Below are letters from concerned citizens to those involved with the decision to eliminate men's and women's wrestling at the University of Minnesota-Morris following the 2003-2004 season. If you would like to voice your concerns, please contact:
Any way you can help will be greatly appreciated. Thank you and God bless.
Doug Reese, Head Wrestling Coach, University of
Minnesota-Morris
reesedc@mrs.umn.edu
320-589-6437
Mr. Sam Schumann, Chancellor
Ms. Sandy Olson-Loy, Vice Chancellor Athletics
Mr. Mark Fohl, Athletic Director
University of Minnesota-Morris
Morris, MN 56267
Dear Sirs/Madam,
It is with a great deal of sadness that we received the news of your decision to terminate Coach Reese's contract and the Wrestling Program at the University of Minnesota-Morris after the 2003-2004 season.
I have an incoming freshman who has been looking forward not only to the challenges of college wrestling but also to the opportunity of working with as exceptional a leader as Coach Doug Reese. From a parent's perspective, my strong preference for University of Minnesota-Morris stemmed from both strong academic and wrestling opportunities. Nevertheless, the deciding factor to send him to UMM rested in the knowledge that Coach Reese would be guiding the development of my son's character into young adulthood. In the few opportunities I have had to meet and talk with Coach Reese, I have been tremendously impressed not only with his credentials but with his philosophy of training not only for wrestling but also for life. He is an exceptional role model for his athletes.
That philosophy is the key. That philosophy and the quality of Men and Women that Coach Reese produces makes wrestling at UMM one of the, if not the most, viable sports at the university!! That is why you MUST reinstate the wrestling program and Coach Reese to UMM after this school year.
I am not alone in my sentiments. In an effort to demonstrate this fact to you, I am submitting petition lists of persons who believe in wrestling, the program at UMM, and their wish to see the program be continued. Wrestling supporters may not be as numerous as, say, football supporters but we are a passionate lot and we will fight for our sport. In summary, let me borrow from the credit card advertisers when I say,
Tuition to attend UMM for one semester: $3,453.75.
Cost of food for one semester: $2,400.00
Wrestling at UMM&emdash;priceless!
Respectfully submitted,
Éva Maria Kish
Parent
I vaguely have heard of UMM being a nice, state liberal arts school. I definitely know that they have one of the best women's wrestling programs and have been successful in men's wrestling for a long time too. What message are you trying to send here?
Where can these high school wrestlers go, if schools like yours close their athletic doors to them? I'm not against women's swimming, but shutting down two small but successful programs to start from another from scratch does not make any sense.
If there are problems in the programs as they exist today, fix them. Don't make them a scapegoat for your budgeting problem. The dollars involved, compared to your overall purported budget deficit is a drop in the bucket. Dropping these programs will do virtually nothing to 'balance' your budget, but is already causing you a lot of very negative publicity. Reversing your current decision could end up being a big positive, but not if you wait too long - is it too late already? I hope not, for your conscience's sake and for the athletes who's opportunities you are affecting now and in years to come.
I would be happy to discuss this further with you, at your convenience.
Rob Welsh
952-224-2000, ext 232
I've been reading a lot of protest letters against dropping the wrestling teams in the04/05 season. I've read your response and I am still unsure as to why the teams were cut. You say things such as "we've done all we can" and whatnot. But why were the teams the only program to be cut? I don't understand why this program was attacked out of all athletic teams. I do not encourage cutting another program in order to save wrestling but would it not seem more fair to cut from each team equally? We are a good team. We strive for success and give UM-Morris a good name. What kind of image is, say the football team leaving on audiences? Are confrence titles what the university desires? One reason the program was cut was because the men's team has no stable confrence. The guys have teams that are more than helpful to include us in competition. Our athlets are pushing themselves every day to make themselves better. They don't see awards such as "Regional Champion," they see goals that are to be met. I truely believe if those who feel strongly enough about this obvioulsy inconsiderate decision, that we can fight the system and come out on top like we always do. I don't think you and the admistrators realize how many lives you have changed.
Thank you for your time,
Katie Ross
senior women wrestler at UMM
I am sorry to inform you that I will not be attending Morris. I am a girl with dreams and goals. After Fargo Nationals I arrived home to a very dishearting email. Especially since I had spent 800 dollars securing a place to live in Morris. I do not want to spend one year in a program and then transfer. My goal is to get to the Olympics and therefore I feel my best bet is to train at Lassen College, CA, a school that has shown a desire to build a women's wrestling program. Thank you for accepting me in your program and thanks for all your hard work for women's wrestling. I sincerely hope your wrestling program gets re-instated.
Meg Cox, Kellogg, ID
On our recent visit to the University of Minnesota Morris, I was greatly impressed with Coach Doug Reese. His passion and knowledge of the sport of wrestling is not only an asset but an inspiration to all students at Morris.
I am the parent of a new student and wrestler this fall to Morris. I cannot express how shocking it was to hear of your decision to eliminate the mens and womens wrestling teams!! This has not only had a negative affect on my daughter, Gabrielle, but has completely devastated the entire family. Wrestling is not only Gaby's passion in life, but was going to be a part of her future at Morris.
Your decision has derailed her plans and caused undue stress and uncertainty to our entire family! Where is the logic in this decision??
We understand that wrestling has not only been a tradition, but a powerful influence on the reputation of your school and entire community. Your decision is heartbreaking and completely unfounded! You as board members need to take a step back to assess this situation and do your "homework" on the institution of wrestling as a sport and positive stepping stone for our athletes and children.
DO THE RIGHT THING AND RECONSIDER THIS HASTY DECISION!
Sincerely,
Karen Portillo, Parent, El Paso, TX
I'm not worried for Doug's sake. He will do well. But you are cutting off one of the few things that makes UMM stand out as special. Wrestling is alive and thriving in MN and around the nation. You are so wrong to think there is not interest in this sport. Unless you attend a few youth wrestling tournaments and Gopher matches this next year you don't know what you are talking about.
Women's wrestling puts Morris, MN on the map world wide. That is no exaggeration! You are fools to drop this program for the net gain of $38,000 after the addition of women's swimming. You really don't care about the students, athletes, alumni or the community if you continue this decision!
Sincerely Disgusted with the UMM Administration,
Cameron and Rene' McElhany (both former UMM students)
Moorhead, MN
My name is Emily Gulbrandson and I graduated from UMM in 1998 with a degree in psychology. This is another letter in response to the University's decision to abolish the Cougar wrestling program. There's a reason why UMM has recently been under attack by a bombardment of letters supporting Doug Reese and the incredible wrestling program he's created. I've read letters from perfect strangers who don't even know Doug personally, but only of the tradition he's created in small town Morris, Minnesota. That town of some 5,000 (including the University) which houses an incredible academic institution would continue to be oblivious to thousand and thousands of people across THE WORLD if it wasn't for Doug Reese and his legacy.
