Oct. 29, 2006

Hastings College (Neb.) will add wrestling as a male sport for the 2007-08 academic year. This will bring the total to seven schools in the 13-member Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) to field a wrestling team.

A press conference was held Friday, Oct. 27, at 3 p.m., in the Legacy Room of the Osborne Family Sports Complex. Fran Hummel, Hastings College athletic director; Dr. Phil Dudley, Hastings College president; and Corey Westra, GPAC Commissioner were on hand for the announcement.

According to Ian Roberts, associate vice president for administration, a selection committee has been named, and a preliminary search for a head coach has begun. One full-time wrestling coach and a part-time assistant will be hired to manage the program and recruit athletes. Students will be eligible for athletic scholarships.

Home meets will be held in Lynn Farrell Arena in the Osborne Family Sports Complex, and a practice facility is being constructed in Kiewit Physical Education Building.

At least three home dual meets will be held, with the possibility of adding a home tournament and other non-conference competitions to the schedule. Athletes will compete within 10 weight classes according to NAIA regulations, ranging from 125 lbs. to heavyweight.

Other schools in the GPAC who offer wrestling include: Dana College, Blair, Neb.; University of Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls, S.D.; Dakota Wesleyan, Mitchell, S.D.; Northwestern College, Orange City, Iowa; Morningside College, Sioux City, Iowa; and Briar Cliff University, Sioux City, Iowa.

Starting with the 2006-2007 season the Great Plains Athletic Conference will recognize wrestling as an official conference sport. The GPAC is the first NAIA conference to introduce wrestling as a conference sport. Dana College is the reigning NAIA National Wrestling Champion. This year's national meet will be held at the Tyson Event Center, Sioux City, Iowa, in March.

This is the second time that Hastings College has offered wrestling as a competitive sport. During the early to mid-1960s, the Broncos fielded a team with as many as 30 participants.