From the beginning of the NCAA there have been two sports that have wildly dominated the spotlight, basketball and football. Although these two sports are deserving of their popularity, these two sports usually overshadow most of the other sports a college has. This misfortune comes at the price of more successful sport franchises that slip under the radar.
Some people might not realize this, but Wyoming’s most successful sports program at this time is wrestling. Just this last year the University of Wyoming wrestling team finished 16th in the nation in dual meet competition. For a sports team to land in the top 25 means the sport must have a fortified program at the college it competes for.
“A lot of Wyoming residents aren’t familiar with the sport compared to other states where wrestling is more prominent, to bring more fans we need to produce a product that people want to consume,” assistant coach Ethan Kyle said.
Although the team undoubtedly deserves more recognition then they receive, the program remains humble.
“Naturally football and basketball rain supreme and we recognize that, we understand that if it weren’t for the basketball and football team here at Wyoming there wouldn’t be a wrestling team,” Kyle said.
Although these sports bring in a large revenue to make it possible for funding of the wrestling team and other sports, that does not mean that the wrestling team is content with where they stand among other sports programs at UW.
“We make sure we communicate with the team that it’s important to set a good example on campus among their other peers. We urge our wrestlers to put themselves out there and sell their team to fellow classmates and professors in an effort to bring more fans,” Kyle said.
The team’s effort to receive more support will be assisted by the teams switch from the Mountain West conference to the Big 12 conference. The Big 12 contains higher caliber wrestling teams than the Mountain West, it is likely that the switch of conferences alone will bring more support to the team.
“Wyoming competing against power houses like Iowa State at home will deliver that product fans want to consume, big match stigma that results from these matches will hopefully hook fans on the excitement the sport delivers,” Kyle said. “By us producing better products we will be able to bring in better athletes, this will likely accelerate the support our team deserves.”
The Wyoming wrestling team has also implemented other ways to get their program in the spotlight. Last year when the Wyoming football team was playing at Utah State the wrestling team wrestled Nebraska at the Indoor Practice Facility. Which was strategically alongside the tailgating taking place for the football game.
This kind of initiative shows the thirst the wrestling team has for success. Because the team is proactive in gaining support and the team’s switch to the Big 12 next year, it is likely that wrestling will be a prominent program at UW for years to come.
Shane Woods competes in a tournament from last season. The wrestling program is attempting to increase their fan base by joining Big 12.
