Otero Junior College in Colorado to add wrestling for 2016-17 year
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by Otero Junior College and other sources
PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN: Otero to start program in wrestling hotbed
Otero Junior College is the first two-year institution in Colorado to announce the addition of a Wrestling program. It is expected that the program will bring an additional 30-50 students to the campus each year.
OJC’s athletic director, Gary Addington, is excited about what this will mean for Southeast Colorado.
“This is going to be good for the Arkansas Valley with its strong wrestling tradition that spans all the way to the Kansas border. Members of the community are extremely supportive of the plan,” said Addington.
At this time, there are few wrestling programs in the state and they are all at four year institutions.
“OJC having a program gives opportunities to kids who may not see them otherwise,” explained Addington. “A two-year institution opens doors to everybody. These wrestlers will have the opportunity to complete a two-year degree, but also have an increased opportunity to move on to both wrestle and study at a four year school.”
There will be 20 Letters of Intent available. OJC has multiple other forms of need-based financial assistance and academic scholarships available to all students.
The next step will involve a large scale search for a coach who will fit with OJC Athletics’ philosophy: combining hard work, persistence, and dedication with the ultimate goal of success in the classroom and in athletic pursuits. The goal is to have a coach in place by January 2016 to begin recruiting for the team.
The job posting for the wrestling coach position at Otero JC will be posted shortly on the NCAA website, according to Addington.
In addition, OJC will be building another unit in the Conley Complex to house the additional students.
The team will initially wrestle open tournaments in Kansas and Wyoming as well as dual meets with teams in the region. There are a few other junior/community colleges looking to add programs in the next few years, both in Colorado and in neighboring states.
"In 2008 or so, we started putting things together to bring sports programs to Otero. Soccer and wrestling came forward. We wound up starting with soccer and it added so much to our campus. Kids who may not have opportunities will be able to use their sports to get their education. We were at a point this year that this was the year to add wrestling. We want to have enough time to get our coach on board and hammer the recruiting trail. We want to compete at the national level in wrestling," Addington told TheMat.com.
For more information on the OJC Wrestling program, contact Gary Addington, athletic director at 719.384.6859 or at gary.addington@ojc.edu .
Otero Junior College is the first two-year institution in Colorado to announce the addition of a Wrestling program. It is expected that the program will bring an additional 30-50 students to the campus each year.
OJC’s athletic director, Gary Addington, is excited about what this will mean for Southeast Colorado.
“This is going to be good for the Arkansas Valley with its strong wrestling tradition that spans all the way to the Kansas border. Members of the community are extremely supportive of the plan,” said Addington.
At this time, there are few wrestling programs in the state and they are all at four year institutions.
“OJC having a program gives opportunities to kids who may not see them otherwise,” explained Addington. “A two-year institution opens doors to everybody. These wrestlers will have the opportunity to complete a two-year degree, but also have an increased opportunity to move on to both wrestle and study at a four year school.”
There will be 20 Letters of Intent available. OJC has multiple other forms of need-based financial assistance and academic scholarships available to all students.
The next step will involve a large scale search for a coach who will fit with OJC Athletics’ philosophy: combining hard work, persistence, and dedication with the ultimate goal of success in the classroom and in athletic pursuits. The goal is to have a coach in place by January 2016 to begin recruiting for the team.
The job posting for the wrestling coach position at Otero JC will be posted shortly on the NCAA website, according to Addington.
In addition, OJC will be building another unit in the Conley Complex to house the additional students.
The team will initially wrestle open tournaments in Kansas and Wyoming as well as dual meets with teams in the region. There are a few other junior/community colleges looking to add programs in the next few years, both in Colorado and in neighboring states.
"In 2008 or so, we started putting things together to bring sports programs to Otero. Soccer and wrestling came forward. We wound up starting with soccer and it added so much to our campus. Kids who may not have opportunities will be able to use their sports to get their education. We were at a point this year that this was the year to add wrestling. We want to have enough time to get our coach on board and hammer the recruiting trail. We want to compete at the national level in wrestling," Addington told TheMat.com.
For more information on the OJC Wrestling program, contact Gary Addington, athletic director at 719.384.6859 or at gary.addington@ojc.edu .
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