Kansas Wesleyan to discontinue wrestling program

Kansas Wesleyan has decided to discontinue the sport of men's wrestling, effective immediately. Launched in 2015, the wrestling program has been well below a full squad in each of its three competitive seasons. The 2018-19 team had seven wrestlers but only four competed in the KCAC Championship where the team finished sixth of six teams. The sport has 10 weight classes, and teams can bring 12 wrestlers to post-season events.

Kansas Wesleyan's wrestling program did have bright spots with four wrestlers earning berths to the NAIA Championship over the three years, including Taylor Moeder, who finished fourth in the nation and earned All-America honors in 2018. Lexington Plummer qualified for nationals this past year, going 1-2 at the event as a heavyweight. Tanner O'Donnell, who was a 2018 national qualifier, was the 2017 KCAC Most Outstanding Wrestler while Moeder earned the KCAC honor in 2018.

The university will honor the scholarships for any of the students that remain at the university and will assist with any wrestler that wishes to transfer. Per NAIA rules, the students would be immediately eligible at another institution. As such, Kansas Wesleyan gives any institution permission to contact members of the wrestling team. Head coach Jason Schweer joined the program in July and was the third coach in the program's short history. The university is working to assist Schweer and assistant coach Derek Arnold, who is also a graduate student, in the transition.

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Kansas Wesleyan to discontinue wrestling program

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