Cal State Fullerton wrestling has hope for a future.

The sport, designated last week for termination at the end of the 2010-11 season, has been given a reprieve to continue fund-raising efforts to keep the program competing. A combination of positive reaction to the “finality” of last week’s announcement and some accounting adjustments renewed hope that approximately $450,000 can be raised by next Spring to fund the program for the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons.

“The university will allow the wrestling program to use existing pledges toward future seasons to cover the shortfall that was created when the program missed its August goal of approximately $196,000 in the bank to fund the 2010-11 season,” said Director of Athletics Brian Quinn. “All new money coming in must first go to covering this year’s shortfall.”

Fullerton competes in the hybrid Pac-10 for wrestling against Arizona State, Boise State, Cal Poly, Cal State Bakersfield, Oregon State and Stanford. The season begins on Nov. 19 with a home meet vs. Stanford.


We have an opportunity to complete year two of our Lasting Impact Pledge drive and raise the additional monies to cover the scholarships with events. Covering the 10-11 Budget of $230,000 buys us the 10-11 Season.

Next we go to work on the $450,000 to cover year 11-12 and 12-13. The goal is to have this in by March 1st. By accomplishing this by March we insure there will be no interruption in recruiting and we continue to build the program to an elite level.

We will be looking for a site for a Fight For Wrestling Night in So Cal. Our President will not approve it on campus at Fullerton. So we need some ideas of a central place to do one that can hold 4000 people. We are checking with Eddie Ruiz on Asuza Pacific. Is there something more central?????

We will be expanding the pledge drive to add $50,000 a year in Five year pledges.

We will need large donors and corporate sponsorships who will give one time gifts to help us reach the March 1st goal.

Does anyone have matching programs at your work???

We hope to connect with the UFC to get their involvement.

Seems like a 60 minute grind match with no breaks, but we have overcome in the past.

Open to ideas and thank you to everyone who already has jumped in to help.

Dan Hicks

Stanford is rumored to have hired Alex Tirapelle to become the new assistant at the farm.  Tirapelle, a former Illinois standout (2x All American and NCAA runner-up) has been coaching at UC-Davis the last few seasons. he is a California native and seems a good fit for Coach Borelli and the Cardinal.

We will keep our eye on this one, but it is being reported by a few sources. We will look for official word coming out of the Stanford camp this week.

Senior Chris Drouin of Arizona State has transferred to Iowa State.  Droun was a 3x NCAA qualifier, and 2009 all-american. Drouin was granted a release and will be eligible immediately.

Bryan Snyder the former Husker star, is returning to Lincoln as co- Head Assistant for the Nebraska wrestling team.  Snyder had joined Shawn Charles staff at Arizona State last summer.  The job at Nebraska opened up when longtime assistant Mike Greenfield left the Nebraska program to take a high school athletic director position. Snyder returns to his alma mater where he was a 4x all American and 2x NCAA runner-up. 

What is maybe one of the most interesting components of the move is that Snyder within one week, has become a staff member at institutions spreading three conferences.  At ASU he was employed by a Pac 10 institution.  When he was hired at Nebraska, they were a member of the Big 12 conference.  They since have bolted for the Big 10.   

We will keep our eye on the developments at ASU in replacing Snyder, as well as the restructuring of the conferences alignment which continues to unfold.  It may have big implications on college wrestling.

The rumored new conference being talked about, the Pac 16 would give a few new wrestling powers to the conference as far as wrestling goes. Traditional Pac 10 teams such as Arizona State,Oregon State and Stanford for the last several years have held the conference tournament with associate members in wrestling.  The conference this past year consisted of the three mentioned, plus, Boise State, Cal Poly, Cal State Fullerton, Cal State Bakersfield and UC Davis. This followed the recent departures of Oregon and Portland State within the last two years.

Adding Oklahoma State and Oklahoma, two longtime traditional powers would turn the heat up in the conference as far as the competition goes. What happens remains to be seen, but it looks like we will know in a fairly short amount of time one way or another.  Nebraska is expected to announce as early as today that they are joining the Big 10.  That may leave the Big 12 on the verge of extinction as schools scramble to align themselves with a strong conference attached to BCS football and bigger revenue streams for their university.