It amazes me how the University can toot it's Liberal Arts horn and claim to encourage the growth of well rounded individuals when it's so quick to take a program that defines a Liberal Arts education. On top of breeding incredible athletes, The Cougar Wrestling Program is historical, intelligent, passionate, persistent, challenging, and admirable.
I BEGAN wrestling at the University of MN, Morris. I walked in with NO experience and Doug Reese took me in. Immediately I was in a group of people that I had never been inside of before. That program is what kept me from transferring out of state. That program gave your University a life I couldn't find in any other program. Within that program there was a passion, a heart, an excitement, and a determination to push harder and achieve more than what you thought you could. That program allows people to dream, believe, work, cry, sweat, drive, and ACHIEVE goals that many people are too scared to even THINK of.
Never did I expect my college experience to include competitions at national and international levels against world class athletes. Never did I expect to meet incredible individuals from all over the world during my college years. Never did I think I would mentally conquer a knee injury and physically push myself to train and come back to place at University Nationals and become an All-American. My college experience isn't measured by my test scores, the classes I took, the math equations we crammed to remember, or the countless hours in front of the computer writing paper after paper. I walk away from The University of Minnesota, Morris with a standard of life that isn't measured in money or a job title. I walk away from Morris with a standard of pride that's based on working with a passion, drive, and a love of surrounding myself with the same kind of people. I walk away a wrestler.
Before you take such an incredible program from your school I encourage you to invest time in surrounding yourself with these people. Go to a competition. Mingle with the people in this elite, loving, and humble group of people to taste the flavor only the The Cougar Wrestling program brings to your school. Spend a day in the Life of Doug Reese. Research his athletes, check out his web site, travel with him, talk to him, read his words, listen to where he's been.
When I heard of the University's decision to cancel the program I wasn't sad, I was excited. I always felt Morris put a cap on his potential and the people he could touch. But now, after reading letters of support I see for myself how many people he's ALREADY touched, and all the good work he does from that basement office in little Morris. He brings nothing but good to a place that needs him.
You have a gem. You have an opportunity to reevaluate your decision and keep this diamond in your presence or ignore every word backed by years of relationships, commitment, champions, titles, and lives touched. Either way this program will exist somewhere, and this man will go on to touch lives. Keep the blessing in your hands, because there are few men like him with his scholarly intelligence, his years of hands on experience, his undying diligence, his shield of faith, and his spiritful sword.
**One Love **
Emily E. Gulbrandson
I am quite sure that you are receiving numerous e-mails from many of my friends and compatriots in the wrestling community regarding the recently announced decision to end the Men's and Women's Wrestling programs at your university. I hope that you are taking those that might be less than positive with a grain of salt. We in the wrestling community are no more or less passionate about our endeavors than anyone else in the academic and/or athletic communities, but we have been under some pretty considerable fire over the last three decades...which has no doubt raised a few hackles.
As you might have guessed, I am writing to offer my support to Coach Reese and the wrestlers and wrestling alumni at UM-Morris. I ask you, as the leaders of your proud university, to FIND A WAY to sustain your truly admirable wrestling programs. So many who have been right where you now find yourselves over the last three decades have failed their students and alumni by folding too early in the game. FIND A WAY! Set yourselves apart and truly define your legacy by winning this scramble you find yourselves in (in wrestling vernacular). Doug Reese has proven to be an innovative leader in the wrestling community at large...I have no doubt that he and his supporters can and will find a way to make it work if you will only allow it. FIND A WAY!! I can only offer my word when I tell you it will be more than worth it if you do. I thank you for your time and consideration.
Obviously, I was shocked and disappointed of the decision at UMM to drop Wrestling. Have you explored all options like letting the Alumni and friends of wrestling to raise donations and lend financial aid to keep the programs. I put six of the best years of my life in at that great institution.. I wasn't a big fan of the women's program, but over the years I came to respect their efforts and dedication, and without a doubt 2X World Team member Kate Downing certainly brought pride to your institution and is a "Class" student/athlete/person", along with several other athletes and people that participated in both men's and women's wrestling!
Trust me, the lack of financial contributions from your alumni wrestlers, friends of wrestling, ect. will be a staggering figure to you in years to come. Just ask Winona State University or Bemidji State University.
Your Chancellor obviously didn't do his homework, sure programs have declined at the collegiate level Nationally, but the increase of wrestlers have at the collegiate level, because there are less colleges offering the sport. Also figure in the NWCA Club Wrestling National Tournament, that attracts several wrestlerrs at colleges that used to sponsor varsity collegiate wrestling programs. We had close to 50 wrestlers on the team at MSU Moorhead this past winter. Fifteen years ago, we had 20 when there were more colleges offering the sport. This has made the sport tougher. Mark, did he really wrestle???
Southern Colorado has admitted they made a mistake in dropping wrestling. It takes "Big People" to admit mistakes.
This decision that your administration has made hurts me alot more than two cancer surgeries and 20 chemothrapy treatments ever did.
Consider every option and come up with a plan where the alumni and friends of wrestling might save the sport of wrestling at UMM.
I hope I get a personal response from You and other administrators on this issue as "I gave you the best Maroon & Gold Cougar Blood I had" for six years!!
You state, "But we were led to this decision by the declining interest nationally in this sport." National statistics for secondary level participation in wrestling run counter to this statement, and the decline in men's teams at the collegiate level has become a self fulfilling prophesy caused of Title IX's gender quota. High school wrestling has never been more popular, and high school wrestlers and others in lesser priority sports are finding fewer fields in which to play after graduating from high school.
In 1993, Princeton made a decision similar to UMM's, dropping varsity wrestling for stated reasons that budget constraints demanded it and that there was a decline of interest in wrestling at the national level. As chair of the Friends of Princeton Wrestling at the time, I was successful in having Nassau Hall reconsider its decision regarding wrestling and, upon conducting an in depth study and considering various options and impacts, Princeton decided to allow the varsity wrestling program to continue, with the patient understanding of both the university and Friends' alumni and parents that funds would be raised to help offset the annual costs of running the program and to establish an endowment which ultimately would be sufficient to pay for much if not all of those costs. The university has since used the wrestling model for other athletic programs to help mitigate budget pressures on university resources caused by athletics. There can be little doubt that with cooperation and effort on the part of your administration, athletics and alumni that UMM can find a successful solution to saving these two sports teams and thereby serve the needs and interests of its undergraduates.
The purpose of this short note is to ask for some help to keep this program alive. There are so many talented athletes in the sport of wrestling that come from your school. Please do whatever you can to help them continue.
We all know that athletics play an important role in a quality liberal arts education. Well-rounded individuals are not produced in the classroom alone. In the financial climate of Minnesota today, we all realize that certain cuts and sacrifices must be made. However, I will never understand the decision to cut wrestling.
