Let's Save Northern Michigan Greco-Roman Wrestling!

 

The situation at Northern Michigan is the most unique situation we have in the world of collegiate wrestling.  The consistently top 10 NCAA Division II wrestling program was discontinued in 1988. Despite producing NCAA D2 qualifiers year in & year out, often crowning All-Americans, athletic director Rick Comley had his sights set on making Northern Michigan a top hockey school.  $$, space & resources that were once used for the NCAA D2 wrestling team, were now given to hockey. 

It's been 38 years, I think we can make an assessment. Rick Comley was also the head Men's Hockey coach. 

Was cutting NCAA D2 wrestling worth it?  Did Rick Comley achieve what he set out to achieve? 

Well, you tell me. 

Between the 1988-1989 season & the 2001-2002 season (before Comley stepped down as Head Coach) the Wildcats went 272-281.  That's a slightly below .500 record. 

They won the NCAA National title in 1991, making the quarterfinals in both 1992 & 1993. Last even making the NCAA tournament in 1999.  They won a conference title in 1991, finishing 2nd in 1989 & 1992.  Finished 3rd in 2000 & 2002. 

During Comley's time as head coach, the Men's Hockey team had losing record seasons in 1994, 1995, 1996 & 1997.  In 1996, Northern Michigan went an embarrassing 7-30 on the ice. 

Since Comley's departure as Head Coach, the Wildcats have finished 2nd in the conference twice & 3rd once.  It's been nearly 28 years since Northern Michigan has made the NCAA tournament in hockey. 

So if you're asking me, I'll give Comley credit for winning the national title in 1991 & having good runs in 1992 and 1993.  But overall?  NCAA D2 wrestling was dropped for nothing. 


And now Comley wants to discontinue the Greco-Roman program.  A program that has served the United States international teams for the past 27 years. 

Ironic isn't it?  The last really good Northern Michigan Men's Hockey team was in 1999 & that's when the Greco-Roman program began at Northern Michigan.  Maybe it's something personal? Maybe Comley is upset that the sacrifice he made of the NCAA D2 team for the betterment of his hockey program didn't work out the way he intended?  

I don't know. 

I'll tell you what I do know. 

Northern Michigan Greco-Roman has produced a lot of great wrestlers over the years.  Wrestlers that have achieved some very big things in international wrestling.   There are so few places for our Greco-Roman stars to train & Northern Michigan was one of the best.  We can't afford to lose this program. Not if we want to stay relevant & competitive on the Greco-Roman scene. 

Here are a few names & their successes that have come out of Northern Michigan

Andy Bisek

World Bronze 2014
World Bronze 2015
PAN-AMERICAN Gold 2015

Ben Provisor

PAN-AMERICAN Silver 2011
PAN-AMERICAN Gold 2017
PAN-AMERICAN Bronze 2018
PAN-AMERICAN Gold 2021

Chas Betts

2012 Olympian

WWE's Chad Gable 

Ellis Coleman

PAN-AMERICAN Bronze 2010
PAN-AMERICAN Silver 2014
PAN-AMERICAN Silver 2019
PAN-AMERICAN Silver 2025

Spenser Mango

2012 Olympian

2009 PAN-AMERICAN Silver
2014 PAN-AMERICAN Bronze
2015 PAN-AMERICAN Bronze 

Robby Smith

WORLD Bronze 2015

PAN-AMERICAN Bronze 2015
PAN-AMERICAN Silver 2018

Max Nowry

PAN-AMERICAN Gold 2013
PAN-AMERICAN Silver 2018
PAN-AMERICAN Gold 2019
PAN-AMERICAN Gold 2020
PAN-AMERICAN Gold 2026

Sammy Jones

PAN-AMERICAN Bronze 2016
PAN-AMERICAN Gold 2022

Alejandro Sancho

PAN-AMERICAN Silver 2016
PAN-AMERICAN Bronze 2020
PAN-AMERICAN Gold 2024
PAN-AMERICAN Gold 2025


These are just a handful of the superstars that Northern Michigan Greco-Roman has produced over the years.  There have been many! This is something that needs to continue! To Thrive! Comley introduced the NCAA D2 team to the Grim Reaper 38 years ago.  Let's do what we can to tell him we're not interested in the Greco-Roman program going anywhere with the Reaper.