New college programs succeed in first years, with goals for the future

ge wrestling program is not the easiest task in the world. The job becomes a little harder when the college is in the South, where interest in the sport isn’t as strong as in other places in the country.

Just ask Franky James or Ben Stehura about their experiences.

Both coaches just finished their third season in new programs; James at Campbellsville University in Campbellsville, Ky., and Stehura at Limestone College in Gaffney, S.C.

The most challenging task for each coach was to bring interest of the sport to their region. For Stehura, only three other colleges existed that offered wrestling in South Carolina before his: a junior college, a NCAA Division I and Division II school.

“The first challenge was to get people to know we have a team and get the word out. The second was we had to convince someone to take a gamble. We had no tradition and people didn’t know what the program was going to be like,” Stehura said.

James’ challenge was the culture in Kentucky.

“We had to get information about the program out there and let people know it wasn’t the WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment),” James said. “The interest in the program is coming along and we have had successes in the state and the nation.”

Both coaches hit the road running when it came to recruiting, by traveling the country to find interest in their program. Both called coaches from high schools and colleges to pass along the information. Both brought in recruits that helped get the program started.

“We had 30 wrestlers in the first year,” said James. “With the right people and making the right decisions, we brought in a good first year.”

Stehura has brought in 40 to 60 wrestlers each season, since its inaugural year.

One of the challenges Stehura faced was getting potential wrestlers to the campus to visit when there was no team to meet and no one to show the prospects what the campus was like.

He was fortunate to have two students on campus interested in the program. Between the two, they hosted around 80 students in a year. The soccer and lacrosse teams at Limestone also hosted potential students to give them a view of the campus life.

Although neither school is considered a premier wrestling school, they each have had their own accomplishments and goals they are looking to achieve.

The highlights from Campbellsville include one national champion, nine All-American awards, 30 National Tournament qualifiers and they are ranked second nationally in team grade-point averages.

Campbellsville has jumped up in the national rankings for NAIA schools over its three-year tenure. The first year they were ranked 21st, the second, 14th and this past year, they made it into the top 10 and were ranked seventh.

“We want to improve every year and be the best. We want to win and do the right things to win,” James said.

Limestone has had one All-American in their freshman year, heavyweight John Ricard. Ricard finished the year by placing seventh in the NCAA Division II Tournament. In its second year, Limestone had two more wrestlers qualify for the NCAA Tournament.

“In the next five years, we would like to be in the top 15 in the country and be in the top three at the National Duals. Personally, I would also like to have a national champion,” Stehura said.

“The challenge was doing something from nothing,” he said. “It is exciting to say after a program has gone for awhile, to see it stay, 20, 40 years down the road.”

Both coaches agree starting programs in the South have been worthwhile.

“Not many schools wrestle in the South. If you have more competitive southern wrestling, you will have a more competitive national level and more people competing,” James said.

“It is a great sport and individuals and teams can get national recognition, no matter the size of the school,” Stehura said. “Wrestlers are good citizens and add li

ge wrestling program is not the easiest task in the world. The job becomes a little harder when the college is in the South, where interest in the sport isn’t as strong as in other places in the country.

Just ask Franky James or Ben Stehura about their experiences.

Both coaches just finished their third season in new programs; James at Campbellsville University in Campbellsville, Ky., and Stehura at Limestone College in Gaffney, S.C.

The most challenging task for each coach was to bring interest of the sport to their region. For Stehura, only three other colleges existed that offered wrestling in South Carolina before his: a junior college, a NCAA Division I and Division II school.

“The first challenge was to get people to know we have a team and get the word out. The second was we had to convince someone to take a gamble. We had no tradition and people didn’t know what the program was going to be like,” Stehura said.

James’ challenge was the culture in Kentucky.

“We had to get information about the program out there and let people know it wasn’t the WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment),” James said. “The interest in the program is coming along and we have had successes in the state and the nation.”

Both coaches hit the road running when it came to recruiting, by traveling the country to find interest in their program. Both called coaches from high schools and colleges to pass along the information. Both brought in recruits that helped get the program started.

“We had 30 wrestlers in the first year,” said James. “With the right people and making the right decisions, we brought in a good first year.”

Stehura has brought in 40 to 60 wrestlers each season, since its inaugural year.

One of the challenges Stehura faced was getting potential wrestlers to the campus to visit when there was no team to meet and no one to show the prospects what the campus was like.

He was fortunate to have two students on campus interested in the program. Between the two, they hosted around 80 students in a year. The soccer and lacrosse teams at Limestone also hosted potential students to give them a view of the campus life.

Although neither school is considered a premier wrestling school, they each have had their own accomplishments and goals they are looking to achieve.

The highlights from Campbellsville include one national champion, nine All-American awards, 30 National Tournament qualifiers and they are ranked second nationally in team grade-point averages.

Campbellsville has jumped up in the national rankings for NAIA schools over its three-year tenure. The first year they were ranked 21st, the second, 14th and this past year, they made it into the top 10 and were ranked seventh.

“We want to improve every year and be the best. We want to win and do the right things to win,” James said.

Limestone has had one All-American in their freshman year, heavyweight John Ricard. Ricard finished the year by placing seventh in the NCAA Division II Tournament. In its second year, Limestone had two more wrestlers qualify for the NCAA Tournament.

“In the next five years, we would like to be in the top 15 in the country and be in the top three at the National Duals. Personally, I would also like to have a national champion,” Stehura said.

“The challenge was doing something from nothing,” he said. “It is exciting to say after a program has gone for awhile, to see it stay, 20, 40 years down the road.”

Both coaches agree starting programs in the South have been worthwhile.

“Not many schools wrestle in the South. If you have more competitive southern wrestling, you will have a more competitive national level and more people competing,” James said.

“It is a great sport and individuals and teams can get national recognition, no matter the size of the school,” Stehura said. “Wrestlers are good citizens and add li