ASU Reinstates Wrestling Program As 21st Varsity Sport



ASU Reinstates Wrestling Program As 21st Varsity Sport The Sun Devils will compete fully in 2008-09

May 23, 2008

TEMPE, Ariz. - Arizona State University Vice President for Athletics Lisa Love announced Friday that the athletic department is fully reinstating the sport of varsity wrestling, effective immediately, due to financial support from local civic leadership. The reinstatement of wrestling gives ASU 21 sports in its varsity athletic program.

"It is with great pleasure that I announce the reinstatement of the varsity sport of wrestling at ASU," says Love. "The wrestling community, both locally and nationally, accepted this as a challenge to do something wonderful for the sport. ASU is forever grateful for that passion and unwavering support. Something special is happening on our campus thanks to civic leadership that cares deeply about ASU wrestling."

"Lisa Love and the proud supporters of wrestling have breathed life back into the Sun Devil wrestling program and we are very grateful for their, and everyone else's, support," Head Coach Thom Ortiz said. "We need to continue to build our fundraising efforts to remain a top and competitive program. This show of support will catapult Sun Devil wrestling into the future. Lisa Love was once a head coach and has always looked out for the best interest of her athletes and she did so with our wrestlers. This show of support is big not only for ASU, but for the sport of wrestling as well."

ASU had announced on May 13, 2008 that it was discontinuing the sport of wrestling due to the rising cost of operating a 22-sport varsity program. It was determined at that time that sponsoring a 20-sport program would better fit ASU¹s athletic financial profile. Love indicated at the time that if the wrestling community were able to raise enough financial support the sport could be reinstated. That commitment is there and the sport will continue at Arizona State.

Love said that fundraising for the sport of wrestling will be an ongoing process. The objective is not just to sponsor wrestling as a varsity sport, but to position the sport as one of the top programs in the country.

The Sun Devil wrestling team is a member of the Pacific-10 Conference.

For more information regarding giving to assist the Sun Devil varsity sports programs, visit www.sundevilclub.com

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#31
Air Jordan   February 5 at 8:00pm
air jordan 21, air jordan 21
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leBron air force one, leBron air force one
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#30
Stephen Stonebraker   August 30, 2008 at 2:47am
Richard Rockwell

You bring up a great point, but let me ask you a question.
Is it easier to ask 1 person for $24,000 or is it easier to ask 24,000 people for $1?
Either way, if you accomplish your task at hand, you have $24,000 correct?
I say personally it'd be easier to get 24,000 people to give you each $1.
With that said, look at the numbers of Football fans compared to wrestling fans. Of course football fans can speak with their wallets, there's more of them.
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#29
167lbwrstlr   May 30, 2008 at 12:01pm
Lisa love shouldnt even have her name on her. She wanted wrestling out of her school. I hope she isn't getting any credit for bringing wrestling back. So is a horrible athletic Manager and she should be fired for discontinuing one of ASU's best sports
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#28
Richard Rockwell   May 28, 2008 at 3:42pm
Probably because a lot of people don't get it. Most here talk a pretty good game but when it comes down to it, don't back it up. They think everything should be just handed to them for free. Guess what? That in no way resembles real life. You think B-ball and football are on for free? No even close. We pay with our donations or spending through advertising or whatever. Those fans speak with their wallets, thus the reason why you can get all the stats and video content you want. Wrestling fans simply refuse to speak with their wallets, and continue to want to get everything for free.

Man, its like talking to a bunch of little kids.

Until wrestling people start backing their talk up by opening their wallets, wrestling will still be in the ice ages.

BTW, I don't remember ever having to pay for stats.
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#27
Richard Rockwell   May 28, 2008 at 3:42pm
Probably because a lot of people don't get it. Most here talk a pretty good game but when it comes down to it, don't back it up. They think everything should be just handed to them for free. Guess what? That in no way resembles real life. You think B-ball and football are on for free? No even close. We pay with our donations or spending through advertising or whatever. Those fans speak with their wallets, thus the reason why you can get all the stats and video content you want. Wrestling fans simply refuse to speak with their wallets, and continue to want to get everything for free.

Man, its like talking to a bunch of little kids.

Until wrestling people start backing their talk up by opening their wallets, wrestling will still be in the ice ages.

