The Case for Wrestling at
Syracuse University
Prepared by Mike Moyer, National Wrestling Coaches Association
Wrestling’s Demographics
• Since 1996, 1/3 of the men’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 and over 11,000 young women are wrestling in high
schools across America (state championships in 6 states – HI, AK, WA, CA, TX, TN).
Helen Maroulis
2015 World Champion
Anthony Robles/Arizona St
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.
The Need
• Collegiate wrestling is very underserved despite huge high school
participation numbers in the region.
• For the most part, high school male wrestlers have about ½ of the
opportunity to participate in college as compared to athletes in most other
sports.
• There are 23,000 high school male wrestlers in New York/New England to
support 8 Division I programs (Buffalo, Cornell, Hofstra, Army, Binghamton,
Brown, Harvard, Sacred Heart).
• There are 11,000 high school female wrestlers and only 26 intercollegiate
teams to support that interest.
• The ACC already sponsors wrestling as a championship sport with the
following schools: Virginia, Virginia Tech, North Carolina St, North
Carolina, Duke, and Pittsburgh
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 270,000 high school wrestlers in America (6th most
popular high school boys sport) and only 77 NCAA DI wrestling
programs, the Syracuse University can be nationally
competitive in the first 3-5 years.
•
The 2016 NCAA Championships will be at Madison Square
Garden
Increase Enrollment/Revenue
•
Despite the fact that high school wrestling is the 6th most popular
high school boys sport in America with nearly 270,000 participants,
there are only 77 NCAA Division I wrestling programs. This assures
Syracuse University will have a healthy roster size of 30-35 solid
student-athletes.
•
A fully funded Division I wrestling program only has 9.9
scholarships so with a roster of 30-35 wrestlers, most will be paying
their own tuition, room, and board (this is consistent with most of
the wrestling programs at elite academic institutions).
•
With so many high school wrestlers in the northeast and so few
NCAA DI wrestling programs, there is a significant opportunity to
generate considerable revenue through camps and clinics each
year.
•
By NCAA standards, wrestling has a low cost per student athlete.
Modest Cost / Minimum Needs
Wrestling has one of the lowest cost per student athlete of any NCAA male sport.
Based on budget numbers from a typical ACC Conference wrestling team, the costs are as
follows:
a. Salary & Benefits (head coach & 2 full time assistants): $100,000, $70,000, $50,000
b. Operating Budget (travel, recruiting, anything other than personnel): $150,000
d. Scholarship (9.9 full scholarships):
*Note: For comparison purposes, Southern Conference member, Citadel, finished 20th in
the NCAAs with a $75,000 operating budget, $100,000 in combined coaches salaries,
and 9.9 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)
ACC Conference Teams (Automatic Qualifier for the NCAA’s)
• University of Pittsburgh
• University of Virginia
•
•
•
•
Virginia Tech
North Carolina State
University of North Carolina
Duke
Women’s Collegiate Wrestling Association (WCWA)
Participating Teams
Campbellsville University (KY)
NAIA
Ottawa University (KS)
NAIA
Becone (OK)
NAIA
Oklahoma City University (OK)
NAIA
Jamestown University (ND)
NAIA
King College (TN)
NCAA DI
Pacific University (OR)
NCAA DIII
Life University (GA)
NAIA
Simon Fraser University (BC)
NCAA DII
Lindenwood University (MO)
NCAA DII
Southwest Oregon C.C. (OR)
NJCAA
Lindenwood Belleville (IL)
NAIA
The Univ. of Cumberland’s (TN)
NAIA
Lyon College(AR)
NAIA
Waldorf College (IA)
NAIA
NAIA
Warner Pacific College (OR)
NAIA
Wayland Baptist University (TX)
NAIAu
Emmanuel College (GA)
NCAA DII
Adrian College (MI)
NCAA DIII
Menlo College
(CA)
McKendree University (IL)
NCAA DII
Midland Lutheran College (NE)
NAIA
Missouri Baptist University (MO)
NAIA
Missouri Valley College (MO)
NAIA
Ferrum College (VA)
NCAA DIII
Southern Oregon
C
NAIA
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 10,000/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.
•
137 new college wrestling programs have been established since 2001 at all
collegiate levels.
•
Women’s wrestling can qualify for “NCAA Emerging Sport Status” with the addition
of 2 more teams at NCAA member institutions.
