July 15, 2006

Dear Dr. Welty and Mr. Boeh:

On behalf of the National Wrestling Coaches Assocation Board of Directors (NWCA), we would like to make another passionate plea for your consideration of reinstating the Fresno State wrestling program. We have been closely monitoring all of the correspondence and media releases regarding the your recent decision to eliminate the program. Please know there are literally hundreds of thousands people from within the wrestling community that are counting on you to do the right thing.

I won't rehash all of the compelling reasons that have been previously stated in support of the wrestling program. The NWCA has been in the business of saving threatened intercollegiate wrestling programs and starting new ones for 77 years. Since 1999, we have succeeded more then we have failed (39 new programs have been established and six programs have been saved). That said, the insensitive approach that the Fresno State administration employed to eliminate its wrestling team is unconscionable. We can't imagine that the hiring of a new coach, allowing him to recruit 22 aspiring student-athletes to campus, and then eliminating the team (all within a year) can be consistent with Fresno State's educational mission. It is equally difficult to imagine how a state supported school could simply dismiss the intense public outcry from an otherwise very supportive regional wrestling community.

Rather then letting the public outrage escalate (and it will be relentless) and cause further damage the image of your school, we would like to propose that you meet with the wrestling community to develop an alternative strategy that is viable. The local, regional, and national wrestling community is willing to do its fair share. Thanks for your consideration of this request. Together, we can ensure that countless California student-athletes will have the opportunity to pursue their academic and wrestling careers at Fresno State.

Sincerely,

Ron Beaschler
President, NWCA

Mike Moyer
Executive Director
NWCA
Phone #717-653-8009
E-Mail: mmoyer@nwca.cc