SAVE OUR SPORT
Dear Parent, Coach, Student-Athlete, and Friends of Wrestling,
Diablo Valley College (Concord, California) Athletic Department has recommended discontinuing the wrestling program. At a recent vote, the Football, Baseball, Basketball and every women's coach voted in favor of dropping the wrestling program. They do not believe in giving your son or daughter an opportunity to participate at the collegiate level. They like to call themselves professionals. The women coaches preach equality and opportunity for women and turn around and deny opportunity to your child. They are hypocrites. The only reason for voting in favor of dropping the wrestling program is they will get more money for their program.
This year, Diablo Valley College finished 16th. at the Community College State Championships, higher than the conference champions. Justin Fraser, San Ramon High School, finished 4th, All-American status, and Ben Ward, Armejo High School, finished 6th. and was names All-Conference First Team. Both these young men are freshman. Not only did they medal at the state meet, but they are candidates for Academic All-American awards along with 3 additional team members; Eaton Criado, College Park, Dustin Hoke, Pittsburgh and Paul Phillips, Alhambra. All competed this season and have a 3.0 or above GPA.
The Athletic Director stated that the academic track record of the wrestling team was one of the reasons for dropping the program. I spent 30+ hours tracking all the wrestlers for the past 4 years. Guess what? 85% of the wrestlers have a C average (2.0) or above, 78% have a B- average (2.7) or above and 35% have a B average (3.0) or above. Only 15% have less than a 2.0 GPA and only 3 wrestlers (3%) have an F average. This information transferred to four-year colleges. There may be even more, the college does not keep track. I think "OUR" student-athletes are academically sound. I will be happy to compare the wrestling team to any athletic team at DVC.
The Athletic Director stated that there was a lack of local participation. This year we had 17 local wrestlers and 7 out of the area; in the 1998 season we had 14 in area and 8 out of the area; in 1997 we had 20 local wrestlers and 10 out of the area; in 1996 we had 14 in the area and 5 out of the area. There are only 10 spots on a college team. "OUR" kids have the right to participate like any other kids, just like baseball, football, basketball and female athletes. He said this because he would not count wrestlers from Antioch, Pittsburgh, and Brentwood. The fact is DVC is the only college in the Contra Costa Community College district to offer wrestling and these students are permitted to participate on the team. Yes, they are our kids and the district has an obligation to offer a wrestling program.
Let us look at the basketball team, they have averaged 5 in-service area players over the last 4 years. He seems to recruit from the Oakland area. What about the football team? Last year 31 of the 60 participants are from the service area, which means 48% are from outside the service area. Wow, over 4 years we have averaged 68% in-service area and only 22% out of area participants.
There is NO justification for eliminating your child's opportunity to participate at DVC. This is what you can do to help. You need to write and call members of the Contra Costa Community College Governing Board. We have support from two members, Greg Feere (925) 228-0900, who represents East County and Sheila Grilli (925) 228-422, who represents the Pleasant Hill area. Thank them for their support. The other Board members are Kristine L. Chase (925) 631-4571, who represents the Moraga area, David MacDiarmid (925) 234-2411, who represents the Richmond area, and John Nejedly (923) 648-7808, who represents the Danville area. Please mail the letter to: Kristine Chase, Board President, 500 Court ST., Martinez, CA. 94553. Please send a copy of your letter to me: Brett McNamar, 250 School Street, Pittsburgh, CA. 94565.
We will not allow a few self-serving individuals to kill our sport and prevent your child from participating in wrestling at the college level.
By the way, the Athletic Director states that budget was another reason. He is also the baseball coach, and he just purchased a bat for $169. I thought that would make you mad. Money is no object when it comes to his program. We also just added 2 women's teams.
IF WE DON'T SPEAK UP FOR OUR KIDS, NO ONE WILL! WE NEED TO ATTEND THE NEXT CONTRA COSTA COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICTS BOARD MEETING IN NUMBERS. APRIL 13, 2000 AT 6:00 PM, 500 COURT STREET, MARTINEZ. STAND UP AND BE COUNTED!
Please write letters to the Contra Costa Times
P.O. Box 8099
Walnut Creek, CA 94569
CCT fax; (925) 943-8362
If you have any questions, feel free to call me at (925) 427-2012.
Bret McNamar
Head Coach, Diablo Valley College