Takedown Report

Abbott Blog: Why not aim for 100 Div. I men’s programs?

By Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling | Jan. 04, 2019,

California Baptist, now a Div. I program, set a school attendance record of 3,252 when it hosted Ohio State earlier this season. Photo by Robert Jordan, courtesy of CBULancers.com
It has been a strong year for NCAA Div. I wrestling, in terms of growth. After many years of decline or stagnation, a few recent announcements have helped turn the trend in a positive direction, something the wrestling community has been striving to see for a long, long time.
The transitioning program at California Baptist has begun to compete at the Div. I level, although it can not compete in the NCAA Div. I Championships yet. New programs at Presbyterian College (SD) and Little Rock (AK) will begin competing next season. A pair of Div. II colleges with wrestling announced that their athletic departments were moving up to Div. I, Long Island University (NY) and Augustana (SD).
FloWrestling quickly did the math, and reported that there will be up to 80 NCAA Div. I programs within the next few years, something that is wonderful news.
Here is where I am coming from, a position I have had for a number of years. I truly believe that the U.S. wrestling community needs to set a specific goal of developing 100 NCAA Div. I programs for men. In my past discussions, I called this Project D-100, but it could be named something else more creative.
Let’s separate this discussion from creating Div. I women’s teams, which should have a whole different campaign and promotion. I am completely behind putting together a leadership group to focus solely on women’s Div. I wrestling, which will provide tremendous growth and opportunity in our sport. Rest of the story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2019/January/04/Abbott-Blog-How-about-100-D-I-programs?mc_cid=2d79ab6cf9&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

January 6, 2019 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized