By Ben Elder Daily O’Collegian
Stillwater, OK (U-WIRE) — While Oklahoma State University’s wrestling squad sits atop the collegiate rankings, the sport’s new found vitality has produced new cries for its installment.
States across the nation hold few stakes in the sport.
In Mississippi, there are only three organized wrestling clubs.
Bob Kranz, USA Wrestling state chairperson, said he hopes he can reconcile the growing sport in the state.
“We have the buzz here, and we have enough congeal to make it a force, “Kranz said.
Since the recent success of OSU’s wrestling squad, Kranz is looking for the aid of Cowboy assistant coach Eric Guerrero as an ambassador to the sport in the state of Mississippi.
“We are going to make it happen. The more I can get people from Oklahoma State and other places, the more I can make people move, “Kranz said.
Guerrero an Olympian and three-time national champion for the Pokes, said he believes this is more than a promotion – but a loyalty to the sport of wrestling.
“First and foremost, there is greater commitment to the sport of wrestling and that’s definitely our responsibility, “Guerrero said. “And myself as a coach, it’s my responsibility to ensure the longevity of the sport. This is part of the way of giving back.”
Kranz’s achievements in the promotion of the sport, has sparked success across the South.
Kranz was part of starting a USA Wrestling club in Key West, Fla., that saw immediate success after its installment. Starting wrestling clubs allows wrestlers to start competing at a young age, a progression that would hopefully allow the wrestlers to compete at an organized middle school and high school level.
The process is difficult, and involves compliance – especially at the public school level. But Olympians like Guerrero, Kranz said, are a catalyst to the process.
“There are resources out there that we can tap into that can make wrestling happen here (Gulfport, Miss.), Kranz said. “The more Olympians, the more people that can stand up there and speak about the dedication of wrestling, these are the guys who are going to make it happen.”
Besides the loyalty to the sport of wrestling, Kranz and Guerrero believe the sport coincides with human values.
“I think it’s such a great sport, with a lot of lessons that parallel with life – wrestling teaches commitment and perseverance, “Guerrero said. “I think athletes who come out of the sport of wrestling are better equipped to succeed in life.”
Since wrestling is a one-on-one activity, it teaches individuals to trust in themselves.
“Wrestling relates to life so well because it’s an individual sport, “said OSU assistant coach Mark Branch. “I think are very few sports out there are that way, the sole responsibility falls on your shoulders – and that’s life .”
With Guerrero’s Olympian status and dedication to the sport in hand, Kranz’s hopes for USA Wrestling club in the Gulfport, Miss., area could soon become a reality.
“It’s momentum, it’s buzz, it’s what it takes to make this happen, “Kranz said.
(C) 2004 Daily O’Collegian via U-WIRE
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