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Call to Action: Save Lawrence University Wrestling

Mike Moyer
Feb 11, 2009
Fr: Mike Moyer, Executive Director – National Wrestling Coaches Association
Re: “Call to Action” – Save Lawrence University Wrestling
Date: February 9, 2009

As many of you have probably already heard, the Lawrence University administration recently announced they will be discontinuing varsity wrestling at the completion of this season. Lawrence University wrestling coach, Dave Novickis, stated that he believes the decision is driven by university budget cuts.

The NWCA would like to ask the entire wrestling community to voice your concern via
e-mail, hard copy mail, or fax to the following Lawrence University administrators:


Dr. Jill Beck
President
Lawrence University
PO Box 599
Appleton, WI 54912
Fax# 920-832-6978
E-Mail – jill.beck@lawrence.edu

Dr. David Burrows
Provost & Dean of the Faculty
Lawrence University
PO Box 599
Appleton, WI 54912
Fax # 920-832-6978
E-Mail - david.burrows@lawrence.edu

Mr. Harry Jansen Kraemer, JR
Chairman, Board of Trustees
Lawrence University
PO Box 599
Appleton, WI 54912
Fax# 920-832-6978
E-Mail – cynthia.roberts@lawrence.edu


Mr. Chris Howard
Athletic Director
Lawrence University
PO Box 599
Appleton, WI 54912
Fax: 920-832-7349
E-Mail - chris.howard@lawrence.edu

In your correspondence, please be sure to convey the following speaking points:

• Intercollegiate wrestling fully supports the stated objective of Lawrence University’s “Commitment to the Community” which is:

1. Providing opportunities for alumni to maintain a lifelong connection with
the institution and with each other and encouraging their continuing interest in learning,

2. Providing such educational programs as the certification of public school teachers in the state of Wisconsin.


• Historically, the Lawrence University wrestling program has played a major role in helping to replenish the depleted pool of high school and middle school teachers/wrestling coaches in Wisconsin. In fact, there are currently 25 active teachers and/or wrestling coaches who are alums of Lawrence University.

• According to the NCAA statistics, intercollegiate wrestling is one of the least expensive sports to sponsor based on costs/student-athlete.

• In Wisconsin and its neighboring states, there are approximately 50,000 high school wrestlers who deserve to have access to quality teachers, coaches, and mentors.

• The deteriorating economy is actually inspiring a growing number of small, private enrollment conscious universities to maintain or add intercollegiate wrestling programs. In fact, there are only 220 NCAA wrestling teams to accommodate nearly 260,000 high school wrestlers. Few, if any male sports have a more favorable ratio of high school participants and college opportunities than wrestling. This ratio should be attractive to enrollment conscious institutions like Lawrence University.

• There are 300 plus high school wrestling teams in each of the following states (Washington, Texas, Georgia, and Florida) while there are no in-state intercollegiate wrestling teams in any of those states. This should be very attractive to an enrollment conscious institution like Lawrence University.

• The most thriving and nationally competitive intercollegiate wrestling programs today are the Ivy League schools (Cornell, Penn, Harvard, Columbia, etc). This should erase any doubt that there are plenty of strong student-wrestlers who come from families that can afford private school tuition rates.

• Lawrence University has a rich wrestling tradition as evidenced by the following (in some cases, the same wrestlers won multiple titles):

a. Top 10 NCAA Team finish in 2001
b. NCAA Individual Champion in 2002
c. Five NCAA All Americans
d. 13 NWCA Academic All Americans
e. Team Finished in the Top 20 NWCA Team Academic Honors Five Times
f. Advanced 18 wrestlers to the NCAA Championships

As you convey your thoughts, please be respectful of the university administration. We want to always take the high road. Make sure the key decision makers know that the regional and national wrestling community stand ready to help the administration develop a plan that ensures the future of their varsity wrestling program.

While the grass roots wrestling community conveys the above-mentioned speaking points, the NWCA will be working with prominent Lawrence University alumni, business leaders, and politicians to promote similar messages.

Be sure to act today! Tomorrow may be too late.
  • Call to Action
  • Lawrence Wrestling