Scholastic Men’s Wrestling Programs vs College Opportunities
WA
P: 6,377
NCAA/NAIA: 0
MT
P: 1,540
NCAA/NAIA: 2
OR
P: 5,073
NCAA/NAIA: 4
ID
P: 2,332
NCAA/NAIA: 1
WY
P: 1,029
NCAA/NAIA: 1
NV
P: 2,637
NCAA/NAIA: 0
CA
P: 27,596
NCAA/NAIA: 7
ND
P: 894
NCAA/NAIA: 5
SD
P: 1,311
NCAA/NAIA: 4
NE
P: 4,419
NCAA/NAIA: 7
UT
P: 3359
NCAA/NAIA: 1
CO
P: 5,322
NCAA/NAIA: 7
MN
P: 9,137
NCAA/
NAIA: 9
WI
P: 7,399
NCAA/
NAIA: 13
IA
P: 7,044
NCAA/NAIA: 19
KS
P: 5,283
NCAA/NAIA: 5
NY
P: 13,666
NCAA/
NAIA: 17
MI
P: 10,904
NCAA/
NAIA: 7
PA
P: 9,920
NCAA/NAIA: 33
OH
P: 11,531
IN
NCAA/
IL
WV
P: 17,112 P: 7,615 NAIA: 17
P: 1,416
VA
NCAA/
NCAA/
NCAA
P: 6,934
NAIA: 12 NAIA: 8
/NAIA 5
NCAA/NAIA: 10
MO
P: 7,345
NCAA/NAIA: 7
KY
P: 1,926 NCAA
/NAIA 4
TN
P: 4,436 NCAA/NAIA 3
AZ
P: 5,753
NCAA/NAIA: 3
NM
P: 1,432
NCAA/NAIA: 1
OK
P: 3,060
NCAA/NAIA: 5
AR
P: 1,092
NCAA/NAIA: 5
MS
AL
Does not
P: 2,114
Sanction
NCAA/
HS
NAIA: 1
Wrestling
TX
P: 10,582
NCAA/NAIA: 1
New England
(ME, VY, NH, RI,
MA, CT)
P: 10,306
NCAA/
NAIA: 20
LA
P: 1,834
NCAA
NAIA: 0
AK
P: 1,436
NCAA/NAIA: 0
HI
P: 1,310
NCAA/NAIA: 0
Source: National Federation of High School Associations report
NJ
DE
P: 9,781
NCAA/
NAIA: 6
P: 1,126
NCAA/
NAIA: 0
MD
P: 5,020
NCAA/
NAIA: 4
NC
P: 9,740 NCAA
/NAIA 11
DC
NCAA/
NAIA: 4
SC
P: 5,238 NCAA
/NAIA 5
GA
P: 9,041 NCAA
/NAIA 5
FL
P: 8,104
1 NCAA
/NAIA
2013-14 Men’s High School
Participation vs. 4-Year College
Programs
•
•
•
P – High School Participants
NCAA/NAIA - Number of 4
year College Programs
States in Red Text have no 4
year College Programs
Scholastic Women’s Wrestling Programs vs College Opportunities
Newfoundland
CIS: 1
British Columbia
CIS: 1
Alberta
CIS: 2
Saskatchewan
CIS: 2
Manitoba
CIS: 1
Quebec
CIS: 1
Ontario
CIS: 5
WA
P: 1016
WCWA: 0
OR
P: 131
WCWA: 3
CA
P: 2099
WCWA: 1
MT
P: 17
WCWA: 0
ID
P: 21
WCWA: 0
NV
P: 68
WCWA: 0
UT
P: 18
WCWA: 0
CO
P: 62
WCWA: 0
AK
P: 178
WCWA: 0
Arizona
P: 191
WCWA: 0
ME
P: 76
WCWA: 0
ND
P: 9
WCWA: 1
WY
P: 18
WCWA: 0
NM
P: 96
WCWA: 0
SD
P: 26
WCWA: 0
NE
P: 128
WCWA: 1
HI
P: 440
WCWA: 0
MN
P: 0
WCWA: 0
KS
P: 108
WCWA: 2
OK
P: 112
WCWA: 1
TX
P: 2776
WCWA: 1
AK
P: 178
WCWA: 0
New
Brunswick
CIS: 1
WI
P: 0
WCWA: 0
IA
P: 66
WCWA: 1
NY
P: 271
WCWA: 0
MI
P: 350
WCWA: 1
OH
MO
P: 66
WCWA: 3
PA
P: 85 WCWA: 0
IN
P: 131
IL
P:
WCWA: 0 WV
P: 0
P: 22
WCWA: 0
WCWA: 2
KY
WCWA: 0
P: 28
WCWA: 3
TN – P:146 WCWA: 1
AR
P: 25
WCWA: 1
LA
P: 14
WCWA: 0
AL
MS
P: 8
P: 0
WCWA: 0
WCWA: 0
GA
P: 175
WCWA: 2
VA
P: 115
WCWA: 1
NC
P: 123
WCWA: 0
SC
P: 39
WCWA: 0
FL
P: 388
WCWA: 0
RI
P: 20
WCWA: 0
VT
P: 5
WCWA: 0
MA
P: 70
WCWA: 0
NH
P: 16
WCWA: 0
CT
P: 82
WCWA: 0
DE
P: 24
WCWA: 0
NJ
P: 69
WCWA: 0
MD
P: 99
WCWA: 0
2013-14 Women’s Wrestling
Participation High School and
College
•
•
•
•
P – High School Participants
WCWA: Number of WCWA
Collegiate Teams
CIS: Number of Canadian
Collegiate Teams
Updated November 2013
* High School Participation Numbers as Reported by the NFHS
How the NWCA Can Help !
About Us
• NWCA is a 501C-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. All head high school coaches in New
York and neighboring states are NWCA members.
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 petition the U.S. Wrestling Foundation and
other benefactors to allocate $200,000 of startup funds to
establish a Division I program.
• Provide grass roots support for the Syracuse University
wrestling program (every head high school wrestling coach in
New York and bordering states are a member 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
Stephen Friedman-CEO, Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Robert W. Hannan-President & CEO, Eckerd Corporation
John McCain- 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-16th President of the USA
Ronald Magruder-Past CEO, Cracker Barrel
David S. Pottruck- Former President/CEO, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
Theodore Roosevelt-26th 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-27th President of the USA
Billy Baldwin- Actor
Joe Galli-CEO of TTI
Greg Lanteris-Astronaut
Dan Cathy- President Chik-fil-A
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
[email protected]
www.nwcaonline.com