As an alum of Ottawa U, I frequent their web site once a week to keep caught up: http://www.ottawabraves.com

I noticed thier site has added a poll (scroll down and on the right) on what sport they should add next? Tennis, Bowling, Men's Volleyball and WRESTLING! There's only one vote for Wrestling http://www.ottawabraves.com/poll.aspx?poll=4 and I thought I'd post and provide the Ks. Wrestling community the opportunity to help OU decide!

Let's help them out!!!

You need to go to http://www.ottawabraves.com to vote. There will be a box on the bottom right.

Thanks for drawing attention to this poll. I added my vote !

Polls say that wrestling has 52% of the votes!

As of 8:56pm on 2/27, Wrestling is just shy of 800 votes and holding at 65%. Tennis and Bowling are at 10% and Men's VB at 15%.

By the way, I got on Missouri's forum and posted the same link :-)

As of just a few minutes ago wrestling is at 77%, keep it up we may have another wrestling program in kansas!
KEEP OUR WRESTLERS IN STATE.

... and I posted it on themat.com and sent a request to my e-mail list!

Even with the vote, we have a tough road to hoe! But this is a very positive first step!!

In just under 24 hours of my original posting (11:08 am now and I posted at 11:17am yesterday), there have been well over 1500 votes for wrestling and standings are as follows:

Tennis 6%
Bowling 6%
Men's Volleyball 9%
WRESTLING 79% with I'd guess around 1600 or so votes!

KEEP IT UP!!!

Thanks for bringing the poll to our attention Shane!

Althuugh we may be clouding their poll a bit, it is a good first step!!

Darn right we are clouding their poll. There is a strong interest in Kansas to add wrestling opportunities after high school at all levels.

I thought about that, but IF they actually wanted people's opinion then they'll have it, besides they've got it that people can only vote once, per IP address, so they're kid of getting a true poll result, unless everyone's restarting their machines and obtaining new IPs and then revoting all the time...

I'm loving this, quite frankly! I've been "fighting" for wrestling ever sinse graduating in '96, and actually while I was there as a student.

So tear it up and let them know what's NEEDED, not just WANTED!

Send these results to your state representative legislator, senator, board of regents and governor, college AD's and University president's across the state. I am going to.

has anyone actually sent them an email yet?

Wrestling is setting at around 87% w/2800 votes.

Ottawa? Every year I send in my money to support OU Athletics!

Ottawa Indian Tribe in OK? Every so often, as the University DOES listen to suggestions from the tribe's annual pow wow and discussions that take place.

Legislators? I've never thought that would do any good, seeing how Ottawa is a private University and the state has very little leverage over them.

Shane, thanks for posting this, I have voted as well. Now for another idea to piggy back here.

I just finished sending a letter to the President and Athletic Director at Tabor College, also a member of the KCAC. I am a graduate of Tabor and Coach Bruebaker, their AD was my college Soccer Coach. Now is the time that we could use this poll to point to other KCAC Schools of the potential of wrestling. I would encourage alum, or parents with students at one of the other Kansas Schools to write a letter of your desire to also see those schools start up a wrestling program.

... more on this piggy-backing! Though Baker is in the Heart of America conference, I see this as a "selling point" to any prospective NAIA institution!

I have heard the NAIA has listed wrestling as a sport that they would welcome as an organization! Is this true? I will do a little research myself but I would like some help!!

As of right now wrestling has 88% of the vote and over 3200 votes casted so far.

Wrestling: 89% with over 3500 votes now.

Keep voting if you haven't already!

I just got my response from the President at Tabor College, it seems that if Ottawa were to get a wrestling program, the door is not shut on other Kansas NAIA Schools. Notice his response. Like I said, piggy back to the other schools with this. There is a speck of hope.

Thanks Mike for your email and the challenge to begin a wrestling program. As you can imagine, with a new president, there are many things that we are taking a serious look at, and this will be added to the list. The issue is one of financial viability. A quick check of the NAIA website and it does not appear there is another NAIA institution in Kansas with a wrestling program. Surrounding states (i.e., Nebraska, Missouri and Oklahoma) all have NAIA schools with wrestling programs. If Ottawa is exploring this, I am sure that the entire KCAC will be considering it as well. Having an entire conference working together on this kind of expansion is always the ideal. Again thanks for your email. I look forward to meeting you some time and we can talk more about this.