BTW, I don't remember ever having to pay for stats.
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#26
Whitzel_x   May 28, 2008 at 3:26pm
Its a lot easier to be a fan in other sports. I can also get all the stats I want for other sports anytime and anywhere. I dont have to pay for some premium service. Also In wrestling you have to pay anytime you watch wrestling. It just isnt out there like basketball and football. All the other sports I can watch any big game I want to and it is probably on your local TV. rrockwell your statements dont add up at all....Give me an oppurtunity to be a bigger wrestling fan and Im down! But without stats and video your asking me to be a 1920s fan in 2008- super lame.
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#25
Joe Delia   May 27, 2008 at 11:27am
why is rrockwell on every thread saying the same thing... new topic. We get it. Thanks
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#24
Richard Rockwell   May 24, 2008 at 11:53pm
Hello. Wrestling people are not donating money or filling the stands like the football and b-ball people do every year. They have become self sustaining through that and we have not. Thus the reason why we have to come up with the money. If we had been donating and filling the stands in the past, this wouldn't be an issue. These AD's are merely asking for what we as a wrestling community haven't bothered to come up with in the first place.

If no revenue or donations were coming in for football and mens b-ball, they'd be on the chopping block also.
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#23
SSparks_x   May 24, 2008 at 10:49pm
It is nice to see the Sun Devil program live on, but I am very concerned that this is going to be the new trend. Wrestling fans are passionate about the sport and I hope this is not taken advantage of.
It's a joke that ASU was only saving a million dollars which is peanuts to that institution. I am glad the program is back, but I don't like where things are leading. Could wrestling be cutting its own throat in some ways??
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#22
Richard Rockwell   May 24, 2008 at 10:16pm
To my knowledge, Deberry was working out at ASU and training for FILA's. Hadn't heard him withdrawing yet. I believe they talked the recruits out of leaving.
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#21
Dude   May 24, 2008 at 9:58pm
But Deberry already withdrew from ASU and started talking to other colleges. Thats going to be messy
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#20
And_x   May 24, 2008 at 8:28pm
Lisa Love rules... u gotta love ms. love
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#19
Why Not?   May 24, 2008 at 8:26pm
every d-1 program on the chopping block should be allowed a chance to raise funds on its own, before just trashing it. why can't Fresno State, Oregon or the others follow this lead.
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#18
MichaEL_x   May 24, 2008 at 6:58pm
well im glad they put asu wrestling backmaybe asu should recruit somewhere else besides az and california even though cali is one of the best states. look aat brian stith and patrick pitsch excuse me for my spelling but they done come from west coast and here the noticable one in past 2 years lets face it az is not strong in wrestling dont recruit here for a d1 school
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#17
..   May 24, 2008 at 6:11pm
yes
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#16
Asu Devil   May 24, 2008 at 1:46pm
Its like a back alley robbery. Did they say several years before they got cut "hey this is going to happen unless you can find the funds." No they cut it and put wrestling so that its back was against the wall and essentially forced the community to find a way or else their throat was going to get cut. Im very dissappointed in the classlessness of it all. I dont think you would see that at a university like Harvard or Stanford where they truly have the full education of the student in mind. Congrats to the asu wrestlers who will be able to wrestle though.
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#15
Rrockwell_x   May 24, 2008 at 12:21pm
They were going to save over $1 mil a year, not total. The $8 mil will totally endow the program so no expenses are coming from the athletic dept.
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#14
Matt Pearson   May 24, 2008 at 8:13am
There is an upside and downside to every situation. It is great that ASU reinstated their program for the wrestlers and the wrestling community. But at what cost? Taking the financial responsibility completely off of the school to keep a wrestling program alive. Is this the new trend? Only have athletic teams that the community supports and are willing to fund themselves. I'm not sure how much money was raised to help the program, but did we just reward ASU FOR cutting the wrestling program? Wrestling was not the only sport that was cut. Mens tennis and mens swimming were also cut. It appears to me that ASU cut the three mens teams that were not as fiscally adventagous for the university. ASU also said on their website that by cutting those three teams the university would save a WHOPPING 1 million dollars. How much do they spend on other mens sports? My guess is that most of that one million was going to come from scholarships that could be directed to more lucrative teams. I am looking forward to what happens to ASU wrestling in the future and I am very happy for the wrestlers and the wrestling community in Arizona. Lets hope it lasts.
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#13
Matt Pearson   May 24, 2008 at 7:58am
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#12
Hell Yeah!!   May 24, 2008 at 1:01am
az needs this
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#11
Asu Fan   May 24, 2008 at 12:35am
that is awsome, best of luck to sun devils!
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#10
Play Boy X   May 24, 2008 at 12:26am
niceee
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#9
Bruddah_x   May 23, 2008 at 11:41pm
sweet
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#8
Bruddah_x   May 23, 2008 at 11:41pm
sweet
reply  
#7
Bruddah_x   May 23, 2008 at 11:41pm
sweet
reply  
#6
....   May 23, 2008 at 11:20pm
thank you jesus!!!
reply  



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