Cael Sanderson to appear at Mesa State dinner on Oct. 27 to boost new college program

Gary Abbott USA Wrestling
10/20/2006

2004 Olympic gold medalist and Iowa State head wrestling coach Cael Sanderson will participate in a special dinner in Grand Junction, Colo. on Friday, October 27.

This will be part of a full weekend of wrestling activity that is helping support the new varsity wrestling program at Mesa State College.

The “Cael Sanderson Dinner” will be held at the Two Rivers Convention Center. A cash bar will begin at 6:00 p.m., followed by a dinner at 7:00 p.m. The cost for the dinner is $75 per ticket.

Also during the weekend is the Mesa State College Coaches and Wrestlers Clinic, set for Saturday, October 28 from 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. This clinic is designed for wrestlers and coaches from youth ages through high school. Mesa State coach Chuck Pipher and members of the Mesa State team will serve as clinicians for this clinic. The cost of the clinic is $25 per person.

The Mesa State football game against Chadron State will follow the clinic, with a tailgate party at 11:00 a.m. and the kickoff at 1:00 p.m. Wrestling alumni will be introduced at half-time. Admission to the game is free, with a $1.25 head tax collected.

In addition, a Crab and Steak Feast will be hosted at the Lincoln Park Shelter (near the golf course) starting at 3:00 p.m. An all-you-can-eat feast will be held after the ballgame, with drinks included for $25 per person.

A special discount has been included for two people who chose to attend all of the events, for $225, a savings of $25.

Mesa State has reinstated wrestling, and will compete on the NCAA Div. II level. Pipher, the new head coach, was a college wrestling star at the Univ. of Southern Colorado and also was nationally ranked in freestyle. Pipher has recruited 33 wrestlers to the team for its first season, most who are freshmen and from Colorado.

“So far, we have had great response for the clinic. It will be a good time for my wrestling athletes to meet many of the kids in the community,” said Pipher.

For information, call (970)248-1460 or email cpipher@mesastate.edu

Download a pdf flyer and application form at:
http://www.themat.com/forms/MesaStateFundraiser.pdf

Sign up online at
http://www.mesastate.edu/alum/wrestling.htm