Save Duquesne Wrestling – Final Home Match

From: Duquesne University Wrestling Coaching Staff
Re: Save Duquesne Wrestling – Final Home Match
Date: Friday, February 12, 2010

As many of you know, the Duquesne University Athletic Administration announced on Monday January 25, 2010, that it plans to discontinue Duquesne’s Division I Intercollegiate Wrestling Program immediately following the 2010 NCAA Championships.  In line with the NWCA's "Call to Action", the Duquesne Wrestling Team asks you to rally to help prevent the loss of another Division I Wrestling Program, especially one that has been an integral part of the local wrestling community.

On Friday, February 12 at 8:00 P.M. the Duquesne Dukes will take on Franklin & Marshall Diplomats.  The match will be held in the A.J. Palumbo Center, located on the campus of Duquesne University.  This match has special significance in that it may be the final home wrestling match in Duquesne history.  The Duquesne Team and coaching staff would like to invite all WPIAL coaches, wrestlers, and members of the wrestling community to
attend the match in an order to raise support and awareness for the team and the sport of wrestling.  Your attendance will show what wrestling means to this area, and that eliminating the program is not in the best interest of the region or the university

Duquesne University has a rich wrestling tradition.  Since the program was resurrected 16 years ago, Duquesne has qualified 37 wrestlers to the NCAA Division I Championships.  Under Coach John Hartupee, wrestlers from 18 different WPIAL schools have advanced to the NCAA Championships. Besides these 18 wrestlers, numerous other WPIAL schools have been represented on the Duquesne roster.

Besides success on the mat, the Duquesne University Wrestling Program has played a major role in replenishing the teaching and coaching pool in western Pennsylvania. At this time, over 20 active teachers and/or wrestling coaches at the youth and scholastic levels are Duquesne Wrestling Alumni. Included in this group is Marc Allemang, whose 42 wins in 2005 were more than any other Division I wrestler.

Duquesne Wrestlers have also experienced success in the classroom.  The wrestling program has produced numerous Academic All-American and ESPN District II All Academic selections.  Besides individual accolades, our athletes and staff also have taken great pride in having high team academic standards. These standards are displayed best in the fact that Duquesne has placed in the "Top 10" of the NWCA Team Academic Rankings eight of the past eleven years.

Once again, we ask that you please attend the Duquesne vs. Franklin Marshall Wrestling match on Friday, February 12 at 8:00 PM.  Besides experiencing the excitement of a Division I wrestling match, you will also be apart of showing your support for the sport of wrestling.  Keeping with tradition, there is no cost to attend a Duquesne Wrestling match.  We look forward to seeing you and your team at the Palumbo Center on Friday.

Thank you,



Duquesne University Coaching Staff