Northern Oklahoma College will be bringing wrestling back to NOC Tonkawa in Fall 2024.
The NOC Board of Regents approved a proposal presented by Athletic Director Alan Foster on Wednesday that re-establishes the men’s program and establishes a women’s wrestling program for NOC Tonkawa.
Regents approved the measure with the stipulation that all funding to start the program, and to build a practice facility must come from donations.
“On behalf of the Northern Oklahoma College Board of Regents, we are excited to approve the addition of an NJCAA Men’s and Women’s Wrestling program at NOC Tonkawa beginning fall 2024,” stated Regent Jodi Cline. “Coming from the wrestling community, this will be an awesome opportunity for young student athletes from our service areas, especially in northern, north central and northwestern Oklahoma to start their collegiate career right here at NOC. We look forward to partnering with our community and regional affiliated wrestling groups to ensure that our programs will be a success.”
“We are excited to re-establish the wrestling program at NOC,” said Foster. “Northern wrestling has had a great tradition of quality and success. We are thankful for the regents’ support as well as other community members in making this a reality.”
NOC President Clark Harris shared, ‘This is great that we are bringing wrestling back to Northern Oklahoma College. Re-establishing wrestling at Northern Oklahoma College will benefit the college, the area communities and wrestling in the region. The north central region of Oklahoma is wrestling country and NOC should be a leader in this sport. We feel that wrestling will bring a new energy back to campus.”
“We are very happy that Todd Glasgow, NOC graduate and former Maverick wrestler worked with the NOC administration to develop a plan to bring wrestling back to NOC”, said Harris. “Todd’s enthusiasm was contagious as he rallied the wrestling community far and wide to show their support. He led a group of both NOC employees and community members to make this happen.”
“I am super excited about the approval by the regents to re-start the wrestling program,” Glasgow said. “This program will greatly benefit NOC as well as students looking to further their education while competing at the college level. Go Mavs!”
The logistics on facilities are yet to be finalized but matches will be held in the Foster-Piper Fieldhouse.
As external funding becomes available, a quality wrestling practice facility will be created in the current swimming pool building that is attached to the Foster-Piper Fieldhouse. The new practice facility will include mat space, locker rooms for both men’s and women’s wrestling, and coaches’ offices. This will bring new life to the swimming pool area that has not been used for several years.
Fund raising for program startup costs, as well as funding for conversion of the new wrestling practice facility will begin immediately. The first check came in the day that wrestling was approved.
In a presentation to the regents, Foster said the reasons for re-establishment of the program included strong community and regional support, increase activities for NOC students, faculty, and the surrounding communities, increase enrollment and revenue for the college, an increase in population in residence halls, and a boost in class enrollment on campus.
NOC has a rich and storied wrestling history. The Mavericks finished in the top 20 six times in their 24-year history including 3rd in the nation in 1972 and 4th in 1981. NOC has five national champions in the program’s history and 24 placers in national tournaments.
Currently, 11 community college in Oklahoma and Kansas participate in college wrestling including NEO and Carl Albert in Oklahoma.
Northern Oklahoma College, the state’s first public two-year community college, is a multi-campus, land-grant institution that provides high quality, accessible, and affordable educational opportunities and services.
NOC serves nearly 4,000 students through the home campus in Tonkawa, branch in Enid, and NOC/OSU Gateway Program in Stillwater. Of these students about 80% receive financial aid and/or scholarships. 75% of NOC students complete their degree with zero debt.
The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and offers associate degrees in three general areas: Arts, Science and Applied Science; the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs; and the Accreditation Commission for Education and Nursing.
For more information about Northern Oklahoma College please call (580) 628-6208 or visit the NOC website at www.noc.edu.
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