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Jackrabbits hope wrestling dual with NDSU offers glimpse of future
CHRIS SOLARI
csolari@argusleader.com
Article Published: 02/9/06, 2:55 am
BROOKINGS - When the South Dakota State wrestling team hosts North Dakota State on Friday night, it should be a sneak peak into a new wrestling conference.
"Should be" because after two years of haggling over details and fine-tuning the format, the nine schools involved in discussions have yet to sign on the dotted line to formalize the league.
"In theory, everyone is pretty much together," Jackrabbit wrestling coach Jason Liles said. "Everyone has their own little issues, which you're always going to have. But we have to get it done."
Friday's match with NDSU, which begins at 7 p.m. in Frost Arena, is a precursor to a league which those involved hope is running by next season.
Then again, that group - SDSU, NDSU, Air Force, Eastern Illinois, Fresno State, Northern Colorado, Northern Iowa, Utah Valley State and Wyoming - also hoped to have the new conference done in time for this season.
Fred Oien, SDSU's athletic director, equated the new wrestling league to the formation of the Great West Football Conference, which he helped create in late 2003.
"We've been dealing with institutions that have been Division I for quite a while and melding in some that are in the transition," Oien said. "We would hope to maybe be in place going into next season, but it's more important to get it right than (just) to get it done."
Each school has recently reviewed the bylaws and responded with minor changes and fixes. Liles said he hopes to get the conference done and named by this spring.
SDSU has wrestled most of the schools this year who are involved in the proposed conference.
Next year is the target for startup. The NCAA granted a waiver to the Division I transition process, so NDSU and SDSU's wrestlers will be eligible for postseason tournament competition in the 2006-07 school year.
The schools' volleyball teams also will be eligible for NCAA playoff competition, while other sports must wait until 2008-09.
"You have to have a conference in place two years before you can apply to have it as a qualifier," Liles said. "Our first two years of qualifying will be in the western regional, more than likely. Hopefully after that, then we'll apply and (the NCAA agrees) that we can qualify from within the conference."
The Bison are 6-3 after defeating Utah Valley State on Tuesday, while the Jacks are 6-9 entering Friday's meeting.
"That being-home factor has really lifted our guys to a different level," Liles said. . . .
Go State! ;D
http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs...29/1002/SPORTS
Jackrabbits hope wrestling dual with NDSU offers glimpse of future
CHRIS SOLARI
csolari@argusleader.com
Article Published: 02/9/06, 2:55 am
BROOKINGS - When the South Dakota State wrestling team hosts North Dakota State on Friday night, it should be a sneak peak into a new wrestling conference.
"Should be" because after two years of haggling over details and fine-tuning the format, the nine schools involved in discussions have yet to sign on the dotted line to formalize the league.
"In theory, everyone is pretty much together," Jackrabbit wrestling coach Jason Liles said. "Everyone has their own little issues, which you're always going to have. But we have to get it done."
Friday's match with NDSU, which begins at 7 p.m. in Frost Arena, is a precursor to a league which those involved hope is running by next season.
Then again, that group - SDSU, NDSU, Air Force, Eastern Illinois, Fresno State, Northern Colorado, Northern Iowa, Utah Valley State and Wyoming - also hoped to have the new conference done in time for this season.
Fred Oien, SDSU's athletic director, equated the new wrestling league to the formation of the Great West Football Conference, which he helped create in late 2003.
"We've been dealing with institutions that have been Division I for quite a while and melding in some that are in the transition," Oien said. "We would hope to maybe be in place going into next season, but it's more important to get it right than (just) to get it done."
Each school has recently reviewed the bylaws and responded with minor changes and fixes. Liles said he hopes to get the conference done and named by this spring.
SDSU has wrestled most of the schools this year who are involved in the proposed conference.
Next year is the target for startup. The NCAA granted a waiver to the Division I transition process, so NDSU and SDSU's wrestlers will be eligible for postseason tournament competition in the 2006-07 school year.
The schools' volleyball teams also will be eligible for NCAA playoff competition, while other sports must wait until 2008-09.
"You have to have a conference in place two years before you can apply to have it as a qualifier," Liles said. "Our first two years of qualifying will be in the western regional, more than likely. Hopefully after that, then we'll apply and (the NCAA agrees) that we can qualify from within the conference."
The Bison are 6-3 after defeating Utah Valley State on Tuesday, while the Jacks are 6-9 entering Friday's meeting.
"That being-home factor has really lifted our guys to a different level," Liles said. . . .
Go State! ;D
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