Morgan State College will turn out to be the one traditionally Black school or college (HBCU) to supply Division I wrestling, all because of the laborious work of Jahi Jones and legendary pro-wrestler Kenny Monday.
Set to launch in 2024, Jones, 25, will function the manager director of the forthcoming program. Throughout an interview with The Related Press, the previous wrestler and NCAA competitor stated he was impressed to carry the game to campus after watching the horrific police brutality demise of George Floyd. He wished to discover a strategy to empower Black males and produce illustration to the ring. In response to AP Information, in 2021, “Black males made up half the ten Division I nationwide champions however fewer than 10 p.c of Division I wrestlers.”
“I’d begin occupied with ways in which I may get entangled to assist within the wrestling group and simply make issues extra honest and equitable,” Jones stated. “It was simply seeing the dearth of range, but additionally seeing that … we excel inside the game, however (we’re) simply not having those self same alternatives to develop.”
In 1997, Morgan State was compelled to chop the game from its checklist of athletic choices, however now this system is coming again greater and higher than ever.
Iconic Black pro-wrestler Kenny Monday would be the head wrestling coach on the HBCU.
Kenny Monday, who’s the primary Black wrestler to win an Olympic gold medal, will step in to guide Morgan State’s wrestling group as head coach. The retired wrestling vet made historical past within the subject all through his lengthy profession. He’s finest identified for his achievements in freestyle wrestling, the place he gained quite a few nationwide and worldwide titles.
Monday attended Oklahoma State College and was a standout fighter on the college’s wrestling group. He gained the NCAA Championship in 1984 and was a three-time All-American throughout his school profession.
After college, Monday went on to compete in worldwide competitions, representing america on the Olympics and world championships. He gained a gold medal on the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, and a silver medal on the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. He additionally gained gold medals on the 1991 and 1995 world championships.
Following his aggressive wrestling profession, Monday turned a coach and mentor to younger wrestlers. He has additionally labored as a commentator for wrestling occasions on tv. He was inducted into the Nationwide Wrestling Corridor of Fame in 2001.
Along with wrestling, the Baltimore-based college will even add ladies’s acrobatics and tumbling. Officers on the HBCU say that including the brand new sport fills a requirement for Black dad and mom trying to decide on “non-traditional” sporting choices for his or her youngsters.
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Morgan State College To Grow to be First HBCU To Supply Division 1 Wrestling
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