Doane University in Nebraska is set to introduce Greco-Roman wrestling as a new sport starting next fall. This form of wrestling, the oldest in Olympic history, involves not grabbing opponents’ legs. Dana Vote, head wrestling coach, states that Doane is the first NAIA school to offer this sport and will treat it like a varsity sport with a full-time coach, recruitment, and travel budget. Doane aims to become a pipeline for Team USA and international competitions rather than focusing on conference or national championships. The decision to add Greco-Roman wrestling was inspired by Tyson Beauperthuy’s success in the 87kg division at the Pan-American Games in June, where he took second place. Doane has been offering women’s wrestling for three years now, showing a commitment to expanding wrestling opportunities for athletes. The university is in the process of hiring a coach for the Greco-Roman team and finalizing the roster in the coming weeks. This move is seen as a way to strengthen the presence of Greco-Roman wrestling in the United States and help athletes pursue opportunities on world and Olympic teams.
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