College Discontinues Wrestling Program
Jessica Cross, Kristen Buckles, Ahmad Jenkins & Audra Tirgrath
Issue date: 4/24/09 Section: Sports
Elia has been coaching at C-N for 31 years. Under Coach Elia, 70 C-N wrestlers have earned All-American honors and 22 have won National Championships. Coach Elia also ranks ninth among all NCAA wrestling coaches for career wins with 468 wins.
Coach Elia says he is still puzzled about the situation.
"Deep down inside I feel a bit angry and hurt; I love this place. I have been coaching a lot of great athletes and now my journey has come to an end," said Coach Elia.
In 1978, Ron Case became the head football coach and athletic director at C-N. As athletic director, he helped start the wrestling program and brought in Coach Elia from Maryville College to be the financial aid officer and wrestling coach.
"He started the wrestling program with very little and during the past 31 years has built one of the best small college programs in the nation, as the walls of Butler-Blanc gym bearing the names of all the All-American wrestlers will attest. He has used his own time and money to make many improvements, with the assistance of his wrestlers, to the facility. Through his expertise in the area of financial aid, he has made significant contributions to Carson-Newman by assisting student athletes and other students, who otherwise could not attend, with their financial needs," said Case, in a letter to Dr. Randall O'Brien and the C-N administration.
Elia's last day at Carson-Newman will be July 2.
"It's going to be hard, but I'm going to do my best to get each of these boys into other schools so that they can continue to compete and enjoy playing the sport that they love. Some are not sure if they even want to wrestle anymore," said Coach Elia.
Springing into Action
Justin Ransom, a graduate assistant of Coach Don Elia's and a former wrestler and recent graduate of C-N, said that as soon as he heard that he would no longer be helping with wrestling practices due to the dismissal, he immediately took action, writing a letter to the C-N administration and working together with others to try to raise money for their lost program.
Coach Elia says he is still puzzled about the situation.
"Deep down inside I feel a bit angry and hurt; I love this place. I have been coaching a lot of great athletes and now my journey has come to an end," said Coach Elia.
In 1978, Ron Case became the head football coach and athletic director at C-N. As athletic director, he helped start the wrestling program and brought in Coach Elia from Maryville College to be the financial aid officer and wrestling coach.
"He started the wrestling program with very little and during the past 31 years has built one of the best small college programs in the nation, as the walls of Butler-Blanc gym bearing the names of all the All-American wrestlers will attest. He has used his own time and money to make many improvements, with the assistance of his wrestlers, to the facility. Through his expertise in the area of financial aid, he has made significant contributions to Carson-Newman by assisting student athletes and other students, who otherwise could not attend, with their financial needs," said Case, in a letter to Dr. Randall O'Brien and the C-N administration.
Elia's last day at Carson-Newman will be July 2.
"It's going to be hard, but I'm going to do my best to get each of these boys into other schools so that they can continue to compete and enjoy playing the sport that they love. Some are not sure if they even want to wrestle anymore," said Coach Elia.
Springing into Action
Justin Ransom, a graduate assistant of Coach Don Elia's and a former wrestler and recent graduate of C-N, said that as soon as he heard that he would no longer be helping with wrestling practices due to the dismissal, he immediately took action, writing a letter to the C-N administration and working together with others to try to raise money for their lost program.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 6
Paul Tucker
posted 4/28/09 @ 9:06 PM EST
Thank you, that is an excellent article. You guys really did a wonderful job. If anyone wants to help the team and make a pledge? Email your pledge to Paul@TuckerEmail. (Continued…)
Dewey Tucker
posted 4/29/09 @ 8:38 AM EST
What's wrong with the C-N President & Athletic Director? Rather than letting everyone know of C-N's finanical problems, and requesting help to keep its program in tack, they just decide what is best for you the C-N students and alumni, and ram it down your throat. (Continued…)
Gary Abbott
posted 4/29/09 @ 11:14 AM EST
Please support those who are trying to reinstate the wrestling team. The university will listen if people are willing to speak up.
CHRIS VANDERGRIFF
posted 4/29/09 @ 5:40 PM EST
GREAT ARTICLE. I CAN'T IMAGINE CARSON-NEWMAN COLLEGE WITHOUT WRESTLING. IT IS A GREAT PROGRAM AND IT WILL BE SURELY MISSED.
CHRIS VANDERGRIFF
FORMER WRESTLING COACH AT HALLS
lazaro Reinoso
posted 6/10/09 @ 3:20 PM EST
Lazaro Reinoso graduated from Carson-Newman in 2000. He was 4 time All-American wrestler and national Champion in the NCAA Wrestling National Tournament. (Continued…)
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