As a fan and former competitor of the sport, I am perhaps a bit biased. I do know that the UMM wrestling team consistently fielded competitive squads. It has produced several All-Americans and dozens of Academic All-Americans in the last decade alone. UMM pioneered the progressive sport of women's wrestling in the United States, giving young women the chance to compete in a male-dominated sport. Now you will abandon both programs in favor of women's swimming, a sport that cannot even be properly conducted in Morris' inexplicably-designed pool? This is shameful.
I realize that the "big" sports of football and basketball will be the last to disappear from the UMM campus. However, perhaps such favoritism should be more closely examined. In my four years in Morris, I believe the UMM football team won a total of four games. They did not win a single game in my final two years, and I do not believe they have won since I graduated. I could only shake my head last year as the UMM women's basketball team made headlines in Minneapolis en route to setting an NCAA record for consecutive losses. The men's basketball team was also severely overmatched by its competition. Perhaps UMM should cultivate its strengths, rather than cutting one of the few athletic programs that had even a chance to win day in and day out.
In deciding on which college to attend, I had narrowed my choices to UMM, UMD, and Gustavus Adolphus. Though I did not even know if I would attempt to compete in wrestling at the collegiate level, I refused to attend a school that did not support wrestling. As UMD had cut its program in the mid-1990s and Gustavus never had one, I chose UMM. I would not make the same decision today.
I regret to inform you that any future monetary contributions I make will be reserved for schools that are loyal to their student athletes.
I am writing in support of the wrestling programs at your institution and am appealing to you to not eliminate this sport from your campus. I don't think you could possibly find a more dedicated human being than Doug Reese and the job that he has done with your wrestling program speaks for itself. The program itself has been a landmark for title IX (equal opportunity) and the successes that each program have had have been significant. The impact that a solid program, run by men with the credentials, dedication and integrity of Coach Reese, is untold and to even suggest that future young athletes will not have the opportunity to enjoy the association of being a part of the wrestling program is uncomprehensable. I do not want to create an atmosphere of animosity here, but the statistics associated with this move do not bare out an appreciable savings to your institution. When you look at the savings of dropping the wrestling program, but then add a swimming program, you are only looking at a savings of around $38,000 and I suppose even less when you consider renovating a pool that isn't of competition size. But even so, how can you possibly put a $$$$$ figure on the lives that won't be touched by not only Coach Reese, but the great sport of wrestling as well. Wrestling is the oldest sport known to man. History speaks of person after person that participated in this great sport and the character traits that it has taught many. Please, with all do respect, don't let this program be cut from your university. Maybe you could set up a capital funds drive, coordinated with Coach Reese and the wresling teams or something of this nature, surely in this day and age there is something that can be done to makeup the differences necessary to save these programs.
I thank you for your time in looking at this situation and hope and pray that this communication is not in vain and that you will reconcider your decision to drop the wrestling programs.
Wrestling is a big part of my life and the lives of many young men and women in our nation. It is a sport that builds character and teaches one that all can be acheived with hard work.
It hurts me to hear of schools that choose to eliminate their wrestling programs because of cutbacks, title IX or for whatever reason, because not only the respective team suffers for the loss of a program, but the entire wrestling community suffers because of the loss of opportunities for participation, scholarships, competition, etc.
I implore you to please consider other options other than that of dropping your wrestling program.
Thank you for your time.
As an individual who has a daughter that just graduated with honors from college and as a 4 year letter winner, and all conference and Academic All American, a son who is an All American and National Champion Wrestler, and myself a letter winner in 3 collegiate sports, and former advisor on a National Presidential Task Force, I can't support this decision, and would encourage you to reconsider to dropping of wrestling for either men or women.
Find a way to continue supporting this sport as well as find a way to add swimming. When it comes to the positive aspects of athletics, find a way to support them.
Dear Dr. Schumann:
It is with great disappointment that we hear the news regarding the discontinued men's and women's intercollegiate wrestling programs at University of Minnesota at Morris. Your program has a storied 42 year history as evidenced by the 152 All Americans, two Olympians, and a World Cup Champion that represented your institution. Even more impressive are the 28 NCAA Division II Academic All Americans that competed in a University of Minnesota-Morris uniform since 1996. Coach Reese is nationally and internationally recognized as a great ambassador for promoting athletic opportunities for both men and women.
The National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) commands the absolute belief that America needs the core values that are developed through participation in classic sports like amateur wrestling. Some of our nation' s greatest business and political leaders stand tall behind their experience as wrestlers. Speaker of the US House of Representatives/Dennis Hastert, Secretary of Defense/Donald Rumsfeld, CEO of Charles Schwab/David Pottruck, the top Bush Economic Advisor/Stephen Friedman are just a few examples of great American wrestling ambassadors. To discontinue your varsity wrestling program is to suggest that your institution is not interested in offering activities that have a demonstrated history of developing great role models.
The vital signs of scholastic wrestling have never been stronger. Currently, high school wrestling is the 6th most popular boys sport in America based on National Federation of State High School Association participation statistics. Women's wrestling at the high school level is also thriving as evidenced by the fact that over 3500 young women are competing across our nation. University of Minnesota-Morris is currently one of a few institutions offering opportunities for this emerging women's sport. Unfortunately, too many universities have adopted the disfavored practice of balancing their budgets by eliminating teams in tough economic times. The trouble is, most teams that are discontinued never resurface and consequently, thousands of future "mentor-coaches" are eliminated in the process. Who is going to mentor the future generations of young children currently in our educational systems?
Our best and brightest student-athletes across America are counting on leaders like yourself to have the courage to develop and implement innovative strategies to preserve these precious participatory opportunities. You can count on the full support of the National Wrestling Coaches Association to assist you with this endeavor. The NWCA wishes you success with this challenge and will monitor the situation closely.
I am currently the head wrestling coach and assistant athletic director at Fort Hays State University (Div. II). I recently read where you are planning on dropping your wrestling program after next year. I was disheartened to read that your administration thought wrestling was "no longer a viable sport for UMM." Some recent statistics show wrestling is the 6th most popluar high school sport based on NFHS participation rates. In addition over 350 new high school wrestling programs were added in 2000 alone. I urge you to reconsider your decision and help keep our great sport of wreslting going in Minnesota. There are so many talented wrestlers in the state of Minnesota. Many colleges recruit heavily in your state because the talent base is so large. Cutting the sport will only mean that more Minnesota kids will have to look for other colleges. Please stand by your program, coach, wrestlers, and the wrestling community. Do what is right and keep your program!
I just recieved your e-mail. I am planning to go to UMM even if there will only be two other girls on the team. Please write back to me and let me know if anything else has happened. I was excited about wrestling this year and really want to pursue that dream.
I already have my plane ticket, classes, and have everything set to go. I am going to UMM mostly because of the wrestling team. I hope this will work out in the end.
