Oregon should keep wrestling

Like many in the wrestling community, I was stunned to find that the University of Oregon was dropping their wrestling program.

Oregon has been a bastion for college wrestling in the Pacific Northwest for the past 40 years. It has produced numerous All-Americans and Olympians, including former University High’s Kevin Roberts.

What a tragedy it would be for them to follow through with this plan to drop the sport.

High school wrestling is one of the most popular participation sports in the region and we have only two Division I programs left in the Pacific Northwest to send our students.

Wrestling is a great activity for young kids. It teaches work ethic and responsibility. Wrestling reaches out to the underprivileged youth and gives them a purpose and a future.

Oregon has been a great source of coaches for the Spokane area for years. Shadle’s Dusty Roberts and Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls’) Troy Hughes are local examples of this. If you love the sport of wrestling, please join me and sending the message to the new athletic director at UO, Pat Kilkenny, that he is making a mistake in eliminating this oldest and greatest sport from his school. If we have the will, we can save this program with our pressure.

Don Owen

Spokane Valley