The Case for Wrestling at University of Delaware

The Case for Wrestling at University of Delaware Prepared by Mike Moyer, National Wrestling Coaches Association

Why Wrestling At University of Delaware? • The premier high school wrestling tournament in the nation is hosted at the Bob Carpenter Center each year. This features the top 100 high school teams across America. • The Delaware Wrestling Alliance, which is comprised of high profile business leaders, is uniquely positioned to provide ongoing financial support for the UDEL program. This organization has provided over $850, 000 in scholarship to deserving Delaware student-wrestlers since its inception. Delaware’s best and brightest student wrestlers should not have to leave the state to pursue their academic and wrestling dreams. • A wrestling team could be nationally competitive in three years which could significantly elevate the school’s Learfield Director’s Cup ranking with a very low cost ratio. • Wrestling is an indoor sport with modest facility needs (42’ x 90’ practice room). It’s easy to add and it’s a cost effective way to grow enrollment with strong students. • University of Delaware would be an affiliate member of the EIWA Conference which features the Ivy League schools and other elite academic institutions such as Lehigh, Bucknell, Hofstra, American University, etc. • UDEL has some very influential wrestling alumni such as Dave Dewalt, former CEO of Mc. Afee and Fire. Eye. • The best high school wrestling in America is located within a 5 hour radius of UDEL. • There are 13, 500 high school female wrestlers and only 30 intercollegiate teams to support that interest. The NWCA has recently applied for “NCAA Emerging Sport Status” being that we have 9 member schools that currently sponsor wrestling and three more strongly considering it.

Prominent Wrestlers from Delaware • (NCAA (all divisions), Juco, etc. • Clinton Burke, Wm. Penn, Oklahoma – 2 nd, 3 rd NCAA Div. I - Year (1982 & 83) • Henry Milligan, A. I. du Pont, Princeton – 7 th NCAA Div. 1 – 1981 • Earl Walker – St, Andrews, Brown U. – 2 nd, 5 th – NCAA – Div. 1(needs fact check) • Sheldon Thomas, St. Mark’s, Clarion – NCAA Div. 1 – 3 X All American – 5 th, 3 rd, 1 st – 1996 • John Testa, St. Mark’s, Clarion – 8 th NCAA – Div. 1 – Year? ? • Jarrod Garnett, Caravel, VA. Tech- 6 th NCAA Div, I - 2013 • Chris Diaz, Caesar Rodney, VA Tech- 7 th NCAA Div I - 2012 • Bobby Telford, St. Mark’s, Iowa – 4 th NCAA Div. I – 2014, 5 th – 2015 – 3 X All American • Aaron Harris – Caesar Rodney, Lycoming College – NCAA – Div. III – 5 th- 1998 • Chris Donaldson, Salesianum, Kings College, NCAA Div. III – 6 th – 2013 • Tommy Abbott – JUCO National Champion • Jason Moaney, Dover, JUCO National Champion • Mike Welch, Hodgson, Williamson Trade – JUCO – 8 th-2002 • Darren Archbangelo, Claymont, York College – NCAA Div. III – 2 nd - 1987

Wrestling’s Demographics • Since 2004, approximately 40% of the men’s and women’s U. S. Olympic team were minorities. • Egalitarian Sport - provides opportunities regardless of size due to weight classification competition. • Across all three NCAA divisions, wrestling has the highest percentage of first generation college bound students. • One of the few sports to provide mainstream opportunity to the visually impaired, deaf and disabled student-athletes. • Women’s wrestling is now an Olympic sport (USA finished 3 rd in the 2015 World Championships out of 54 countries) and over 13, 500 young women are wrestling in high schools across America (state championships are hosted in 7 states – HI, AK, WA, OR, CA, TX, TN). Helen Maroulis Anthony Robles/Arizona St 2016 Olympic Champion 2011 NCAA Champion

Wrestlers Perform on and off the Mat Below is some “Academic Profile” research data on 434 freshman wrestlers for the 2012/13 year. This data was provided by the NCAA Research Department (they mentioned that this data does not change much from year to year): • Average high school GPA of wrestlers in core academic courses = 3. 255. This is within. 05 points of men’s lacrosse, men’s tennis, and men’s ice hockey. Wrestling is near the average for male student-athletes. Average GPA across all male general student body = 3. 24. • Average SAT for wrestlers = 1084; average ACT for wrestlers (sum score) = 93. Averages for all male general student body = 1052 and 90 respectively. Many of Division I’s most thriving intercollegiate wrestling programs are at elite academic institutions such as Cornell, Harvard, Stanford, Lehigh, etc.