I was disappointed to hear you have elected to discontinue your Men's and Women's Wrestling Program at Minnesota-Morris. I know you have a strong wrestling tradition and that many student athletes have had great experiences wrestling there. In fact, when I was a High School coach, I sent one of my wrestlers to wrestle at Morris.
I have been involved in wrestling my entire life. No other single experience contributed more in my development towards becoming a productive citizen. For many kids, because of size and socioeconomic factors, wrestling is the only sport available to them. To take away that opportunity will harm many young people now and into the future. Soon college athletics will be 250 pound football players and women's sports.
Wrestling is a strong sport at the Minnesota High School level. Minnesota Morris has an obligation to represent its constituency by providing opportunity relative to High School participation. According to the Minnesota State High School League, nearly twice as many schools offer wrestling as hockey (262 wrestling and 158 hockey). Girls swimming has only 150 teams (Also, if Title IX factors in to the decision, recent Dept. of Education clarification says that Title IX compliance does not require numerical equality or proportionality between Men and Women.). In representing the State of Minnesota and considering the facts for participation, why would a hockey player or a swimmer be more valuable than a wrestler and deserve opportunity and tax dollars more? Where is the common sense and fairness here?
As Kid's Director of Minnesota USA Wrestling, I strongly urge you to find a way to save these programs. Work with the wrestling community and find alternatives. I am sure that many Morris wrestling alumni would help. Our young wrestlers need the chance your University offers to continue their wrestling careers.
In the past when schools have elected to eliminate programs, the common rhetoric has been, "It was a hard and painful decision." Actually, it is just the opposite. Dropping programs is the easy way out. Saving programs and helping kids, through creative solutions, that is the tough thing to do.
Thank you for your time.
I was very sad when I heard the news about the cut of the wrestling program. How sad that such a well run program for young men is being cut because of gender equity. I am sure that is a big part of it, and that should not be the basis of why programs are cut. Our son, Bill, was a wrestler at UMM and the things he learned from your program can't be put into classroom education. It is called real life, where we win some and we lose some. We have always held high regard for you and your program. I am wondering as a parent of an alumni, and parent of a former wrestler at the University of Minnesota Morris is there is anything we can do to save the program. I am writing the the Chancellor and Vice Chancellor as I got their addresses from Bill.
I believe if parents, students, and community rally together we can make a difference.
The decision to drop the wrestling program at Morris by the University was a complete shock. Although I am very disappointed because I was looking forward to spending 4 years wrestling for you, I will still be attending Morris this year and will wrestle also. Thank you for everything and please inform me if there are any changes in the decision or about the season.
Gaby Portillo, Freshman Women Wrestler, El Paso, Texas
The sport of amateur wrestling has existed since the dawn of man, and has provided a venue for young men and young women to participate in a sport
more demanding than any other. The sport of wrestling is athletic
competition at its very best ? one on one, athlete versus athlete in a "no excuses" medium that requires an extreme amount of physical and mental dedication in order to be successful.
Unfortunately, amateur wrestling doesn't enjoy the popularity of football, basketball or baseball and, consequently, doesn't generate the amount of program revenue these first tier sports deliver. From the college level right down to local kids programs, wrestling doesn't get the respect it deserves in proportion to the dedication it takes from it's participants.
As an Executive Board member for Team Georgia (a branch of USA Wrestling), we just recently implented girls wrestling in the state of Georgia. We added this program to complement an already booming boys program. Part of our impetus to encourage wrestling at the youth level are the positive benefits derived from participating in the sport - and part of the motivation we use is the ability of exceptional athletes to compete at the college level.
Being a youth in today's world isn't easy. In addition to the normal angst of being a teenager, there are the temptations of drugs and alcohol, new challenges like the potential of violence on campus, gangs, and just plain apathy about their ability to make a difference. Wrestling helps address all of these issues by providing a mechanism for the participant to experience success ? and all the positive traits that go along with it. The physical requirements of the sport keep the participant off the street, and the use of alcohol and drugs within the sport is virtually nonexistent due to the extreme physical conditioning required to be successful. Demanding practices discourage gang participation by allowing an outlet for physical aggression in a team-oriented environment, which provides needed camaraderie and positive peer reinforcement.
Please reconsider depriving these deserving athletes of a venue to continue their sport at the college level. If you examine wrestling at it's core level, you'll see that the dedication to task required form it exceed that of ANY other sport. Don't take that hope away from what could be your future alumni.
Without purposely trying or implying a chauvinistic attitude, how much of the $64,000 is men's wrestling and how much is women's wrestling? I feel the university should show these numbers. I know Title IX will be involved but as the web site stated a women's swim team will be added in 04-05. If so would saving the men's program still adhere to all the rulings of Title IX?
I also feel that I'm not the first person to ask these questions.
Being a native South Dakotan I was fortunate in the 70's to meet the Koslowski's.
I'm Nancy Peterson, John's wife (1976 Olympic Champion). We have received your e-mail with sadness regarding the program there at Morris. After thinking about it for a while, I am wondering why you didn't put up a fight. There is a place for rejoicing in what God has for you... and you are right to do that. However, don't you owe it to your present wrestlers, and to future wrestlers to do AS MUCH AS YOU CAN to fight this decision?? The dropping of the program is not about YOUR loss as much as it is about the loss to the wrestlers! God calls us to fight injustice at times, Doug. This is definitely unjust... and there are avenues to take to do everything possible to try to get the decision reversed. The U did a lot recently to stall or stop the powers that be from dropping good athletic programs. I'm sure you are aware of that. I urge you to work hard, to press on in the fight to keep wrestling in your school. Don't just accept what they have said as if it's God's final decision. He may indeed want to use YOU at Morris to fight for what is RIGHT.!!
I sent an email to all of the people you suggested. The reply that I received from Schumann encouraged me to send him a second email:
"Our wrestling programs for both men and women have produced results and individuals of whom we are very proud. But we were led to this decision by the declining interest nationally in this sport, our graduation/retention rate for wrestlers is disappointing, and UMM's new UMAC and Division III affiliation status."
I wrote back that interest is NOT declining nationally among youth and high schoolers. He responded that I was correct. I mentioned that UMM should attempt to get a higher quality student/wrestler, not drop a program because wrestlers aren't cutting it. He did not respond to this. I questioned whether women swimmers were more intelligent than women wrestlers, since swimming is being added. Again, no response. My final statement was that DIII indeed does have wrestling, at least for men. No response.
Thank you for your prompt email reply to our phone conversation of July 24th.
Reading your lengthy letter giving the rationale to cut the wrestling program, it is obvious, based on its detailed depth which included statistics, that the wrestling program has been under review long before our daughter visited your campus , from New York, in March. It would have been most responsible for UMM to have communicated to incoming Freshmen and Morris students that athletic programs were being reviewed as to their prospective futures.-
We believe that part of any child's education is to learn the process of making correct choices. A major factor in this process is to collect all the available information concerning the pros and cons. We were concerned about sending her so far away, but collectively, looking at the information on UMM, it's quality compared to other schools and womens athletic programs, we felt it was the best decision.
