ManOfVision
Active member
This article is frustrating to me because I want to know what else is going on in the bigger picture to cause this decision. Is it only the APR and losing, or is it a larger budgetary directive handed down to Chisholm? Vondersmith doesn't seem to clarify that. As for the issue at hand, I don't care about wrestling, and would happily reallocate its budget to other sports.
http://www.portlandtribune.com/sports/story.php?story_id=123213943383678300
PSU wrestling program could be counted out
Task force will look at options, but coach in somber mood
By Jason Vondersmith
The Portland Tribune, Jan 16, 2009
It's not a program that has been designated to be dropped, but Portland State wrestlers have been put on alert. It could happen.
Athletic Director Torre Chisholm met with the Viking wrestlers and coaches on Thursday, informing them that a task force would be set up to examine the viability of keeping the program. At issue is the academic and athletic performance of the team.
Second-year coach Mike Haluska was in a somber mood Friday, feeling like the program would go the way of the University of Oregon's and be dropped.
"Yeah, we'll fight it, maybe win, maybe lose," he says. "It's going to happen soon, one way or the other."I feel a lot less safe than the University of Oregon (team). They really didn't have a reason (to drop wrestling)."
Haluska says the committee will look at dropping the program, keeping it in its current state or funding it more. He says PSU President Wim Wiewel wants a recommendation by Feb. 16.
Chisholm says he would have more information to share next week.
"It's not about a rush to judgment on what has to be done," he says. "We want to talk about if it can be better. If not, what can we do?"
Chisholm says the Vikings have been penalized for the past three years by the NCAA for poor academic performance in wrestling, as evaluated by the Academic Progress Rate.
The university currently funds the wrestling program with money for insurance, salaries, some travel and practice/meet space at Stott Center, and only about $50,000 in scholarships. That's two full scholarships worth, or seven below what PSU could give the program.
Haluska spreads out the money among several wrestlers. A lot of issues stem from the fact that PSU has not funded the program very well.
"The team has stepped up in the last year, getting the APR back up," Haluska says. "A year ago I put the challenge to them for their grades. They rose to that challenge." He says half the wrestlers on the team got above 2.0 GPAs the last term.
Former coach Marlin Grahn fought against dropping the program several times. Haluska will also consult with UO coach Chuck Kearney and ex-Duck coach Ron Finley, who fought unsuccessfully to save their program; Finley, like Grahn, had to fight the extermination fight more than once.
Haluska has 25 wrestlers on his roster, up from 17 at the end of last season.
The Vikings went 1-16 in dual meets last season and are 2-5 this season. Haluska identifies five wrestlers who have the ability to place high at the Pac-10 meet in March, and, perhaps, qualify for the NCAA meet as Brady Garner (174 pounds), Ryan Sonderegger (184), Henry Kofa (149), Alex Bubb (157) and Bryan Cantrell (165).
"I have a lot of appreciation for wrestling," Chisholm says. "With their level of dedication, It tends to be a sport where they learn lifelong lessons."
http://www.portlandtribune.com/sports/story.php?story_id=123213943383678300
PSU wrestling program could be counted out
Task force will look at options, but coach in somber mood
By Jason Vondersmith
The Portland Tribune, Jan 16, 2009
It's not a program that has been designated to be dropped, but Portland State wrestlers have been put on alert. It could happen.
Athletic Director Torre Chisholm met with the Viking wrestlers and coaches on Thursday, informing them that a task force would be set up to examine the viability of keeping the program. At issue is the academic and athletic performance of the team.
Second-year coach Mike Haluska was in a somber mood Friday, feeling like the program would go the way of the University of Oregon's and be dropped.
"Yeah, we'll fight it, maybe win, maybe lose," he says. "It's going to happen soon, one way or the other."I feel a lot less safe than the University of Oregon (team). They really didn't have a reason (to drop wrestling)."
Haluska says the committee will look at dropping the program, keeping it in its current state or funding it more. He says PSU President Wim Wiewel wants a recommendation by Feb. 16.
Chisholm says he would have more information to share next week.
"It's not about a rush to judgment on what has to be done," he says. "We want to talk about if it can be better. If not, what can we do?"
Chisholm says the Vikings have been penalized for the past three years by the NCAA for poor academic performance in wrestling, as evaluated by the Academic Progress Rate.
The university currently funds the wrestling program with money for insurance, salaries, some travel and practice/meet space at Stott Center, and only about $50,000 in scholarships. That's two full scholarships worth, or seven below what PSU could give the program.
Haluska spreads out the money among several wrestlers. A lot of issues stem from the fact that PSU has not funded the program very well.
"The team has stepped up in the last year, getting the APR back up," Haluska says. "A year ago I put the challenge to them for their grades. They rose to that challenge." He says half the wrestlers on the team got above 2.0 GPAs the last term.
Former coach Marlin Grahn fought against dropping the program several times. Haluska will also consult with UO coach Chuck Kearney and ex-Duck coach Ron Finley, who fought unsuccessfully to save their program; Finley, like Grahn, had to fight the extermination fight more than once.
Haluska has 25 wrestlers on his roster, up from 17 at the end of last season.
The Vikings went 1-16 in dual meets last season and are 2-5 this season. Haluska identifies five wrestlers who have the ability to place high at the Pac-10 meet in March, and, perhaps, qualify for the NCAA meet as Brady Garner (174 pounds), Ryan Sonderegger (184), Henry Kofa (149), Alex Bubb (157) and Bryan Cantrell (165).
"I have a lot of appreciation for wrestling," Chisholm says. "With their level of dedication, It tends to be a sport where they learn lifelong lessons."
