Truman State UniversityOver the years, wrestling mats have been littered with the remains of far too many college wrestling programs that were unceremoniously eliminated by school presidents and athletic directors, too many times without any clear explanation ... and no real opportunity for wrestlers, coaches and alumni to reverse the decision.
In early May, Truman State University administrators announced their Bulldog NCAA Division II wrestling program would be eliminated, effective immediately.
Now there is a plan -- a written memorandum of understanding -- put together by school administrators, head wrestling coach Dave Schutter, and wrestling team captain Samuel Reeves, which is described as "a proposal to provide possible funding for the wrestling program." The plan was signed by the participants just last week.
Originally, Truman State had planned for its more-than-a-half-century-old wrestling program to shut down at the time of the announcement in early May. Upon receiving word that the school located in northeast Missouri had planned to axe the mat program right away, coach Schutter and his wrestlers requested an opportunity to develop a strategy to compete for one more season, and, also, a strategy for the wrestling program to continue as an intercollegiate sport at Truman State into the future.
"To meet these goals, the parties agreed to a fundraising strategy to attempt to secure private funding to pay for the full cost of operating the wrestling program," according to the memorandum of understanding.
There are two parts of the plan:
1. A short-term effort to raise funds for one more year of competition this coming season (2018-19);
2. A long-term plan to secure gifts to "an endowed fund in an amount sufficient to fully support the team into an indefinite future."
The amount to be raised for Part 1 is $75,000, by October 10, 2018. This amount covers continued operation of the Truman State Bulldog wrestling program, including coach Schutter's salary and benefits for the time period July 1, 2018 through March 31, 2019. (Individuals wishing to make a donation to this fund may do so online.)
If Part 1 is successful, then the program moves into Part 2, where those wishing to support Truman State wrestling into the long run can make cash donations into an endowed fund held by the Truman State University Foundation. The wrestling program would be supported by interest generated by the fund, without drawing on the fund's principal. If this effort is not successfully completed by March 10, 2019, the Bulldog wrestling program will be eliminated at that time.
"Mike Moyer of the National Wrestling Coaches Association was instrumental in helping us fight for what was absolutely necessary," Dave Schutter, head wrestling coach at Truman State since 1990, told InterMat.
"There's no arguing -- Truman State has experienced tough times lately, to be sure," Schutter continued. (At the time of announcing the elimination of the wrestling program, school administrators cited a planned $3.1 million cut in state core appropriations, a reduction on top of a $3.8 million cut in the current year.) "However, wrestling does bring in money and good kids. For instance, our wrestling program has won six Academic titles in NCAA Division II."
"Our wrestling alumni support us," added Schutter. "We have been in the top five among alumni giving from sports programs. And, right now, there's a school athletic challenge, a fundraising competition among Truman teams. We're in second place right now. Wrestling has won two out of the past four years."
"In terms of academics and other qualities you could want in a student-athlete, Truman State wrestling is very successful. We've graduated a lot of doctors and other professionals over the years."
To contribute to the Truman State wrestling fund, click here, then choose "Athletics" and then write "Wrestling" in the notes section..
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