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Wrestling community leadership inspires Arizona State to retain its varsity wrestling team

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by Gary Abbott

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    The entire U.S. wrestling community celebrated on Friday, as Arizona State University announced that it is fully reinstating its Div. I varsity wrestling team.

    ASU had announced on May 13 that it would discontinue three varsity programs immediately: men's wrestling, men's swimming and men's tennis. This decision would reduce the number of sports programs at Arizona State from 22 to 20. The reason cited by university officials was budgetary.

    "It is with great pleasure that I announce the reinstatement of the varsity sport of wrestling at ASU," said Lisa Love, ASU's Vice President for Athletics. "The wrestling community, both locally and nationally, accepted this as a challenge to do something wonderful for the sport. ASU is forever grateful for that passion and unwavering support. Something special is happening on our campus thanks to civic leadership that cares deeply about ASU wrestling."

    Wrestling has been a traditionally strong program at Arizona State, developing numerous national champions and All-Americans, as well as athletes who went on to make U.S. World and Olympic teams. Arizona State is the only university in the Western United States that has won a NCAA Div. I national title in wrestling.

    An effort to reinstate the wrestling program began immediately after the announcement, with leadership from every level of the sport, including USA Wrestling, the national college wrestling community, alumni, local high school and youth wrestling leaders and fans across the nation.

    "This is a testament of the strength of the wrestling community to band together and make a difference," said USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender. "We are fortunate that the wrestling community in Arizona and around the nation was able to persevere and stand up for the sport. We need to remain vigilant as a community to do all in our power to entrench our programs and allow them to thrive."

    Art Martori, founder of the Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club and a past USA Wrestling president, was part of an organized group of civic leaders who made a proposal to Arizona State to bring back its program. The proposal was presented earlier this week and discussed over the last few days, and a decision was made in short fashion, leading to today's announcement.

    "The biggest thing that happened is that the wrestling community throughout the country in every facet, from USA Wrestling, colleges, high schools and state levels, contacted the wrestling community in Arizona. The wrestling community in Arizona then went to the university with that support behind it," said Martori.

    Martori, an Arizona State graduate, had great praise for the leadership of Lisa Love and her colleagues at the university who gave the wrestling community a chance to state its case.

    "At the end of the day, Lisa Love made the decision that there was a strong wrestling community out there that would support wrestling at Arizona State. She did it in a leap of faith. Not a dime has changed hands at this point. She has faith that the money will come to fund the program's operating expenses and to endow the program long term. She understands that this will take time. She believes that we are sincere in how we are going to do it. We laid out a plan and it was accepted," said Martori.

    Martori believes that many lessons were learned in the process which can help wrestling to be stronger in the future and more effective in its efforts to entrench and build the sport on the college level.

    "I think wrestling grew up. Wrestling drew a line in the sand. We are not going to always just get this for free. We will have to pay for our sport, and we have shown it can be done. We are coming up with the operating budget, the scholarships and the travel. But we aren't paying for the facility and the administration costs and other things. The university still has a lot invested in this program and this sport. The wrestling community is putting into the game as well. It is a win-win situation," said Martori.

    Martori wanted to also answer the critics who made viscous attacks at the university and its leadership, including Lisa Love personally, during the days since the initial announcement.

    "This happened because of courage and leadership from Lisa Love and the university," said Martori. "The people on the message boards and blogs that defiled her did not help wrestling. All they did was tear down someone they did not know. To rip her apart that way makes you a sick person. She has stepped up for wrestling and put her neck out for us. This woman stepped up and was willing to put back wrestling in just two weeks. We were able to save the program and keep our athletes at Arizona State."

    The passion that the wrestling community has for its sport was shown thoughout this process. It was a major factor in the decision by Arizona State to embrace the proposal and welcome the sport back completely.

    "The biggest thing we learned was that so many people care," said Martori. "There are people willing to step up, not only with their mouths but with their wallets. This is a sport of individuals. But, there is a very strong team effort behind wrestling.

    Official press release from Arizona State announcing the reinstatement of varsity wrestling

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