Morgan State to Join the EIWA

The Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association has approved the addition of Morgan State. Morgan State will become the 12th member of the conference. Located in Baltimore, MD, Morgan State announced in October of 2021 that it would revive the wrestling program after a 24-year hiatus. A $2.7 million gift towards the program is the largest single donation in the school’s history. This gift was spearheaded by Mike Novogratz and the HBCU Wrestling (HCUW) Initiative, whose sole mission is to restore wrestling at HBCUs. Wrestling programs of all shapes and sizes have disappeared due to Title IX and lack of funding over the decades. Morgan State was no different. At this moment, MSU is the lone HBCU (Historically Black College and University) in Division I wrestling. 

The Bears first competed in the sport in the early 1950s. They were dominant well into the 60s, winning multiple conference titles. Morgan State’s most recent success began in 1975 when James Phillips took over as the head coach. Of his 20 seasons at the helm, the Bears won 13 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) titles while earning Coach of the Year 12 times. He coached four national champions and 75 All-Americans during his tenure. The wrestling program came to a halt at the end of the 1996-97 season. The reason provided was a lack of resources. 

Kenny Monday was hired as the program’s Head Coach in the summer of 2022. The hire made waves across the nation, as Monday was quite the wrestler himself. He was a three-time NCAA All-American at Oklahoma State, claiming two runner-up finishes and one championship. His career record was 122-12-2 and is considered one of the greats at one of the traditional powerhouse programs in wrestling history. After his NCAA wrestling career, he claimed an Olympic gold in 1988, silver in 1992, and a 6th place finish in 1996. Coincidentally, as a perfect fit for the program, his gold medal in 1988 was the first ever won by an African-American in the sport of wrestling. Monday was named a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2001. Two decades later, he is still adding to his resume as a head coach. Previous to Morgan State, he coached at Spire Academy, UNC Chapel Hill, and Bishop Lynch High School in Dallas, TX. 

Kenny Monday’s statement regarding this news: "Morgan State University's acceptance into the prestigious Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) conference marks a monumental milestone in the history of our wrestling program. This achievement is a testament to the tireless efforts, dedication, and resilience of our administration, coaches, and our student-athletes. As we join the ranks of the EIWA, I'm very excited and honored as we're looking forward to elevating our competition, fostering growth, and making a lasting impact in the collegiate wrestling community."

Dena Freeman-Patton is the Morgan State Director of Athletics and Vice President. Her enthusiasm for this move is captured by her quote: “This is an exciting time for Morgan State. The EIWA is a great fit for our wrestling program competitively, academically, and regionally. Our student-athletes are looking forward to competing for championships.”

The EIWA is thrilled about this move as well. Executive Director, Gene Nighman is welcoming The Bears with open arms: “I'm pleased to welcome Morgan State University as the newest member in the long and storied history of the EIWA.  Starting back in 1904, the EIWA member institutions have been committed to advancing the sport of wrestling and providing all participants with an elite Championship experience.  As we approach the start of the 121st season, the EIWA is proud to have the only HBCU program as one of our members and looks forward to all twelve EIWA schools gathering at Lehigh University on March 7 for the 2025 EIWA Championship Tournament.” – Gene Nighman

Mike Moyer, the Executive Director of the NWCA, mimics this sentiment. “I know I can speak for the NWCA Board of Directors when I extend a heartfelt thanks to the EIWA coaches and administrators for inviting the only DI-affiliated HBCU wrestling program in the nation as their twelfth member.  Morgan State has a proud academic and athletic tradition that is aligned with the EIWA member schools and a location that fits nicely into the geographic conference footprint.  This is sure to create new regional rivalries that will strengthen the storied history of the EIWA as the oldest wrestling conference in the nation.”

The Bears will showcase their talents in the Blue vs Orange intrasquad dual on October 18th at 5PM. They officially open the season on November 2nd at the Southeast Open. They will make their EIWA dual meet debut at Lehigh on November 15th at 7PM. 

The full schedule can be found here: Morgan State 2024-25 Schedule

Be sure to visit the team website for more information: Morgan State Wrestling