Southeastern University in Florida adds varsity wrestling for 2015 season
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by USA Wrestling
LAKELAND, Fla. – Southeastern Director of Athletics Drew Watson officially announced today that men’s wrestling will be added as a varsity sport in the fall of 2015.
Wrestling will become the 15th intercollegiate athletic program at the University. It will be the only one of its kind in the state of Florida and the 50th program nationally in the NAIA.
“Wrestling’s popularity at the high school level in Florida is undeniable,” said Watson. “We look forward to building a national championship caliber program quickly with high-level, mission-fit wrestlers who don’t want to leave the state in order to pursue their dream of competing at the college level.”
The National Wrestling Coaches Association and the United States Wrestling Foundation have teamed up to provide a $15,000 start-up grant to the University in appreciation for restoring varsity intercollegiate wrestling to the state of Florida.
“The U.S. Wrestling Foundation is pleased to be able to provide this support to Southeastern University as it initiates its varsity wrestling program. The establishment of wrestling in Florida has been a priority for the Foundation and we can consider this to be an important and historic milestone for our sport,” said Jeff Waters, president of the United States Wrestling Foundation.
While Southeastern is the currently the only intercollegiate program in the state, Watson says it is a status that he hopes doesn’t last long.
“It is our hope that as other institutions see the success of wrestling at SEU that they will look to add the sport themselves in the coming years,” Watson said.
Wrestling will be the seventh program added by the Fire in the last three years and will push the total student-athlete population to well over 400.
A national search for a head coach will begin immediately.
Wrestling will become the 15th intercollegiate athletic program at the University. It will be the only one of its kind in the state of Florida and the 50th program nationally in the NAIA.
“Wrestling’s popularity at the high school level in Florida is undeniable,” said Watson. “We look forward to building a national championship caliber program quickly with high-level, mission-fit wrestlers who don’t want to leave the state in order to pursue their dream of competing at the college level.”
The National Wrestling Coaches Association and the United States Wrestling Foundation have teamed up to provide a $15,000 start-up grant to the University in appreciation for restoring varsity intercollegiate wrestling to the state of Florida.
“The U.S. Wrestling Foundation is pleased to be able to provide this support to Southeastern University as it initiates its varsity wrestling program. The establishment of wrestling in Florida has been a priority for the Foundation and we can consider this to be an important and historic milestone for our sport,” said Jeff Waters, president of the United States Wrestling Foundation.
While Southeastern is the currently the only intercollegiate program in the state, Watson says it is a status that he hopes doesn’t last long.
“It is our hope that as other institutions see the success of wrestling at SEU that they will look to add the sport themselves in the coming years,” Watson said.
Wrestling will be the seventh program added by the Fire in the last three years and will push the total student-athlete population to well over 400.
A national search for a head coach will begin immediately.
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