By JOE DANA
Two-time world champion and gold-medal winner Mark Schultz sat in his office Tuesday contemplating what has become the most tiresome fight he’s faced in his career — saving the BYU wrestling program.
In a matter of months, head coach Schultz is scheduled to leave BYU with the rest of the program.
“I love BYU. Obviously I don’t want this to happen,” Schultz said, visibly wary of the future.
Since the university announced the wrestling program would be cut after the 1999-2000 season in order to comply with equal rights regulations, among other reasons, a wave of support has rushed up to take if off the death bed and keep it on the mat for good.
“We’re getting big support from national powers, all saying they are willing to make this work,” said Ross R. Brunson, president and co-founder of the Utah Amateur Wrestling Foundation. His message is clear: Donate money to save BYU wrestling.
Help has come by way of alumni and citizen donations and “grass roots” letters to the Board of Trustees. Even the No. 1 ranked University of Iowa wrestling team has taken interest in BYU’s cause. The Hawkeyes canceled a tournament they originally planned to attend to come participate in a special Dec. 4 meet at the Delta Center. All profits will go to save the program.
“That is going to be the biggest match in the history of BYU wrestling,” Schultz said.
Brunson said the foundation has already made over $50,000.
By working to reach a $7 million goal before March 31, 2000, the foundation could independently be able to set up a trust fund sufficient to keep the wrestling program at BYU.
Title IX guarantees equal resources and money to males and females in school sports. BYU does not use tithing money to support it’s sports programs and has run into the same financial problem many universities’ men’s programs do in trying to comply with Title IX.
“This has had a profoundly debilitating effect on men’s athletics and an extraordinary blessing to women’s athletics,” Rondo Fehlberg, former athletic director, said of Title IX.
Fehlberg, who worked to keep BYU’s program intact, stepped down from his position in June after a four-year tenure.
“I felt there could have been other alternatives that would have allowed wrestling and gymnastics to stay on campus,” Fehlberg said.
In defense of the university’s decision, administrators say other colleges around the country are following the trend.
“We’re trying to do the best we can under the guidelines we are given,” said Associate Athletic Director Duff Tittle, who was not directly involved with the decision to cut the program.
Sophomore wrestler Aaron Holker, who won All-American honors last year, said he wishes the university would have done more to save the program. He said BYU is a haven for LDS wrestlers who don’t want to compete on Sunday. Most college tournaments are held that day, but BYU has always been given exceptions.
“It’s a big mistake,” Holker said.
This year both the wrestling and men’s gymnastics program will come to an end to make room for the inaugural season of the women’s softball team, Tittle said.
