Alvernia Announces Addition Of Wrestling For 2019-20

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Alvernia University Athletic Director Bill Stiles announced Wednesday the addition of Wrestling as the Pennsylvania university’s 28th varsity sport.

The national search for a head coach will begin immediately, and the Golden Wolves start competing in the winter of 2019.

“We are in the heart of a wrestling hotbed with over 36,000 boys participating in high school wrestling within our primary recruiting market, encompassing almost 1500 high school programs – including all 15 schools in Berks County,” said Stiles.  “The ability for us to continue strategic growth and provide additional opportunities to talented student-athletes in our region remains paramount, and wrestling provides a wonderful opportunity for us to do that.”

Alvernia will be the sixth member of the Middle Atlantic Conference to sponsor varsity wrestling.  Messiah College earned the 2018 MAC Championship followed by Delaware Valley, Wilkes, Lycoming, and King’s.

Alvernia will practice and compete in the Physical Education Center, home to Alvernia’s volleyball and basketball teams.

Courtesy of Auwolves.com

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DAMION HAHN SELECTED AS NEW HEAD WRESTLING COACH AT SOUTH DAKOTA STATE

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Another Division I head coaching position has been filled. South Dakota State has tapped Damion Hahn as its new head coach.

Hahn leaves the Cornell Big Red program after over a decade in Ithaca, NY. Hahn had been an assistant coach since 2006 and the associate head coach since the 2013-14 season, working primarily with Cornell’s middle and upper weights.

Forty-eight CU wrestlers reached All-American status under Hahn’s tutelage. Furthermore, Cornell wrestlers reached the NCAA podium 20 times at 174, 184, and 197 pounds during his tenure. Three Big Red upper weights have been crowned NCAA champ with Hahn’s help: Steve Bosak, Cam Simaz, and most recently Gabe Dean in 2015 and 2016.

While Hahn has been on the staff, Cornell as a team has won every single Ivy League championship and every EIWA championship except one when the Big Red finished as runners-up this past season.

At South Dakota State, Hahn’s job will be to keep the momentum going that former head coach Chris Bono had built in Brookings. Bono left the Jackrabbits program less than a month ago for the University of Wisconsin, taking over the reins from Barry Davis, who retired after 15 years at the helm.

South Dakota State is coming off its best season in program history. Seth Gross won the 133-pound NCAA championship and the team finished in 12th place overall.

Before establishing himself as a DI coach, Hahn was a four-time All-American and two-time national champion at the University of Minnesota. Hahn was also a three-time New Jersey state champ wrestling out of Lakewood High School.

Courtesty of Flo Wrestling

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JUDGE DROPS LAWSUIT AGAINST UIL: TRANSGENDER WRESTLER, MACK BEGG, STILL REQUIRED TO WRESTLE GIRLS

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After two challenges, the UIL’s current steroid policy remained intact Tuesday.

The policy came into public light in relation to the case of Mack Beggs, the Euless Trinity transgender wrestler who went on to win a girls wrestling state championship while taking testosterone under a “safe harbor” provision in the education code.

On Tuesday, a Travis County judge dismissed a lawsuit asking the UIL to not allow Beggs to compete. Around the same time, the Senate Education Committee left pending a bill that would have changed the organization’s safe harbor provision.

The lawsuit, originally filed just before the wrestling regional championships in February, was brought by Coppell lawyer Jim Baudhuin and alleged the risk of injury to other wrestlers and an

unfair advantage to Beggs. Baudhuin amended the lawsuit several times leading up to the hearing and argued that the UIL was not following its rules related to steroid use.

The UIL filed for a “Plea of Jurisdiction,” which asked for the case to be dismissed for several reasons before it went on to a trial, leading to the hearing Tuesday.

In her explanation for dismissing the claims, the judge said Baudhuin’s case was more of a question of what the UIL did with its discretionary powers than a question of the UIL not following the law or its constitution.

Both UIL Deputy Director Jamey Harrison and the Beggs camp were pleased with the result.

“It was kind of expected,” said Damon McNew, Beggs’ stepfather. “It’s what the UIL stated a little bit after the competition.”

McNew said there was “absolutely” relief the lawsuit is over.

Baudhuin also said the ruling “wasn’t unexpected.”

“This was a very difficult, frustrating case,” Baudhuin said.

Baudhuin attempted, in part, to argue that the UIL had failed to prove Beggs fell under the “safe harbor” provision outlined in the state’s education code. The UIL cited FERPA privacy law.

Baudhuin subpoenaed Harrison to testify on UIL rules but the judge cut off the testimony, saying this hearing was not the time to fish for information.

Baudhuin said he’d talk with an appellate lawyer and discuss if they’ll choose to appeal.

“As I’m standing here 15 minutes after the hearing is done, I don’t think we’re going to pursue it any further,” Baudhuin said.

Part of the UIL’s argument was the law could change in the coming months. That chance got smaller Tuesday as Senate Bill 2095 was left pending.

Leo Barnes, the UIL’s directory of policy and compliance, told the committee that as of now, the organization can only conduct randomized drug testing, and that program is not currently funded.

It also would require any person seeking protection under the safe harbor provision to release medical records to the UIL and allow communication between the organization and the student’s healthcare professionals.

The UIL could also declare the student ineligible despite the safe harbor provision if it determines the safety of other students or fairness of competition would be affected by the student’s steroid use.

With the bill pending, it could be voted out of committee, but the chances of that are small. Thus, the UIL’s current steroid policy remains.

At least until June, when the UIL legislative council meets.

Courtesy of Sports Day

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