The Bobcat Nation

Do any Montana Colleges have a wrestling program other than Northern (which has an excellent program)? Is this sport continuing to die out or is it going to make a comeback?

gtapp wrote:Do any Montana Colleges have a wrestling program other than Northern (which has an excellent program)? Is this sport continuing to die out or is it going to make a comeback?

University of Great Falls started their program back up I think two, maybe three years ago. From the little I have heard, they seem to be doing alright for themselves. Obviously not as good as Northern, but that is also pretty tough company.

I've heard rumors of reviving a wrestling program at MSU (it's been dormant since the mid-1980s) but nothing has come of that. I could see MSU adding the sport if they're forced to add women's soccer. (to comply with the rest of the Big Sky) There are a lot of good wrestlers in Montana and I bet some of them would someday like the opportunity to compete in Montana.

Western Montana College has a program too.

If MSU were to add women’s soccer and then consider adding another men’s sport I would think they would strongly consider adding wresting. The main reason is because it is a sport that has acceptable amount of attendance and interest, and most importantly it is a cheap sport to run. The cost of fielding a wrestling team is considerably lower then the cost of a fielding a baseball, lacrosse, or swimming team.

But I doubt that we will see any additions to our athletic program.

theblackgecko wrote:Western Montana College has a program too.

Are you sure about this. I thought they dropped it 4+ years ago

Ponycat wrote:

theblackgecko wrote:Western Montana College has a program too.

Are you sure about this. I thought they dropped it 4+ years ago

I don't think they have one anymore, at least it's not listed on their website. The men's sports they have are basketball, football, golf and rodeo. http://www.umwestern.edu/Athletics/

It probably would not happen, but if MSU would add wrestling I believe (with the right coach) they could develop one of the better programs in the western US (because of all the local talent). Just look at what Northern has accomplished as a NAIA school. I would love to see them schedule Iowa, Iowa State or Oklahoma every year. I bet we could draw 4000 fans for a match with one of those teams!

WMC dropped the program (I believe) back in 1996 the year after they shared the national title with Northern Montana. It was real sad to see it go. They were actually two time national champs. I was a student there at the time. I'll admit that I wasn't too sad to see some of those athletes go because they were just plain too crazy!!

The direct cost of wrestling is very small. Scholarships would be the only major direct cost and you could do partials to minimize that. The biggest cost (indirect) is the travel. 10-15 trips per year at $15K-$20K per trip would add up.

My mistake.

I'd love to see MSU add wrestling. Considering the strong support for wrestling at the prep level, it's a shame that no Montana kids get the chance to compete at the D-I level for a Montana school

Another benefit for wrestling would be that no new facility would be required. Just roll out some mats in either the Fieldhouse or Shroyer Gym and it would be a great addition to MSU athletics.

Gtapp,
To address another question of yours, wrestling is seeing a large upswing in the state; particularly in the youth levels. This year, the Bozeman Hawks are sitting at about 60 wrestlers out for the sport. This is up by about 15-20 kids from last year alone. The youth wrestling in the state is split three ways with USA, AAU and Little Guy wrestling. Last year's USA State Freestyle tournament drew about 900 wrestlers.

Last year a few people that I know said there is a good chance of wrestling being re-introduced at MSU in the next 2-3 years. I'm certainly hoping so as there are 3-5 D-I wrestlers that come out of the state every year.

The University of Great Falls program has really taken off. Their coach has an electric personality. In their first year as a program last year, they finished in the top 10 at the national tournament as a team. This year, they should probably finish in the top 3-4. This is all being done at a private school with predominantly Montana wrestlers.

Glad to see a wrestling conversation cropping up on this board. Any other wrestlers/coaches out there that want to continue a conversation?

My pops wrestled here in the 60's and would probably start doing back flips if they brought it back.