By you holding back vital information, you prevented our daughter from being given critical information that most certainly would have affected her final decision. She not only gave up a 32 thousand dollar schlorship to American International, but also turned down Lock Haven and Missouri Valley, to attend UMM , which touted strong academics and a highly successful women's wrestling team. Failure to disclose information that obviously had been discussed in the Spring (this information ws also recounted in the volumes of email generated on this subject), we not only lost available scholarship money, but had to do some very creative financial arrangements so we might fulfill our obligation of out of state tuition costs.
For the University to speak of "Vision and Mission" and at the same time withhold information that proves to be critical to the decision making process for young adults and their families, is harmful and counter productive to the positive relationship necessary between university and family. This family is left with no other educational option other than to honor its contractual responsibility and enter UMM in 3 weeks, without the intact program we were expecting.
I eMAILED THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE TO YOUR ADMINISTRATIVE SUPERIORS. IT WILL PROBABLY DO MORE HARM THAN GOOD, BUT IT'S THE TRUTH AND THEY ARE WRONG TO CANCEL THESE PROGRAMS. IF NOTHING ELSE THEY WILL GET A GOOD DOSE OF THIS WRESTLER.
I am an ex-high school wrestler, an ex-college wrestler, an ex-marine(USMC), an ex-high school teacher, an ex-football, wrestling & track coach and I know what I'm talking about!!
GOOD LUCK COACH REESE ..... My heart is with you and your wrestlers.
Mr Schuman,
Considering the "miserable state" of college and professional football - basketball & baseball it is obsurd to eliminate your collegiate wrestling programs.
You are going one step further in denying athletes of every size and weight an opportunity that thousands of "big and tall" athletes will continue to enjoy. I wonder how you can look into the eyes of the smaller athletes in our nation and feel a sense of fairness.
What are you afraid of? You need to cut $64,000 from basketball which is "riddled" with gang & criminal players at the college and pro level.
Don't you read the papers? Basketball players are raping & shooting people at an alarming rate ........... and you SIR are supporting that by eliminating wrestling and supporting "hoop criminals!!!!!"
Wrestlers aren't perfect but I can't recall any that shoot & rape!!!..and they can kick the crap out of basketball players Hands Down.
Pick yourself up and DO WHAT IS RIGHT. Stop "knuckling under" to the pro-sport entities. It is they who fear that fans might become interested in another sport.
Here you go ....$$$$$$$$$$$$ ..... is that what it's all about?
You state, "But we were led to this decision by the declining interest nationally in this sport." National statistics for secondary level participation in wrestling run counter to this statement, and the decline in men's teams at the collegiate level has become a self fulfilling prophesy caused of Title IX's gender quota. High school wrestling has never been more popular, and high school wrestlers and others in lesser priority sports are finding fewer fields in which to play after graduating from high school.
In 1993, Princeton made a decision similar to UMM's, dropping varsity wrestling for stated reasons that budget constraints demanded it and that there was a decline of interest in wrestling at the national level. As chair of the Friends of Princeton Wrestling at the time, I was successful in having Nassau Hall reconsider its decision regarding wrestling and, upon conducting an in depth study and considering various options and impacts, Princeton decided to allow the varsity wrestling program to continue, with the patient understanding of both the university and Friends' alumni and parents that funds would be raised to help offset the annual costs of running the program and to establish an endowment which ultimately would be sufficient to pay for much if not all of those costs. The university has since used the wrestling model for other athletic programs to help mitigate budget pressures on university resources caused by athletics. There can be little doubt that with cooperation and effort on the part of your administration, athletics and alumni that UMM can find a successful solution to saving these two sports teams and thereby serve the needs and interests of its undergraduates.
I am writing to ask you to reconsider your decision to eliminate both your Women and Men's wrestling programs. There just has to be another alternative that will allow you to achieve your mandated budgetary reduction.
In my spare time, I'm a volunteer coach at a kids wrestling club where both boys and girls learn and practice. Living in a region of the country (Central California) as I do where girls' wrestling is supported and encouraged from an early age, it breaks my heart to learn that one of the pre-eminent women's programs is going to be terminated.
We tell girl wrestlers that they'll be able to compete as far as college (and beyond) if they choose to pursue that dream. Now, it appears that another such opportunity may be eliminated.
I am also heart-broken for the Minnesota-Morris men wrestlers and for your well-regarded coach.
Can you find a way to re-examine this decision?
This was a very difficult decision. As Vice Chancellor Sandy Olson-Loy spelled out in her announcement about these steps, UMM has had to find $1,500,000 in real-dollar reductions in a budget of roughly $26 million.
This has resulted in reductions in programs across the board -- in student life, academic affairs, plant services, administrative support. We have reduced a number of positions, but have tried to preserve the core of our academic program.
Our wrestling programs for both men and women have produced results and individuals of whom we are very proud. But we were led to this decision by the declining interest nationally in this sport, our graduation/retention rate for wrestlers is disappointing, and UMM's new UMAC and Division III affiliation status.
It saddens me to have to cut any sport at UMM. I personally come from a family of wrestlers. My dad was a Big 10 champion; I myself wrestled a bit in high school: I know firsthand the discipline and the toughness the sport cultivates. But I believe we have made the best decision in difficult circumstances, and there is no reason to reconsider it.
We are resolute in our conviction that UMM needs to build a smaller but more competitive program in Intercollegiate Athletics in NCAA Division III. This will require sacrifices and time, but it is an important goal for our college.
Thanks for your interest in this matter, and for your commitment to UMM.
I have just found out that your school is dropping both men's and women's wrestling. In the wrestling community your school has made a name for itself by offering both teams with much success. In fact my son who will be a senior in HS was considering your school along with 2 others in the midwest. Now he has one less choice to make.
I urge you to reconsider your decision. Wrestling offers young people so much in life. It teaches them hard work and perseverence. How to be independent and get through tough times. This country needs a sport like that. Don't help the elimination of wrestling at the collegiate level. Please see if other options are available instead of this drastic step. There are loads of HS wrestlers across the country looking for college programs. They are willing to give up so much to support the school of their choice. If things continue the way they have been ther won't be many choices left.
I apologize for sending the previous email, I sent you the draft copy, written in haste by accident. Below is the correct email
I am writing to you to give you my view on what has just happened. When I found out about this I was in utter shock. I had tears not only for me but for you and all the other girls I had bonded with on my trip. I have been training since I decided to move out there and , more so since I go your training book. Though I am very upset I am still determined to go out there and be apart of your team. I am not a quitter, and I stick to my commitments even through the hardest time. I just figured that I would let you know where I stand and tell you that you will see me in September for the first day of practice.
