Share
A coalition of community leaders is asking Fresno State to reinstate wrestling and two other sports that were cut last year and are planning to bring their case to university President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval.
The coalition sent a letter on July 21, signed by community leaders including Assembly members Frank Bigelow, R-Madera, and Jim Patterson, R-Fresno, asking Dr. Jiménez-Sandoval to take another look at the decision to drop wrestling, men’s tennis, and women’s lacrosse.
“Whether it is through an academic scholarship or simply providing the ability to compete as student-athletes, we believe the more avenues available to young people to learn and compete, the more likely they will be able to make valuable and positive contributions to the future of the Central Valley,” the letter said.
The university announced in October that it was cutting the three sports at the end of the 2020-21 school year because of revenue losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Reborn Wrestling Program Was Only 4 Years Old
It was a particularly hard blow for the Central Valley’s wrestling community, which had lobbied hard for a decade to have the program re-established at Fresno State, which finally happened in 2016.
The university said last year the program cuts would save $2.5 million once the scholarships, coaches contracts, and other commitments were fulfilled.
But supporters say they want to work with the university to find money to get the programs restarted. Because of gender equity, the university had to cut men’s and women’s programs.
“We believe reinstating all of the teams is possible,” John O’Brien, a wrestling team alum from the class of 1989 who helped organize the letter, said in a news release Thursday. “There is tremendous value for the community if the school reinstates all three teams. With support from the school’s leadership, we can find a way to solve the budget challenges created by the pandemic.”
The lobbying effort also includes an online petition at KeepFresnoStateWrestling.com that the coalition says has been signed by more than 750 alumni and supporters.
University officials did not immediately respond to a request for confirmation of the meeting between the coalition and Dr. Jiménez-Sandoval. Spokeswoman Lisa Boyles Bell confirmed later Thursday that Dr. Jiménez-Sandoval has agreed to meet with the group.
RELATED TOPICS:
Madera County Multi-Agency Effort Leads to Arrest of Felony Suspect in Atwater
32 minutes ago
Fresno Police Arrest DUI Driver During Crackdown on Illegal Street Racing and Sideshows
38 minutes ago
July 4 Weekend Was No Picnic for Fresno-Area Firefighters. How Bad Did It Get?
2 hours ago
Tulare County Seizes 300 Pounds of Illegal Fireworks Over Fourth of July
2 hours ago
US Proposes Rules That Could Boost Oil, Gas Output in US West
3 hours ago
Trump Administration Acknowledges Lack of Evidence From Epstein Documents
3 hours ago
Dollar Rises After Trump Announces Japan, South Korea Tariffs
3 hours ago
Merced Man Gets More Than 15 Years for Meth Trafficking, High-Speed Chase
3 hours ago
Man Dead After Firing at US Border Patrol Station in Texas
5 hours ago
US Veterans Affairs Will Cut Nearly 30,000 Jobs, Far Fewer Than Planned
9 minutes ago
Categories

US Veterans Affairs Will Cut Nearly 30,000 Jobs, Far Fewer Than Planned

Houston Astros Donate $1M to Help Recovery From Texas Floods

Tucker Carlson Aired Interview With President of Iran

Madera County Multi-Agency Effort Leads to Arrest of Felony Suspect in Atwater

Fresno Police Arrest DUI Driver During Crackdown on Illegal Street Racing and Sideshows

July 4 Weekend Was No Picnic for Fresno-Area Firefighters. How Bad Did It Get?

Tulare County Seizes 300 Pounds of Illegal Fireworks Over Fourth of July
