestling at official school programs: both public and private/parochial colleges and universities--NCAA, NAIA, and community college.
I was a little disappointed. To me the club wrestlers are the epitome of scholar athletes and worthy of support. These athletes are not supported by athletic scholarships and must pay their own way to continue in the sport. Project ahead a few years--these wrestlers will marry, have kids, these kids will probably start out in kids wrestling, and dad may be a kids coach. This is how you keep a program up and running.
Back to the Wichita State wrestling club. Their annual budget is less tan $6,000. Participation in the Nationals is going to be an added cost. How are they supportd? Club fees--don't know. Private donations? Bake sales? Yard sales? ????????
I asked what it would cost to start a wrestling program at a Wichita State. He answered it had been figured several times and it would cost about $300,000 a year. KWCA had talked to the Kansas Board of Regents and Wichita Stae about starting a program and they wanted an endowment of $50 million dollars to endow wrestling, plus two (2), yes I said two (2), new womens sports programs---thank you Title 9. Forget about ever having wrestling at a D1 or anothe D2 college or university in Kansas.
A $2,000 or $2,500 donation from the KWCA would surely help the Wichita State club, and the K State and KU clubs---as would direct donations from the posters on this forum!!!!! See the post about Wichita State going to the Nationals for how to donate!!!
My small check is in the mail. Come on folks, a little help $$$$$$$ here!!!!
