By Fred Bloom

Titan wrestling Head Coach Dan Hicks is in his eighth season at CSUF. Photo Courtesy Titan Media Relations.

Daily Titan Staff Writer

Entering his eighth year as head coach of the Titan Wrestling Club, Dan Hicks has developed the program into one of the most well-respected wrestling teams in the country.

The Titans were ranked No. 24 nationally for their incoming recruits this year.

Despite the success, Cal State Fullerton could be on the verge of losing wrestling. Budget cuts at CSUF, forced the school to cut sports programs.

Wrestling seemed like a logical choice because it is no longer part of the Big West Conference.

“When I first got here, we hadn’t won a Pac-10 dual in five years,” Hicks said. “We’ve been able to do a lot with a little.”

Before entirely eliminating the wrestling program, CSUF gave Hicks a chance to save the sport. The university would provide limited funding for the program and allow it to continue if Hicks was able to secure the remaining necessary funds.

“This is not something we want to do and are hoping they can raise the funds necessary to continue. We did not drop them without an opportunity to continue if they raised the funds.

Every other institution I know of has simply dropped sports immediately, with no opportunity to continue,” said Brian Quinn, CSUF athletic director. “Coach Hicks is trying hard to put on various events, including camps, to raise the money.”

Wrestling is a dying sport in the West, especially in California. The number of schools with wrestling programs has dropped significantly.

About 20 years ago, there were more than 440 wrestling programs in the nation, including 36 four-year schools and 81 junior colleges in California. Now, wrestling in California is down to 5 four-year schools and 20 junior colleges.

In order to raise awareness for the cause, Hicks developed a Web site, SaveFullertonWrestling.com, and began the process of fundraising for the wrestling team.

The wrestling season unofficially kicks off next month, when the Titan Wrestling Club will be hosting the 2009 National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star Classic at Titan Gym on Nov. 22, at 2 p.m.

Junior wrestler Adin Duenas tries to pin down an opponent. Photo Courtesy Titan Media Relations.

The event will feature the top collegiate wrestlers from around the nation and is often a preview of the NCAA finals.

Bringing the event to CSUF was a big opportunity for Hicks since it rarely occurs in the West Coast.

“The All-Star match has never been in California, and it’s only been in the West four times, so it’s a huge event,” Hicks said. “Our goal is to go from marginal funding, maybe cut, to fully funded, doing it ourselves.”

Titan Wrestling Club will also be hosting a Lasting Impact Luncheon the same day as the All-Star Classic.

Hicks will pitch a five year pledge during a one-hour presentation to potential donors in an effort to secure the viability of the wrestling program at CSUF.

The goal is to raise $1 million so that the wrestling team can safely operate for five years.

Before his time at CSUF, Hicks coached high school wrestling for nine years and at Oregon State University for six years. He is a two-time NCAA champion from his own wrestling days at Oregon State.

Hicks was introduced to wrestling when he was 6 years old by his father, who has coached wrestling for 55 years.

Hicks knows the importance of teamwork in wrestling.

Despite being an individual sport, the team concept that Hicks advocates trickles down to his players.

Wrestlers pitch in at fundraising events, and the experience even helps the team grow closer.

“The way we’ve been building our program is volunteering for as many opportunities as we can,” said CSUF wrestler Herman Kucukkoseoglu. “It’s critical for us that we don’t make mistakes, that we don’t mess around, that we keep a good reputation so that we can be a good example.”

Two Titan wrestlers fight for position during practice. Photo by Chad Uemera.

Although it is difficult to be part of a team that could potentially be eliminated, it adds value to the experience for members of the club. Hicks’ efforts and enthusiasm are appreciated by the wrestlers.

“He wants to have a team that respects teamwork,” said first-year wrestler Taylor Warden. “I don’t know of anybody else that’s doing what he’s doing, and I think it’s really amazing.”

Hicks is using several techniques to bring in money for his team.

He held camps for younger wrestlers over the summer and will be putting on an open tournament in November.

Jill Hicks, Dan’s wife and gymnastics coach at CSUF, faces the same problems.

The gymnastics team was able to raise the money it needed to compete this season but must continue seeking donations for the future.

Making matters more difficult, the school must stay in accordance with Title IX. This rule, aimed at providing equal opportunities for women in sports, states that money spent toward men’s programs must be equaled by the money used by women’s programs.

Therefore, if the wrestling club is able to raise enough money to fund itself but the gymnastics team is not, wrestling could still be eliminated.

Thanks to the efforts of Hicks, the wrestling team was able to fund this season.

The CSUF wrestling team is working hard to fundraise to keep their program alive. Photo by Chad Uemera.

He was able to obtain the required $60,000 to go along with the cut budget provided by CSUF. Hicks hopes to secure the money necessary in order to continue funding the team for the next several years.

In order to do so, the club must provide funding for the next two years in advance. They must raise $200,000 for next season by May 1 and an additional $200,000 for the following season by Aug. 1.

Hicks is optimistic about securing the funds necessary to ensure the future of the team.

He is prepared for what could happen to the program and is not worried about his own future.

Although he does not think about it much, Hicks does have a contingency plan in case Fullerton wrestling is not saved.

“I could go back to being a sports psychologist. We could do other things,” Hicks said. “I just don’t want to lose the sport. I don’t think it’s fair.”