Greer Sasponick - Incoming Freshman Women Wrestler, New York
I have just learned of the heartbreaking decision made to drop both wrestling programs at the University of Minnesota-Morris. I would like to urge you to reconsider and search for other options.
Wrestling is not just another sport. The benefits one gains from wrestling are unlimited. These include discipline, respect, mental toughness, and working hard to acheieve a unanimous goal.
In today's mess of the Title 9/proportionality issues involved with wrestling, UM-Morris has been a leader. The wrestling program at UM-Morris is so dynamic being that you currently provide opportunities for both men and women in. You shouldn't take that away from them.
Just months ago, my own wrestling program was nearly eliminated due to budget concerns. With the help of the entire wrestling community, we have fought off our backs, and created an endowment fund to secure our program forever. Have you considered this possibility? I would venture to say the men and women involved with UM-Morris wrestling would be willing to develop this concept and save their program. Raising money isn't always the easiest thing to do, but we are wrestlers, and we can do anything. If you need ideas and/or a starting point for your own endowment, please do not hesitate to contact me.
I hope you can reconsider dropping the wrestling program. Much like we teach our athletes, there are always other ways to score and win. If an opponent stops your first shot, then you need to recover position, have a second move, third move, etc. It is an ongoing battle and we always teach them to NEVER GIVE UP. Doesn't dropping wrestling go against everything we teach? Please don't give up on your wrestlers at UM-Morris. You have one of the most unique situations in collegiate wrestling and it would be a shame to lose that.
I want to support your stance; however I can not, when you are going to add on women's swimming program.
I have followed both wrestling programs and have found them competitive and fun to read about (scores/highlights). I would hope your school will reconsider your stance and allow the program to continue (find away). Wrestling is a sport that has benefited many individuals and will continue to do so. Please allow this program to continue.
Thank you for your time and consideration!
In a message dated 7/25/2003 1:55:54 PM Central Daylight Time, Buck Grace writes:
I wanted to ask if you would reconsider your $64K cut and look for a way to keep your outstanding women and men's wrestling program. Your women's program has had a great deal of success and generates nothing but a stellar reputation for your school. These young women and men have become ambassadors and beacons for the university. This alone helps with recruiting new students and gains important recognition for your school nation wide. The investment is surely worth keeping these programs and the hopes and dreams alive for these young men and women, who excel under Coach Reese. Not too many institutions have such a gem of a program, that shines throughout the country.
Dear Mr. Fohl,
It was with great disappointment that I learned about the planned discontinuation of your men's and women's wrestling programs. Thanks to the outstanding leadership of coach Reese, UMM is recognized as a leader in expanding opportunities for women to wrestle and preserving opportunities for men.
The College Sports Council is a leading advocate for the student athlete experience at the collegiate level, working to preserve and promote opportunities for men and women to compete in intercollegiate sports. While we understand the very real difficulties faced by administrators confronted with budget cutbacks, we are determined though to prevent administrators from using cutbacks as an excuse to reduce athletic opportunities for undergraduates. Instead of eliminating these educational opportunities we hope that UMM can provide exemplary leadership and courage in spreading these budget cutbacks across the entire department and thereby not dropping any programs.
For the benefit of the UMM community and society as a whole, we hope that you will be able to work out a compromise that will preserve your wrestling program. The College Sports Council wishes you success with this challenge and will monitor your progress.
It was with great dismay that I was informed of the decision to cut the UM-Morris wrestling programs this morning. Not only is the decision a big mistake by the university, it is also a mistake that will affect the sport, and young men and women for years to come.
One incoming freshman for the Morris men's team was living in a tough family situation in Texas, but because of the opportunity to wrestle at Morris, he moved to the area to get a job and continue his education and wrestling career at Morris. With the influence of teammates and the guidance of his college coach, this wrestler will likely turn out to be a productive citizen. Without the stability and guidance, who knows where this person will end up. The men's program has a long tradition of excellence, and to cut it makes absolutely no sense. I am sure I will not be the only person to voice my opinion on this. The story on our web site will be read by hundreds of thousands...
Women were making big strides in this sport - and then you decide to end it the year it is first going to be an Olympic sport? Remember what Brandi Chastain, Kerry Strug and the U.S. Women's Hockey team did for the country? Well, Liz Short and other female wrestlers can capture the heart of America by succeeding at the Olympics. Imagine if Liz makes it to the medal round, and say she wins a gold medal, all they will be talking about - and you know how TV uses sob stories - is how UM Morris cut it's wrestling program the year before the Olympics. Can you imagine the negative press the school will get? Now, if Short was to make it to the medal round, can you imagine the positive press this would get on a national level? I think you need to reevaluate this decision, and look beyond the numbers. It's a huge mistake, and one that will affect your University for a long long time. Instead of being a pioneer of women's wrestling, you will be looked at as an evil villain.
I suggest you click on and read this articles about the value of wrestling at the college level, and how it has helped certain institutions:
UWO wrestling program shows resiliency
http://www.wisinfo.com/northwestern/sports/archive/sports_11054956.shtml
DCTC athletic department 'wisely growing'
http://www.thisweek-online.com/2003/July/25dctc.html
Please reconsider this decision, you will benefit from this in the future.
The recent developements are Morris are of great concern to me. I graduated from Morris this past May, and finished my wrestling career at Morris a couple months prior to that.
I have written a few things that I hope some of you will take the time to read. I have been a Captian on the Morris wrestling team for the past two years, as well as an active member of the campus.
I give much credit to wrestling at Morris for helping me in many areas of my life. This feeling is common among the team. I was very active in the university in all ways. I truly believe I would not have been if it were not for wrestling. I will not say that I would have not come to Morris if it were not for wrestling, because I would have. I came to Morris for its acedemic reputation. But, I can honestly ask myself if I would have stayed without wrestling. Regardless of that, I know that I would have lost many things without the sport. I became active because I represented wrestling on a few campus committees, then once I was involved it only grew into more and more involvement. I am not going to get into the benefits of athletics, because hopefully we all know of them. I do believe that wrestling is special for the fact that it is looked at as a very disciplined, and demanding sport. All sports are, but wrestling has a good reputation for those things. When applying to law school this past year I felt that is was a huge advantage to be able to mention, and it was something few of the other applicants could compare to. The state of Minnesota as well as the University of Minnesota, are well know for having great wrestling. It is as popular in Minnesota as it has ever been.
The real reason I emailed is because I am concerned that this cut is not really for the reasons that may have been given. The budget is an obvious problem at Morris as it is all over the state, but I do believe that these same cuts would have been done regardless of the budget situation. I was very much involved in the budget discussion at Morris this past spring. I was on the Campus Resource and Planning Committee Which gave the final recommendations. Athletics was brought up as a way to save money as was everything else. The administration told the committee that it was planning on cutting some sports and adding some to line up better with the conference that we will be moving into. It was then said that this will not save any money, and that it could in fact cost more money. That is why I am concerned that the budget concerns were nothing more than a patsy.