The Pac 10 Championships would certainly take on anew dynamic with the new team on-board.  Boise State has a had an team knocking on the door for national respect for the past several years. Oregon State and Coach Jim Zalesky are building a strong team in the northwest. Arizona State is looking to regain the stranglehold that they held out west in the 80's-90's, and hired Shawn Charles (ASU alumni) last summer to lead the charge. Cal Poly has made some strides in their program, having a couple of all americans at this years championships.

Oklahoma State has won 34 National Titles in its' long storied history, including four this decade.  John Smith told the Oklahoman:

The Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners are alive for the 2010-2011 wrestling season. President Mitchell announced this morning that wrestling along with three other sports, would be re-instated.  The story is just beginning to unfold, so stay with us as we try to update the news.  Great job to all involved with the effort to bring back the historical wrestling program.  The community and some real leaders came together and raised a lot of concern, awareness and money.  This is the beginning, as reportedly the sports will have to continue to fundraising for upcoming years, but this gets them some time to continue the effort.

The Cal State Bakersfield wrestling program had a huge success on Saturday night with their fundraiser dinner and auction.  in one night they raised over $100,000 and have now raised close to $1,000,000 to save wrestling.  In March, the administration of CSUB, announced that they would cut for sports, wrestling among the four.  They later said 1.4 million would be needed to keep the collective four sports opperating for two years.  Now wrestling has come up with close to a million on their own, and Coach Mike Mendoza says he thinks the admin is happy with the progress. The AD and President were present at Saturday's event , which drew more than 400 people.

http://www.bakersfield.com/news/sports/csub/x1008888456/CSUB-raises-more-than-100K-to-save-sports

Great article about Washington native Kyle Bounds. Bounds was a 3x State Champ out of Washington who signed with the University of Oregon. He had a brief career there, until the Ducks dropped their wrestling program. This article follows his transfer and career at Michigan State University. Article is courteous of The Columbian.

http://www.columbian.com/news/2010/may/16/kyle-bounds-michigan-state-wrestling/

Cal State Bakersfield will be holding a huge fundraising auction to benefit the four endangered sports programs. The event will be held this Saturday, May 15th. Proceeds from the buffet, and auction go towards raising money to keep wrestling, tennis, and gold alive at the university. The event is at the Jam Events Center in Bakersfild at 5:30 pm.


Former alumni, USA World Freestyle Champion Stephen Neal will headline the extravaganza.  Neal is a three-time Super Bowl champion football player for the New England Patriots, who was also a two-time NCAA wrestling champion at Cal-State Bakersfield. Neal was a 1999 World freestyle wrestling champion.

Auction items include two tickets to a New England Patriots game , a Kevin Harvick NASCAR race suit; items from UFC champion Brock Lesnar, Alaska Charter fishing trip; Philip Rivers signed Chargers NFL helmet; Missouri River fishing trip; a box for an LA Dodgers baseball game; a week’s vacation at a beachfront condo in Pismo Beach, Calif; plus many other items.

 Garth Brooks will donate a guitar and personalize it for the winner.  Coach Mike Mendoza said “We have some great auction items. Stephen Neal and other supporters have done a great job getting some amazing things for the auction.”

Wrestling supporters will gather and have a rally to save their wrestling program on May 19th.  The program is fighting on all fronts-media, political, and financially.  Dan Gable is coming in for the rally. Stay tuned for updates. To help, please contact  UC Davis wrestling coaches, or look at the info schedule below.

May 19, 2010 Event Schedule
Rally with Dan Gable at UC Davis
May 19th 4:30 pm at the Quad.
Free to everyone - Bring Your Team !


Dan Gable Dinner to Save UC Davis Wrestling
May 19th, 2010 at 6:30pm
Capital City Saloon & Grill
601 Main Street Woodland, CA 95695
$75 per person limited to first 200 people
Order Tickets Online