Lock Haven University is forming a female wrestling club that will start during the 2007-08 academic school year. The club will be made of women who are attending Lock Haven.

Terry Fike will serve as the head coach for the club.

"I saw the women's World Championships when it was held in New York (in 2003) and I was impressed with the wrestling. I was intrigued by the interest in growth of women's wrestling," said Fike.

Lock Haven University is located in Lock Haven, Pa., and is rich in scholastic tradition as well as in wrestling.

Sara McMann, a 2004 Olympic silver medalist and a two-time World medalist, competed for Lock Haven's wrestling team. Jenny Wong, a 2003 World bronze medalist, was also on the Lock Haven team. Two other women wrestlers who attended Lock Haven also made U.S. Women's World Teams on the Senior level, Erin Tomeo and Jenna Pavlik.

The club is not currently recognized as a varsity sport, but it is a goal of Fike's for that to happen. For next year, Fike said he would like to have a roster of 20 to 30 women and compete in national and USA Wrestling events.

"I would like to be competitive off the bat," said Fike. "I want to have athletes on the team that are willing and able to commit to compete at the national level. I want to attract athletes who will have an impact immediately, but also grow the program for the future to be a varsity program."

Fike is currently in the beginning stages of recruiting, as he will be attending several tournaments in the next few months. Fike will also host a women's summer camp at Lock Haven. Fike said the camp will benefit the women who attend, as they will be able to learn skills with other women.

"It is a unique situation," said Fike. "Lock Haven is a great environment to start a program. It has been positively received and has great support from the community."

For questions about the program, e-mail Fike at fike66@msn.com or call Lock Haven's wrestling office at (570) 484-2647.

Fike wrote a letter for interested athletes and it can be viewed by clicking on the link below.

http://www.themat.com/forms/LockHavenEmail.pdf