Wrestling Supports the Educational Mission • NCAA statistics indicate that wrestling (all three college divisions combined) has the largest percentage of first generation college bound students. • Many of our top NCAA Division I wrestling teams are at elite academic institutions. • Many of our nation’s top corporate, political, military, and community leaders have wrestling backgrounds. • 13 United States Presidents wrestled. • There is no professional level for amateur wrestling so our sport does not attract student-athletes who are simply trying to use college as a stepping stone to the professional level. .

Ability to be Competitive on A National Level • Historically, upwards to 85% of NCAA D-I institutions (that sponsor wrestling) qualify at least one wrestler to the national championships each year. • Approximately 37% percent of NCAA Division I institutions (that sponsor wrestling) will have an All American in any given year. • With nearly 250, 000 high school wrestlers in America (7 th most popular high school boys sport) and only 77 NCAA DI wrestling programs, University of Delaware can be nationally competitive in the first 3 -5 years. • The 2016 NCAA Championships were sold out at Madison Square Garden

Increase Enrollment/Revenue • Despite the fact that high school wrestling is the 7 th most popular high school boys sport in America with nearly 250, 000 participants, there are only 77 NCAA Division I wrestling programs. This assures University of Delaware will attract a healthy roster, many of which will be paying out-of-state tuition rates. • A fully funded Division I wrestling program only has 9. 9 scholarships so with a roster of 30 wrestlers, most will be paying their own tuition, room, and board (this is consistent with most of the wrestling programs at elite academic institutions). • By NCAA standards, wrestling has a low cost per student athlete.

Modest Cost / Minimum Needs Wrestling has a relatively low cost per student athlete comparatively speaking to other NCAA male sports. Based on budget numbers from a typical CAA Conference men’s wrestling team, the costs are as follows: a. Salary & Benefits (head coach & 2 full time assistants): $85, 000, $45, 000, $25, 000 b. Operating Budget (travel, recruiting, anything other than personnel): $100, 000 d. Scholarship (9. 9 full scholarships): Start Up Costs • • • 2 Wrestling Mats: $10, 000/mat Modest facilities requirements - a wrestling room that is minimally 90’ by 42’ Uniforms & practice gear: $10, 000

Division I Conference Teams (Men’s) (Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association - EIWA) Ivy League Other • Brown • Binghamton • Columbia • Drexel • Cornell • F&M • Harvard • Hofstra • Princeton • Sacred Heart • Penn Patriot League • American • Army • Bucknell • Lehigh • Navy

Women’s Collegiate Wrestling Association (WCWA) Participating Teams Adrian College (MI) NCAA DIII Missouri Baptist University (MO) NAIA Becone (OK) NAIA Campbellsville University (KY) NAIA Missouri Valley College (MO) NAIA Eastern Oregon NAIA Ottawa University (KS) NAIA Emmanuel College (GA) NCAA DII Oklahoma City University (OK) NAIA Ferrum (VA) NCAA DIII Pacific University (OR) NCAA DIII Jamestown University (ND) NAIA Simon Fraser University (BC) NCAA DII King College (TN) NCAA DI Southern Oregon NAIA Life University (GA) NAIA Southwest Oregon C. C. (OR) NJCAA Lindenwood University (MO) NCAA DII Lindenwood Belleville (IL) NAIA Springfield College (MA) NCAA DII Lyon College(AR) NAIA The Univ. of Cumberland’s (TN) NAIA Mac. Murray College NCAA DIII Waldorf College (IA) NAIA Warner Pacific College (OR) NAIA Mc. Kendree University (IL) NCAA DII Wayland Baptist University (TX) NAIA Midland Lutheran College (NE) NAIA Wentworth Military (MO) NJCAA Menlo College (CA) C

