Q:
Given the lack of wrestling programs in the West, what is the future of OSU
wrestling?
Barnes:
The challenge has been our conference and losing that automatic qualifier and
mitigating those issues. We’ve added Arkansas-Little Rock to get back to six
(teams). That was our biggest challenge. The automatic qualifier in wrestling
is a huge piece. We continue to invest in wrestling. Any sport that we sponsor
we want to be excellent at, and watch its development.
Q:
Is getting increasingly difficult to continue a wrestling program?
Barnes:
I don’t think you’re seeing a tremendous drop off from the folks who sponsor
wrestling. For a while, there was a decline. There haven’t been a ton of
programs that have dropped lately. It can still be a vibrant program in the
West. Obviously, the Pac-12 has had its challenges to be candid. We’ve remedied
to that a degree, but we’ve got to do more. We have to align ourselves with
quality institutions to really beef up not only our competition, but our
program itself.
Q: Oregon State president Dr. Edward Ray is
retiring next June. As an athletic director, do you get nervous when you don’t
know who’s next as school president?
Barnes: No, we have a great plan, we’re
executing our plan and I love the direction we’re headed. We’ll miss Ed and
we’ll look forward to breaking in the new president whoever that may be, and
partnering to continue to progress in whatever we’re doing.
*******************
From Taylor Meeks: Coaches' Update -
OREGON STATE WRESTLING NEWS
Monday, August 12, 2019
Online Release
Wrestling Kick-Off Dinner Set for October 5th
Second Annual Fundraiser set for Benton County Fairgrounds
CORVALLIS The
Oregon State wrestling team will celebrate the start of the 2019-20
season on Saturday, October 5th with the Second Annual Fall Kickoff
Dinner at the Benton County Fairgrounds. All alumni, families and fans
are invited to gather for an evening which includes dinner, auctions, a
season recap and upcoming look into the year ahead from the OSU coaching
staff.
Doors
will open at the fairgrounds at 4:30 p.m. signaling the start of the
evening. A reception, silent auction dinner, main auction and dinner
highlight an evening filled with opportunities to socialize with current
student-athletes, connect with alumni and families, and reunite with
former teammates.
Dinner
tickets can be purchased in advance of the event for $30 per person.
Sponsorship tables are available for families or businesses to purchase a
6-8 person table for $500. For more details and to register visit here.
(Tentative) Schedule of Events Fall Kick-Off Dinner
4:30 p.m. - Doors Open/Registration
5:30 p.m. - Silent Auction
6:30 p.m. - Dinner
7:30 p.m. - Live Auction
Follow Us on Social
For
more information on the Oregon State wrestling team, visit
OSUBeavers.com or follow the team's official Twitter account at
Twitter.com/BeaverWrestling, on Facebook at
Facebook.com/BeaverWrestling, or on Instagram at
Instagram.com/BeaverWrestling.
OUR MISSION Oregon State Athletics strives to Build Excellent Authentic Visionary Student-Athletes (Go BEAVS).
