Takedown Report

Morgan State University wrestling team returns after 25 years

The university reinstates its program and becomes the only Division I HBCU wrestling team in America.
Morgan State University has revived its wrestling program after a 25-year-long hiatus.

HBCU Wrestling donated $2.7 million to Morgan for the purpose of reinstating its men’s wrestling program. This enabled the university to hire Kenny Monday, who won an Olympic Gold medal in 1988, a silver medal in 1992, was a distinguished member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, and long–time supporter of HBCU wrestling, as the head coach of Morgan’s newly reformed wrestling team. 

“My mindset is what I’ve always had: I’m a winner, I have big goals, and that’s what I expect,” Monday said.

Monday said he has high expectations for the team and pushes them to be their best by making the team members practice in both comfortable and uncomfortable situations. He believes this will prepare them for the meets to come.

Jacob Marsh, graduate student majoring in finance and Princeton University transfer,  recalled a time he asked Monday what they were doing in practice that day. “He said, ‘you’re running five miles.’ I said I ain’t never ran five miles,” said Marsh. “He said, ‘and you’ve never been a national champion.’ ”

Morgan originally disbanded its wrestling program due to lack of funding in its ‘96-’97 season. HBCUs across the nation cut wrestling programs from the late 80s to early 2000s because the programs were seen as, “expensive and difficult to maintain.” According to hbcuwrestling.org, Delaware State was the last HBCU to have a wrestling program, and dropped it in 2009 due to lack of funding. 

The school’s newly reinstated wrestling team is the only HBCU Division I wrestling program and only one of its kind in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). 

“Being from Baltimore, understanding your city and seeing what’s being done to it – like bringing the wrestling community back and bringing the sport back to the school – it just seems right. Everything feels right.” said Ky-El Ali, freshman physical education major. 
Monday chose to accept Morgan’s offer following an initial call from the school. He and several members of his family had attended and graduated from HBCUs, which led him to consider and accept the position. … rest of story at … MSUspokesman.com/15219/sports/morgan-state-university-wrestling-team-returns-after-25-years

October 4, 2023 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized