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    Mark Palmer •

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    U.S. Wrestling Foundation grant to launch Fresno State program

    The long-awaited return of wrestling at Fresno State has taken a significant step forward, as the United States Wrestling Foundation has made a grant to help launch the new program at the California-based school, the organization announced Monday.

    "So many people are coming together to make this happen. Wrestling helped shaped their lives and they are thankful for the opportunity to give back and pass it on to the next generation," said Jeff Waters, Chairman of the U.S. Wrestling Foundation.

    The grant from the U.S. Wrestling Foundation is a matching grant that doubles the donations received from Fresno State wrestling supporters.

    Fresno State dropped its intercollegiate wrestling program in 2006. When the university's President Joseph Castro came on board in 2013, he made a commitment to bring back the Bulldog mat program.

    "We are extremely grateful for all the support we have received from the U.S. Wrestling Foundation and the wrestling community," said Castro. "We are really excited to bring back wrestling to Fresno State, providing young men the opportunity right here in the heart of the Valley to continue competing in the sport they love while getting their education close to home. Wrestling has such a rich tradition here both at Fresno State and in our community."

    Wrestling -- along with a women's water polo team -- will become the 20th and 21st varsity sports to be added to the Fresno State roster for the 2017-18 season.

    Wrestling at Fresno State dates back to 1962 when it competed as an NCAA Division II program. In 1969 it made the move to Division I and won 11 team conference championships, had 14 top 25 finishes, three individuals that combined to win six national championships and 33 All-Americans.

    Fresno State will be the first Division I wrestling program to be reinstated since Bucknell and Binghamton brought back their mat programs in 2006, said Mike Moyer, Executive Director of the National Wrestling Coaches Association.

    Once it made the announcement of bringing back wrestling, Fresno State established a step-by-step timeline. Last month, the school officially posted an opening its head coaching position. In the next three months, Fresno State plans to announce the hiring of its head wrestling coach; by July, it plans to hire assistant coaches. This summer, actual recruitment of future Bulldog wrestlers will get underway. In November 2016, there will be an early signing period where recruits can sign National Letters of Intent to join the Fresno State wrestling program. Student-athletes will arrive on the Fresno campus in August 2017… with the inaugural 2017-18 wrestling season getting underway later that year.

    U.S. Wrestling Foundation works closely other wrestling organizations to coordinate and fund growth opportunities for wrestling. Their mission is to grow wrestling at all levels across the United States. The organization is a registered 501(c)(3) charity.
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