I feel that this cut was directly because of the move to Div III. The confernce. we are moving into does not have wrestling, and that is why we are cutting it, this is mentioned as a reason, but I feel the budget concerns overshadow it. I also have some concerns move of conferences as a reason. I am against that as a reasonable reason, but I have other concerns as well. When the discussion to move to Div III took place, we all knew of the lack of wrestling in the new conference. I was against the move anyway, but this was of great concern to me. I went to the Morris Campus Student Association meeting were the administration was present to discuss the possible move. After explaining that the new conference did not have wrestling and that I was concerned for my sport, I asked the specific question. Will sports that the new confernce lacks be cut for that reason? Namely wrestling. Will we have to sacrific traditions to make thism move? I was told that this would have no effect on the decisions to cut sports. It was also said that these sports could compete with other conferences. They told me that sports would not be cut just to line up with the new conference.
Only a couple years later in a Campus Resource and Planning Committee, this same administration, actually the same person, said that we need to cut sports to line up better with the conference. I wish I had the actual quote for my own benefit, but that is very very close to the actual words, if they are at all off. Also remember it was said this would save no money.
That is what is mainly bothering me about this decision. I feel that I was told what I wanted to here for two years now. I want an explanation. I greatly respect all those involved in this decision, but through all my searching I cannot find any reason to believe that I was not decieved by them.
It is very easy for an administrations words to be lost at the college level. The turnover of students is so high, that most students are really only involved a couple years. By the time they get involved in their junior year or so, they are 2 years from graduation. I feel that that gives administrators an opportunity to forget things with little accountability.
I am not trying to say that there were perverse motives at all in this decision or any of them, but I want to be leveled with. I know that sometimes it is easier to do things as to not get people upset, but I do not believe this should be one of those cases. These students who have recently inrolled in Morris, and want to stay here and wrestle, as well as the rest of us that did wrestle for Morris and care about Morris have a right to know the truth about why these decisions are made.
I truly believe that the administration does its best for Morris, I know they are hard working and caring for the school. Saying that, I feel that this was not handled correctly, and that it is a decision that will only hurt a school. A school that can not afford to lose any support, especially how the budget is.
The only thing that I was really insulted by was the discussion of wrestlers acedemic performance. The retention rates is misleading for the fact that it is entirly the womens team that brings the average down. The mens team has much higher rates. Why was this fact hidden? We have two seperate sports, so why combine the statistic? And what was the motive in doing so.
The women that do leave, leave because they have tremendous opportunities, that were given to them by wrestling at Morris. Many girls that have wrestled at Morris had opprotunities to compete for the USA team. I am proud that they started in Morris, but I guess that feeling does not fill the offices in Camden. Just because they didn't graduate from doesn't mean that they are not friends of Morris, anmd will someday do many great things for the school.
Back to men's wrestling, which I know more about. We have many very impressive graduates that can compare to best students at Morris. We have a student that is going to a very good chiropractic school next fall, and a student that is going to a top law school, both of which were Acedemic All-Americans more than once. They both graduated in May. How many Acedemic All-Americans have we had over the years. Check the web page. Hopefully some of you looked at it atleast once. I feel that there was an attempt to make the wrestlers look like they were not competing academically, I am offended by that ploy. If the retention rates are low for the women, then fine cut them, but do not cut us for that. Would you cut baseball because softball rates were down. It seemed as though most of the reasons were for cutting womens wrestling, but then we get cut too. Womens wrestling is fairly new at Morris, if the administration feels as though it is not working out, then cut them, but do not cut the guys teams that has such a long and outstanding tradition.
I hope that the school reconsiders its decision, for I feel it is in the best interest of the school.
Eric Steinhoff - 2x Academic All-American, Team Captain 2001-2003
It is a great disappointment that the university has come to this decision. I can only believe that not one of the people making the decision to cut the wrestling program was a wrestler. Why you ask would I say that… because nobody who has wrestled would allow such a thing to happen. Nobody who has wrestled would roll over and let bureaucracy make the decision. Only those who have NOT wrestled are unable to appreciate the magnitude of what a person learns on the mat!
I cannot boast that I was an outstanding wrestler or student. I didn't change any policies I wasn't a captain of the team or a wrestler my whole life. I wrestled for one year at Morris and I can honestly say it changed my life forever. I went to Morris to get an education, I left Morris with an experience that shaped the person that I am today. As a woman who took part of the Women's wrestling program, when I tell people where I graduated from, I rarely say "University of Minnesota &endash; Morris" without mentioning that it was home to the first women's collegiate wrestling program in the nation! I don't know if Morris administration realizes that for many women athletes, the Woman's wrestling program put Morris on the map! Outside of being a great institution for academics &endash; which unfortunately in this day and age doesn't amount to a hill of beans, the wrestling is what prompted a lot of people to take notice of this small university.
I was proud to proclaim my Alma madder because it wasn't about wrestling; it proved that I went to a school that cared about shaping unique individuals. People who want to strive to achieve the impossible. Well-rounded, diverse, and unique adults who work hard to achieve their goals no matter what obstacles they have to overcome. I learned more in that wrestling room about challenging my self and pushing past my perceived limits than any single class that I attended! The program there creates quality men and women with the confidence to meet the world's demands.
It is a disappointment that a university that prides itself on diversity would eliminate something that can produce the most diverse yet powerful individuals. Apparently "diversity" to this University only becomes important when substantiating statistics for their own purposes.
I hope you take the time to recognize the repercussions this decision could have on your students and the entire university. By proceeding with this decision you are only further creating a world of individuals who will never have the opportunity to experience or challenge themselves in the way that I have described.
Jeremy Benson - UMM Wrestler
Even as I am trying to figure out how best to express my concern and dissappointment over the current situation facing the UMM wrestling programs, I feel that anything I have to say or offer at this time has little chance to have a constructive effect. It seems as though the wrestlers and alumni were taken out of the equation entirely, and we haven't even been given the opportunity to show our willingness to do all we could do to "save" the programs before they were hastily dropped.
If the reason for dropping wrestling comes down to the fact that the NCAA Division III program the men's team would join, there are alternatives. Both teams have been given the invitation to compete nationally. If it was about money, I have faith that if given the chance, the current and past wrestlers of UMM would be willing and able to make it happen. That's what wrestlers do every day on and off the mat.
The men's team is valuable to Morris because it has been one of, if not the most successfull athletic team in UMM history. It consistently turns out a high percentage of Academic All-Americans each year. It also sent at least one man to the NCAA Division II national championships every year I attended Morris, and I can't recall any other Morris athletic teams that did that recently.
