NWCA CALL TO ACTION: Save Arizona State University Wrestling

Memo:

To: National Wrestling Community

Fr: Mike Moyer, Executive Director - National Wrestling Coaches Association

Re: "Call to Action" - Save Arizona State University Wrestling

Date: May 14, 2008

As many of you have probably already heard, the Arizona State University wrestling program has been discontinued. The ASU administration cited "cost reduction" as the primary reason.

We would like to make an urgent request to the entire southwest U.S. wrestling community to voice your concern, via e-mail or faxed letter to the following Arizona State University officials (please do not wait to act on this request):

President Michael Crow
Office of the President
Mail Code 7705
PO Box 877705, Tempe AZ 85287-7705
Phone: (480) 965-8972
FAX: (480) 965-0865

Ms. Lisa Love
Vice President, Athletics
Carsen Center
PO Box 872505
Tempe, AZ 85287-2505
Phone: 480-965-3482

Craig E. Weatherup
Chair, ASU Foundation Board of Trustees
Chairman of the Board
ASU Foundation
P.O. Box 2260
Tempe, Arizona 85280-2260
Phone: (480) 965-3759
Fax: (480) 965-2484

Fred Boice
President, Arizona Board of Regents
2020 N. Central Avenue, suite 230
Phoenix, AZ 85004-4593
Phone: 602-229-2500
Fax: 602-229-2555

In your letter/e-mail, please be respectful also be sure to convey the following speaking points:

· Intercollegiate Wrestling fully supports the mission of Arizona State University, the PAC10 Conference, and the NCAA. Specifically, one of the primary components of the ASU Athletic Department mission statement is:

"To maximize human potential in the pursuit of comprehensive excellence."

· Historically, the ASU wrestling program has played a major role in replenishing the depleted pool of high school and middle school teachers/wrestling coaches in Arizona and throughout the Southwest.

Participation facts:

Arizona: 5,474 high school wrestlers vs two four year college teams (50 roster spots)

New Mexico: 1,488 high school wrestlers vs one four year team (25 roster spots)

Utah: 2,995 high school wrestlers vs one four year team (25 roster spots)

Nevada: 2,240 high school wrestlers vs no four year teams (zero roster spots)

California: 25,896 high school wrestlers vs seven four year teams (175 roster spots)

· State funded schools like ASU should have an obligation to provide activities that are deeply embedded in their state's culture. AZ taxpayers should not have to send their sons out of state to pursue their academic/athletic dreams when the sport is so popular in AZ.

· The elimination of any sports team should be a "last resort" (made only after the sport community, alumni, etc.) have been formerly asked to help. In ASU's case, the decision was the first option. Let's give the ASU wrestling alumni and the greater national wrestling community a chance to solve the funding challenge.

· Eliminating the ASU wrestling team could force the entire PAC10 Wrestling Conference to dissolve based on having too few PAC 10 schools sponsoring wrestling.

· ASU has a national reputation for its academic excellence. Even without scholarships, several IVY League wrestling programs (i.e. Cornell, Harvard, University of Pennsylvania, Columbia, etc) are among our most nationally competitive wrestling programs.

· Intercollegiate wrestling is one of the cheapest sports to sponsor based on the NCAA's cost per student-athlete estimates.

· ASU has a rich wrestling tradition as evidenced by having multiple Olympians, NCAA Champions, NCAA All Americans, and even a national team championship in 1988.

As you convey your thoughts, please be respectful of the university administration. We want to always take the high road. Make sure the key decision makers know that the regional and national wrestling community stand ready to help the administration develop a plan that ensures the future of their varsity wrestling program.

While the grass roots wrestling community conveys the above-mentioned speaking points, the NWCA will be working with prominent ASU alumni, business leaders, and AZ state elected officials to promote similar messages. This will provide us with an opportunity rally the entire wrestling community to take any further steps that might be necessary.