Jules Glanzer
Tabor College President

fyi

http://www.kcacsports.com/kcacdirectory.pdf

KCAC Administration Home • History
Administration • School Information
Links • KCAC Directory • Media Outlets

KCAC COMMISIONER : Scott Crawford
316-425-3460 scott.crawford@kcacsports.com

KCAC PRESIDENT: Joe Zimmerman, Friends University
316-295-5628 zimmerman@friends.edu

KCAC FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT: Don Brubacher, Tabor College
(620) 947-3121 ext. 1310donb@tabor.edu

KCAC SECOND VICE-PRESIDENT: Arrabie Conner, Ottawa University
785-242-5200 ext. 5428arabie.conner@ottawa.edu

KCAC SPORTS INFORMATION DIR: John Pearson, Bethany College
785-227-2302 or 785-227-5405
Pearson@kans.com or KCAC-SID@kans.com

ELIGIBILITY CHAIR: Joyce Pigge, Bethany College
316-227-3380 ext. 8215 PiggeJ@BethanyLB.edu

KCAC STATISTICIAN: David Toelle, Kansas Wesleyan University
785-827-5541 ext. 3146 sportsinfo@kwu.edu

The KCAC consists of 10 members:

Bethany College, Lindsborg
Bethel College, North Newton
Friends University, Wichita
Kansas Wesleyan University, Salina
McPherson College, McPherson
Ottawa University, Ottawa
Southwestern College, Winfield
Sterling College, Sterling
Tabor College, Hillsboro
University of Saint Mary, Leavenworth

http://www.kcacsports.com/members.php

CONTACT THEM ALL!! Just a quick thought/question: Wasn't Newman University "just" an NAIA level program when they started and with the calibar of Kansas wrestlers, they quickly moved to Div. II, right???

IF that is true, then it wouldn't take much to demonstrate that all the KCAC schools could have very successful programs, with state grown athletes! I know none of them would be looking to go DII as the Jets did, but their is a local, specific example of how immediate wrestling can become a winner for all the KCAC schools!!

Ain't this a kick in the pants? I was just making a funny little post about OU and their non-scientific poll...and now we're talking to other KCAC schools and getting wrestling conference-wide?? Talk about the power of the internet!!!

By the way: 11:15pm 3/2/8
Tennis & Bowling - 3% & probably 100 votes?
Men's Volleybal - 5% & around 200ish votes?
WRESTLING - 89% & roughly 3750 votes!!!

In my initial letter to Coach Bruebacher and President Glanzer, I spoke quite a bit about Newman as well as Pratt. I think it would be good to also mention and talk some about how open tournaments work. Remember, these folks likely have no idea of the Junior Colleges, NCAA Club teams and so forth that exist. Imagine what it would be like for one of the KCAC schools to host Wichita state or Kansas State Club teams. I will continue, and also contact the various schools, it would be good if a number of us were involved in the process though. Again, starting with where one may have contacts.

Just sent an email to my school's AD, see below. I'll post whatever response(s) I get...

Mrs. Conner,

I am a graduate (’96) of Ottawa University and will always treasure my time there at OU. I played and lettered in football and track, became a multiple All-American and still hold the school record in the Javelin (which I’d love to share additional information with you about, but at a later date).

I graduated from Ottawa with a BA in Broadcast Communication and Physical Education with a K-12 certification.

Since then, I have moved on to become certified in History/Government, Computer Studies and now teach Special Education for Wichita Public Schools.

I’m also an official for Football, Wrestling and start Track & Field meets. Incidentally, came in contact with Kirk Wren (OU’s Track coach) at Friends University Track Meets and will be back to Ottawa on April 19th (with my wife that I married while at OU) to start the 1st ever “modern era” Track & Field meet.

I give you all this background information not to impress you, but to enlighten you that I have a lot of love and respect for OU, where I got my beginning. I will always hold my time there, close to my heart and remember being the last All-American Bill “Bo” Boucek coached, finally beating Bethany College in Football my senior year, as well as the numerous professors that are no longer there and the few (“Corkie” Hedlund) that still remain.

In all my time at OU, I talked with Andy Carrier about the possibility and feasibility of adding wrestling to the family of sports offered at OU. He laid out the financial issues and even the Title IX implications of adding a male sport.