The women's team is not only important to Morris, but is also important at a national level. Morris has gained an incredible amount of exposure through the women's team. It opened the door for women throughout the nation to wrestle at the collegiate level, and spurred the creation of dozens of other women's teams nationally. In an even bigger picture, the Morris women's wrestling program is important in the development of women's wreslting at the Olympic level. Women's wreslting will be an event for the first time in the 2004 Olympics. The Morris women's wrestling program was the first full collegiate team, and is still one of the most solid teams in the nation. This program is needed to continue an increasingly competitive atmosphere among college teams. Women's programs in colleges throughout the nation make up the feeder program for Olympic wrestling because women who develop thier skills in college go on to train and compete at the Olympic level.
I am not convinced that these factors were thoroughly calculated in the decision to drop the men's and women's wrestling programs at UMM. I know of no other alternatives that were given to the wrestlers, past and present coaches, and alumni to pursue. Money and conference competition opportunities are not sufficient barriers to keeping the teams at Morris. Regardless of those reasons for dropping the programs, wrestling has much more to offer the university and to all of those who have been, are, or will be involved in the program. Morris only needs to embrace the resource it has in wrestling because there is a tradition and a level of success in both programs that the UMM community should be proud of and willing to nourish.
Katie Downing 1998-2002.
I am going to be attending Morris this year and would love to wrestle still, I am disappointed that they are canceling the program. I was very much looking forward to wrestling for the next four years.
Bryan LaCore - Freshman Wrestler, Duluth, MN
Your messages have been delayed slightly in getting to Matt (Hoerr) and me as Matt's computer address is at his dad's house and Matt is living with me now. Nevertheless, we got the devastating news. Matt has EVERY intention and wish to come wrestle with you this year regardless of the outcome and will be at Morris this fall. His dad has forwarded your e-mails and we will get on the bandwagon to protest. I am sure that Matt will contact you separately.
While I would be sad at the demise of wrestling at the U of MN-Morris, I must tell you that the loss of such a fine coach and mentor would be the greater loss. I have been so thankful to God to have put you in my son's life. It is your character as a leader of young men and women, as a coach, and as a father figure to young people first away from home that gives me hope that my son will receive the best opportunities to grow into a fine young man. I will do my utmost to see that you and the wrestling program stay at UMM.
I heard from my mom who heard from Bryan LaCore's mom who heard from Bry that there were rumors about not having wrestling in the future because of financial problems or something like that. Bryan received an email asking to inform you of his intentions of playing now that the program may be shut down soon. I haven't received the email yet, and I think it has something to do with me not knowing how to log into my Morris account yet, but I thought I would write you to say that I am still officially planning on wrestling this year and I am more excited than ever!
Mike Richardson
I sincerely hope you reverse your decision to drop two very successful wrestling programs in the face of a few thousand dollars. As the adage goes, "where there is a will, there's a way." Surely programs such as these deserve to be saved. Good luck and I hope it works out for the best (with wrestling winning for a change).
Josh Humphries
I recently read of the Universities decision to drop the men's & women's wrestling programs at your institution. As a former resident of MN and a former wrestler for St. Cloud State Univ. who competed against the U of MN - Morris in the NIC, I am extremely disappointed to hear of your decision. In recent years I literally boasted to others in the wrestling community of your schools support of both men's & women's wrestling. Both programs have had competitors who have gone on to represent your school, the state of MN and our country well in International competition.
Your decision to eliminate two established and successful programs and then add a single women's sport appears to discriminate against wrestling in general. Wrestling is one of very few sports which allows men and women of various statures to compete. Unlike basketball where height is a definite advantage, football where size and speed are crucial or track and field where speed and even size is a must, wrestling allows individuals of all sizes to compete. The elimination of college wrestling programs, by your institution and many others, is taking away the opportunity for those that do not have the physical gifts to compete in the others sports where size, speed, strength and/or height are a must.
Please reconsider your decision in fairness to the sport and to many young men and women who will be denied the opportunity to continue in the sport of their gifting.
I just came back from Fargo where my son took ninth in the nation in 152. He was, of course, disappointed because he missed all american by one or two. However, this family understands the power of wrestling. My son was a mediocre student in middle school. It was a hard decision, because I live in Texas, Where Wrestling is just now starting, but we chose for him to live with DAD in Minnesota.
Hardest and best decision of my life. He went from being mediocre academically to excelling. Wrestling helped him with everything. Life, understanding his parents, anger, defeat, victory, everything.
My son is now 18 , focused and ready to deal with life. What greater gift is there?
How can I help keep wrestling in your school?
JLW, Texas
My image of the University of Minnesota is forever tarnished. The decision to dissolve the wrestling team is counterproductive and a great injustice. The university officials should definitely rethink the future direction they envision for this campus. Cutting a university sport, as rich in tradition as wrestling, will do nothing to further any campus directive. By making this decision, the leadership at the University of MN, Morris has failed its students, alumni, and community.
In recent years, the Morris athletic tradition has been an embarrassment. The school has acted as nothing more than a scrimmage for football and basketball teams during the last five years. I am not in favor of cutting athletic opportunities in any area of the school, but if this was financially necessary, why was wrestling the chosen one?
Did you decide to cut wrestling because it actually produced competitive athletes? Did it anger you that the school's most famous athletes, Olympic wrestlers Dennis and Duane Koslowski, hailed from the wrestling program? Was the school shy about receiving all the positive press for introducing the first women's wrestling program?
I arrived at Morris, a town where you need to actively pursue entertainment, as shy freshman in 1996. I did not care about my schoolwork. I was interested in little more than grabbing a degree and a job. I graduated from the University of MN, Morris in 2001 as an Academic All-American and All-Conference wrestler who had the opportunity to lead the wrestling team for two years as its captain. I flourished in the Morris culture academically because of the confidence I received from wrestling. I will forever remember my Morris years as the best times of my life. Without the wrestling program, I would have never found the love I have for Morris.
I am interested in learning why the school would choose wrestling as its target. The administration basked in the positive publicity it received from the women's wrestling program. Now, the administration is trying to cut the program with little notice.
In my eyes the University of MN, Morris is not the liberal institution they claim. A liberal institution should be a well-rounded institution. The University of MN, Morris has tried so hard to be liberal by jamming all its decisions as far left as possible. The administration is now sticking its nose up to athletics. The administration thinks that it will attract, well-rounded students, to a university with no entertainment or athletics. Think again.
I will never donate to my Alma madder. I will never look fondly at what my Alma madder has become. I thank Morris for having former wrestler, Paul Wellstone, speak at my graduation. I wonder what he would think of this school and its prejudice administration today.
Shakespeare proclaimed, "A friendly eye could never see such faults." This quote must define the eyes of the Morris administration not seeing the irrationality of this decision. This event will forever be the dark cloud hovering over the Morris prairie.
Please reconsider this disgraceful decision,
Kris Hjelmeland,
Cougar Wrestling Captain 1999-2001
Computer Science and English, Class of 2001