By JOE DANA
joe@newsroom.byu.edu
Call it Schultz's List.
BYU head coach Mark Schultz has grave concerns for the 23 young men in the wrestling program who are scheduled to disappear after this season. Last April the university decided to cut BYU wrestling to appease a controversial interpretation of Title IX.
'I admit I'm selfish; I love hanging around these guys and I don't want to see them go,' Schultz said. 'They are the most fun, hard working, honorable men I've ever met.'
This weekend proved that the mission to save Schultz's wrestlers and the rest of the program isn't over yet.
During the 'Save Our Sport' match with the University of Iowa, The Utah Amateur Wrestling Association raised an estimated $30,000 to $40,000 to help BYU's cause. Organization founder Ross Brunson said the turnout of 6,000 spectators was reason to be optimistic.
'It was a big success,' Brunson said. 'Even though we didn't have as many people in attendance as hoped, I don't think there's been that many people at a single Utah meet in 10 years.'
With the tally from this weekend's profits, the organization now has an estimated $1.5 million of cash and pledges. Brunson's group has acted as a big brother to the BYU wrestling program, which many feel is being picked on.
Over two thirds of collegiate wrestling programs across the country have been cut in the last two decades.
'We need to make people realize that wrestling embodies every positive value that America was built on,' Olympic gold medalist Dan Gable told the audience on Saturday night.
BYU athletic director Val Hale said the foundation will need to raise $7 million by March 31 of next year so that BYU doesn't become the next program to fall.
Besides the dollar amounts, this weekend's fundraising match also proved that there are a variety of interests involved to save the wrestlers.
'I don't think people understand how much wrestling helps kids,' said 12 year-old Clay Stevens, from Sandy.
Gable, while signing Stevens' program, said he's just begun his mission to help save BYU wrestling.
'I've been very busy today talking with the press and public about BYU's cause and wrestling in general,' Gable said. 'And I'm not done. I hope everyone here leaves and does some talking as well.'
After a weekend of pleading to the Utah public, Gable made it known to Brunson that he's ready for the next step.
For Gable, an ambassador for the sport, the next step will be to keep talking. For BYU wrestlers and the sport's advocates in Utah, it means to continue their grass-roots fundraising.
'We really feel that this is possible,' Brunson said.
Brunson and his organization will be contacting potential donors, asking them to make a pledge. Even the wrestlers themselves will be getting involved.
Each wrestler was given a list of 30 names of wrestling alumni and have been asked to call them personally.
'They're doing everything they can in their own human limits,' Schultz said.
For now, hope seems to come in spurts. But team members are not giving up.
'I have to be optimistic,' Schutlz said. 'There's no alternative.'
Schultz said he's worried about his wrestlers because if the program is cut, they will have the dilemma of compromising their faith.
'I'll survive. But a lot of these kids came here because they want to get a good education in an LDS enviornment and not wrestle on Sundays,' Schultz said.
Donations to save BYU wrestling can be sent to the Utah Amateur Wrestling Foundation, 866 E. 7905 South, Sandy, Utah 84094.