I contact you today, to direct your attention to two web sites. The first is your own athletic web site where I saw a poll asking for which sport OU should add next. If you haven’t looked lately, I’d encourage you to check out the results: http://www.ottawabraves.com/poll.aspx?poll=4 I shared the web site with a “few friends” J and the power of the internet took over. The wrestling community has offered their opinion and will continue to do so, as of this email, wrestling is closing in on 4000 votes and holds 90%. I’d like to also provide you with a link to the Kansas Wrestling Forums: http://www.usawks.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=121648#Post121648 , where other KCAC alum have started to contact their school’s ADs and shared these results with them - http://www.usawks.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=121648&fpart=3

“I just got my response from the President at Tabor College, it seems that if Ottawa were to get a wrestling program, the door is not shut on other Kansas NAIA Schools. Notice his response. Like I said, piggy back to the other schools with this. There is a speck of hope.

Thanks Mike for your email and the challenge to begin a wrestling program. As you can imagine, with a new president, there are many things that we are taking a serious look at, and this will be added to the list. The issue is one of financial viability. A quick check of the NAIA website and it does not appear there is another NAIA institution in Kansas with a wrestling program. Surrounding states (i.e., Nebraska, Missouri and Oklahoma) all have NAIA schools with wrestling programs. If Ottawa is exploring this, I am sure that the entire KCAC will be considering it as well. Having an entire conference working together on this kind of expansion is always the ideal. Again thanks for your email. I look forward to meeting you some time and we can talk more about this.

Jules Glanzer
Tabor College President
_________________________
Mike Furches”

I’d like to also inform you that as of recently, other schools in Kansas have added wrestling to their sports programs and have see immediate results: Newman University (added in 2004 & had a national champion is 2006): http://www.newmanu.edu/nbspmiddotnbspWrestling/tabid/875/Default.aspx & Pratt Community College (added in 2006): http://www.pcc.cc.ks.us/athletics/1459/wrestling . Both have added wrestling and seen national exposure due to the overwelming untapped supply of Kansas wrestlers!

I hope to hear from you and possibly meet with you on April 19th, if possible and talk more about OU adding wrestling and issues (my school record) :-)

Thanks,
Shane Koranda, OU ‘96
424 North 10th Street
Towanda, KS 67144
skoranda@usd259.net
316-640-3095 cell
316-541-2242 home
316-973-7682 work/school

bump

Emailed the OU AD for the 3rd time this morning. Don't know if she's not getting my emails, looking into it, formulating her response or just ignoring it...!!!

By the way, keep voting if you can as we've cleared the 4000 mark around 4200ish?!?!?!

I've sent an unanswered e-mail too! While I don't think it is an excuse, the men's basketball team is preparing to play in the NAIA National tourney.

They play King College, Wednesday morning at 8:30!!

... and by the way, OU has named a new president!

Saw that! Hated to see Dr. Zook go. Looks like this new guys more of a money guy, rather than educational???

http://www.ottawa.edu/main/news/article/640/Ottawa_University_Names_21st_President.html

Ottawa University has now taken the poll off their website! I hope they got the information they wanted!

Last I saw, Wrestling was at 91% and about to hit 4500 votes. I'll actually place a call and see what response I get tomorrow (Wednesday afternoon) during P/T Conferences...

... a lot of the athletic staff are probably gone to Tennessee!

Any news....are tey interestedin adding wrestling?

Haven't heard back. They were all gone to TN and then Spring Break.

I'll call this week or just have to see what I get when I go up on 4/19 to start their meet. Surely the AD will be there for their first track meet in their new stadium!?

GET WRESTLING!!!

Headed up to OU Saturday. AD's going to be on hand and I plan to visit with her. I'll report back on what the discussion was...

Im a freshmen at Ottawa High School and if OU got at wrestling program i would be even more interested in going to OU. I have already thought about attempting to get a scholarship for football at OU and it would be a nice opportunity to get both a football and wrestling scholarship. I hope that OU gets a wrestling program.....

... talk to the A.D. ... she won't respond to me!

I;m a little surprised that no talking about Jason Bryant's blog tis week. He mentioned that Ottawa, Central Methodists University & a school in New Mexico are thnking about adding wrestling because of Baker.

Any discussion?

Hadn't heard that. Where do you find Jason bryant's blog? and it there anyway to confirm that? I've gotten nothing from the AD...

Great read! Thanks for the info.

what divivsion is ottawa? DIII?

NAIA

So when will they figure out if OU gets wrestling?

I've gotten nothing in real answers from the AD. OU is getting/gotten a new president (official instalation ceremony will be at homecoming in Oct.) so I don't know if that's having anything to do with the AD being so tandoffish.

I hope to write back to the AD and the new President and see what I get back. I doubt my $100/year check will be able to be leveraged