Building a successful program in either sports or academics requires the proper tools.
The wrestling program wants to give the best to their student-athletes so that they
can train and educate them to their full potential. With the support of private donations
and the Athletics department, Coach Branch and Wyoming wrestling will be able to accomplish
these goals through the renovation of the wrestling facilities.
“Our fans and our donors are excited about what they’re seeing, they’re excited about what this is providing for our program, and they’re onboard,” says Mark Branch, UW wrestling coach. “When kids come here and see it, I’m going to say, ‘You have to understand what this means. This doesn’t just mean you’re going to have nice facilities, this shows what kind of support this program has, and a lot of people made this happen.’”
Donors who have contributed to the wrestling room renovation know how important it is for students to be given every opportunity to meet their full potential. By supporting the wrestling room renovation and the program, they are giving students the ability to become capable leaders in their careers and in life.
Renovations included an additional 800 square feet of wrestling space in the current wrestling room, a private coaches’ locker/meeting room, a team lounge, an academic and study area, a film room, a separate cardio and weight room, a full kitchen for pre-dual team meals, and additional improvements to the existing locker room and practice area.
The renovated area allows wrestlers to train smarter and better. It gives them more space and reduces the chance of injury while practicing on the mat. In addition, it gives the wrestling program a place that allows them to connect with one another and alumni.
One of the biggest challenges faced by Coach Branch and the wrestling program was figuring out how to build
good team chemistry and maintain a positive attitude. This task has been accomplished by having a dedicated space where the wrestlers can hang out as a team.
The majority of the renovations were completed the second week of January, and the team didn’t waste time utilizing the new space. Over the winter break, the wrestlers had several meals together, and without the worry of classes and studies, they were able to relax and bond over a video game soccer tournament. The space is large enough for all 27 wrestlers to hang out in, and it’s a place they want to be. The updated wrestling facility gives the student-athletes the advantage of building better team bonds, which leads to more positive attitudes and excitement about coming to practice.
“The little enhancements we have make our place a better training environment, and our kids are going to work harder and they’re going to wrestle harder as a team because they’re close,” explains Branch. “That makes them a tighter knit team, which is going to bring out the best in them, and they’re going to go out there and compete hard for each other.”
Photos:
Renovated wrestling room entrance, practice room with more space and new mats, updated
gym.
