Opinion

Editorial

Welcome back wrestlers

Many things come and go. For NIACC, the wrestling program went away in 1976 and has come back for the first time this season. We want to congratulate the returning program and wish them the best of luck with the season. In addition, we would also like to commend the administration for taking the steps necessary to bring the program back to NIACC.

Higher enrollment is one major factor that goes with the addition of any new team. The wrestling team roster currently includes 26 individuals. However, these numbers do not include the managers, friends and others who may have followed the wrestlers to NIACC.

Higher enrollments naturally mean more money for the college. These student athletes pay the cost of tuition and some even live in the dorms or the apartments.

The wrestling comeback benefits the program, too, because it has a chance to grow and encourage more athletes to attend NIACC. Those athletes in the North Iowa area will especially benefit from the wrestling comeback because they may have an easier choice when it comes to attending college while still continuing to wrestle.

Because of the home meets NIACC will be hosting, more fans will walk through the doors of the gymnasium. NIACC gains more exposure to visitors and potential students, even if they aren’t wrestlers.

NIACC’s decision to bring the wrestling program back benefits the current students as well. Not only do students have the chance to attend more sporting events, they also get the opportunity to meet new faces and learn more about the program and what it has to offer.

With the leadership of Coach Fergola and the rest of the wrestling team staff, academics are an important issue to address. Some students think they may be able to perform poorly in the classroom while still being able to play something they love. This isn’t the case with Fergola or other coaches here at NIACC. Recently, Fergola’s comments in nearly all publications refer to the importance of academics and then wrestling, not the other way around.

“We’re back,” they say. Let’s hope the program is back for good.

Unsigned editorials represent the majority opinion of the editorial board.