Entrepreneur brings college wrestling to the masses
By Gary Mihoces, USA TODAY
The 84-year-old founder of a firm that will webcast college wrestling this weekend doesn’t even have a laptop computer. Bob Feldmeier’s main business is manufacturing equipment for the dairy industry.
“I’m computer illiterate, but I have a lot of engineers working for me that know how to do the laptops and all the computer work, “says Feldmeier, an amateur wrestling fan who sees the Internet as a way to get the sport to others like him.
Live Sports Video will show Sunday’s semifinals and finals of the National Duals. The 60-team event at the University of Northern Iowa matches teams from all college levels in dual meets.
In 1952, Feldmeier, a former Princeton wrestler, founded Feldmeier Equipment Corp., a Syracuse, N.Y., firm with about 370 employees. He holds a patent on his “triple tube heat exchanger, “used in pasteurization.
In the late 1990s, he began donating money to Syracuse University to support efforts to webcast sports. Out of that came his inspiration for his own firm, which he began rolling out in 2003. Live Sports Video is housed at Feldmeier Equipment headquarters.
“There’s awful lot of people that have been exposed to amateur wrestling in the United States, “he says. “I’m hoping we’ll bring them the feed.”
Live Sports Video also has about 250 wrestling events archived for viewing. It also does judo and lacrosse. “We’re expanding … I’m pretty sure this is going to go, “says Feldmeier.
For Sunday’s webcasts there is a charge of $5.95 for the semifinals and $9.95 for the finals. The cost for both is $12.95. Live Sports Video says it hopes for about 1,000 customers.
Feldmeier was a Marine during World War II. His firm says it plans a free webcast of wrestling’s All-Academy Tournament on Feb. 4 from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, N.Y., in hopes military personnel around the world can watch.
Wrestling Gear
I would be interested in wathing keep me posted