National Trends to Support Adding Wrestling • The National High School participation rate for wrestling has shown an increase the last ten years. (since 1999, scholastic boys wrestling has grown by nearly 20, 000 participants). • Since 1994, the number of high schools that sponsor wrestling has grown from 8559 to 10, 600/boys. • Over the past decade, wrestling in the inner cities has exploded in popularity through a Beat-The-Streets programs (New York City is growing the fastest). • As reported by National Federation of State High School Associations, scholastic wrestling state championships are among the top five sports in terms of revenue production. This mirrors revenue production of the NCAA Championships. • 154 new college wrestling programs have been established since 2001 at all collegiate levels (and 24 new college teams just for the 2016/17 season). • Women’s wrestling can qualify for “NCAA Emerging Sport Status” with the addition of one more team at an NCAA member institutions (high profile alumni at Arizona State, Franklin & Marshall, UPENN, and Columbia have expressed interest).

Scholastic Men’s Wrestling Programs vs College Opportunities Source: National Federation of High School Associations report

Scholastic Women’s Wrestling Programs vs College Opportunities

How the NWCA Can Help !

About Us • NWCA is a 501 C-3 non-profit organization established in 1928. The mission is to increase the number of coaches, programs, and wrestlers at all levels. • The three core competencies of the NWCA are coaching development, studentwrestler welfare, and promotion. • National headquarters in Manheim, PA • Six full time staff members and 34 Board of Directors • The NWCA has educational programs that serve 230, 000 annually. • Membership includes nearly 10, 000 coaches, wrestlers, officials, fans, affiliated organizations, college/high school institutions.

Affiliated Members on NWCA Board • National Collegiate Athletic Association • National High School Federation • National Junior College Association • California Junior College Association • National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics • USA Wrestling • National Wrestling Hall of Fame

The NWCA Can Provide the Following • The NWCA will assist with securing start up funds to establish a Division I program. • Provide grass roots support for the University of Delaware wrestling program (8, 500 of the 10, 600 high school wrestling coaches in America are members of the NWCA). • Provide assistance in hiring a coach. • Provide FREE leadership training for coaching staff.

Wrestling’s Outstanding Americans Partial List Joseph Allen- Astronaut Carl Albert- Speaker of the House Hiraoki “Rocky” Aoki-President/CEO, Benihana of Tokyo Restaurants Roone Arledge-President, ABC-TV News & Sports James Biggar -Chairman & CEO, Nestle USA, Inc. Norman E. Borlaug-Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Frank Carlucci III-Ambassador, Secretary of Defense John Chafee-U. S. Senator from Rhode Island Michael Collins-Command Pilot, Apollo 11 Mission Pat Day-Jockey Dan Dierdorf-Sports Broadcaster Kirk Douglas -Actor-Author, Diplomat Dr. Kenneth J. Faust-Medicine Sachs & Co. Stephen Friedman-CEO, Goldman, Robert W. Hannan-President & CEO, Eckerd Corporation John Mc. Cain- US Senator Admiral James L. Holloway, III-Military John W. Irving-Author of Novels and Films Henry Kravis-Partner, Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co. General Charles Krulak-Commandant of the USMC James A. Leach-U. S. Congressman from Iowa Peter W. Likins-Past President, Lehigh University Abraham Lincoln-16 th President of the USA Ronald Magruder-Past CEO, Cracker Barrel David S. Pottruck- Former President/CEO, Charles Schwab & Co. , Inc. Theodore Roosevelt-26 th President of the USA Philip Rauch-Business Donald H. Rumsfeld-US Secretary of Defense, Ret. Edward B. Rust-President/CEO, State Farm Insurance Arthur C. Rutzen-Past President, The Pacific Bank Norman Schwarzkopf-Commander in Chief, Desert Storm Tom Sullivan-Author, Singer, Actor, Sportsman Howard Taft-27 th President of the USA Billy Baldwin- Actor Joe Galli-CEO of TTI Greg Lanteris-Astronaut Dan Cathy- President Chik-fil-A Tim Syzmanski – Rear Admiral (Salesianum Grad)

Your Wrestling Support Staff THE NATIONAL WRESTLING COACHES ASSOCIATION For More Information, Contact: Mike Moyer – Executive Director P. O. Box 254 Manheim, PA 17544 717 -653 -8009 mmoyer@nwca. cc www. nwcaonline. com