Wrestling club created by group of students

By Shannon Curley
Collegian Staff
December 6, 2006

La Salle athletes who have wanted to participate in wrestling have been disappointed in the fact that the University does not offer it as a varsity sport. Junior mathematics and secondary education major Jeremiah Noll and others have come together to solve this problem by creating a wrestling club.

The club is still unofficial and is in the application process to be recognized as a club sport on campus.

The student body has been fairly receptive to the idea.

“We have about 52 people signed up now,” Noll said.

The team will start practicing in either the first or second week of the spring semester, and the season will end in March. Practices will be held in the Hayman Center and the team will meet there either once or twice a week.

Noll said that the group will be, “kind of like the movie Fight Club. A group of guys who get together to wrestle, while learning at the same time.”

Noll also stressed how important sportsmanship would be to the club.

“There is a common misconception that wrestling is what you see on TV,” Knoll said.

The group does not have an official coach. Instead, Noll and three other members of the group, Vice President Mark Moraca, Treasurer Matt Maki and Secretary Rick Barca, will lead as well as participate in practices.

To ensure that the club maintains a relaxed atmosphere, attendance requirements are minimal. Members cannot miss five consecutive practices, or else they are kicked out.

“We know that people have really busy schedules,” Noll said, which is why he believes the University lacks wrestling as a varsity sport. To compete with the wrestling teams of large schools would require a huge time commitment from its members.

Although the wrestling club is planning to compete with the clubs of other schools, they are only hoping for one official competition this year. Until then, the group will divide themselves into teams and compete internally.

If anyone is interested in joining the new club, they can contact Noll at nollj2@lasalle.edu or join the Facebook group online.

curleys1@lasalle.edu