Fourteen wrestlers from Minnesota and four wrestlers from Washington have committed to wrestle for Ridgewater College and Coach Joey Brown next season.
Ridgewater College is looking to get back on the mat in 2021-2022 after not competing this past season because of the pandemic.
By Matt Krumrie
It's not the type of start new Ridgewater College wrestling coach Joey Brown expected when he took over the wrestling program in May of 2020. But, it's still 2020, and things are far from normal. So nothing is a surprise.
In mid-November, Ridgewater College and Northland Community and Technical College announced that all winter athletics programs, including wrestling, would be suspended due to growing concerns over the Coronavirus. Ridgewater also canceled spring sports for this season.
"Unfortunately, because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenges it presents, our season has been suspended," said Brown. "We would have had a very young team that had one returning wrestler from last year (285-pound national qualifier Charlie Farhat of Willmar). I came on in late May to take over the rebuild of our program, and we got off to a great start adding 12 first-year guys to the roster. We were excited because we would have filled a full varsity lineup for the upcoming season. Once we got word the season was not going to happen for us, we met with our guys and supported them in the option to move on. About half of the guys decided to move on, and one is going to graduate in the spring."
Northland had a strong team ready to compete in the MCAC and NJCAA this season. "I respect the fact that this was a difficult decision for our institution to cancel winter sports," said Northland wrestling coach Scott DCamp. "I don't agree with it, however, because I feel like we had a plan in place that would have allowed us to attend classes, practice, and compete in a safe manner."
Charlotte, NC – The NJCAA Board of Regents met Thursday to discuss NJCAA student-athlete eligibility for the 2020-21 academic year. Following the Board of Regents’ vote, all 2020-21 NJCAA sport seasons (fall, winter, spring) will not count towards student-athlete eligibility. The eligibility relief is provided to all NJCAA student-athletes regardless of sport season participation in the 2020-21 academic year.
“The Board of Regents feels this decision is best for the success and well-being of our student-athletes and member colleges at this time,” stated Dr. Christopher Parker, NJCAA President & CEO. “There is no right answer to this challenge and situation, but as an association, we are going to support the eligibility of all our student-athletes to help them succeed in their academic and athletic careers.”
The Minnesota State presidents of the member colleges of the MCAC met to determine how to move forward with intercollegiate athletics for fall semester in light of COVID-19. The presidents reaffirmed the commitment to protecting the health of student athletes.
In consideration of the guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Minnesota Department of Health, fall sports will be limited to those that have been identified as low-risk, Clay Target and Golf. Seasons have been canceled for football, volleyball, and soccer.
WILLMAR and HUTCHINSON, MN – Ridgewater College Warrior wrestlers will have a new head coach for the 2020-21 season. Meet Joey Brown from Washington state.
Brown comes to Ridgewater College highly recommended after serving the previous five seasons as the head wrestling coach at Snohomish High School in Snohomish, WA, where following this last season, he was named District 1 Coach of the Year.
Brown grew up in Washington and Oregon where he wrestled, played football, baseball, and threw for the track team through high school. After high school, he attended Southern Oregon University and Mayville State University, ND, where he played football and walked on to the wrestling team.
2020 NJCAA National Championships results. March 6-7 at Council Bluffs, Iowa.