CHICAGO – The University of Chicago Department of Athletics & Recreation is pleased to announce the creation of the University of Chicago Wrestling Fund.
The fund was made possible by a dedicated group of wrestling alumni and friends and will serve as a source of ongoing support for the wrestling program and its priorities.
"We are very grateful for the generosity and the commitment that this endowment fund represents for UChicago wrestling," Head Wrestling Coach Leo Kocher said. "This sends a compelling message – that the experience of earning a University of Chicago college education while pursuing the most challenging of intercollegiate sports has had a transformative effect on their lives and is very worthy of continuing in the future."
The endowment effort was spearheaded by wrestling alumni across several decades, from the 1970s through today, reflecting their appreciation of the impact the UChicago student-athlete experience had on their lives. These alumni wish to thank coach Kocher, former head coach John Schael and the many other former Maroon coaches who inspired the strong culture, sense of lifelong community and competitive success that are the legacy of UChicago wrestling.
The UChicago wrestling team has totaled 32 All-Americans since 1930. Among those All-Americans was two-time NCAA national champion Peter Wang, who claimed the 177-pound title in 1991 and 1992. The Maroons have posted four top-15 team finishes at the NCAA Division III Championships in that time as well. Since the University Athletic Association's inaugural season in 1987-88, UChicago wrestlers have won 17 UAA team championships and 140 UAA individual weight class titles. Ten Maroons have been named UAA Most Outstanding Wrestler.
To contribute to the Wrestling Endowment Fund, visit the athletics giving page and indicate Wrestling Endowment Fund in the comments, or contact Stephen Milani at smilani@uchicago.edu. for more information.
About the Department of Athletics & Recreation at the University of Chicago
UChicago Athletics & Recreation sponsors 20 intercollegiate sports within NCAA Division III (non-scholarship). UChicago competes primarily within the University Athletic Association (UAA), whose membership includes Brandeis University, Carnegie Mellon University, Case Western Reserve University, Emory University, New York University, University of Rochester (N.Y.) and Washington University in St. Louis. The Maroons are associate members of the Midwest Conference (MWC) in football and baseball, and the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) in women's lacrosse.
