Shorter University President Dr. Harold Newman (left) squares up with freshman Donovan Green on the first day of practice. Matt Green Photo.

ROME, Ga. – The wait is over.

For first-year head coach Josh Henson and the multitude of Georgia wrestling fanatics, long-awaited debut of Shorter University wrestling has officially arrived.

Shorter enjoyed what will be one of its many historical firsts on Monday as the Hawk wrestling team opened up practice in preparation for its much-anticipated inaugural season.

For Henson, it was the culmination of what has been an exhausting, but fulfilling, nine-month journey towards putting the first group of Shorter grapplers on the mat.

“When I first arrived on campus, I was personally the only proof that Shorter had indeed started a wrestling team,” said Henson, a former All-American wrestler at the University of Pennsylvania where he won an EIWA title at 165 pounds and still holds the Quakers’ record for single-season wins (36). “When I left for lunch, so did the wrestling program.

“Starting a program from scratch is a daunting task, but also a great opportunity to build the program exactly how you envision it.”

Nine months ago, all Henson had was a vision.

Henson made the 800-mile trek from Philadelphia to Rome to chase his first head coaching opportunity at the collegiate level, leaving the comforts of the well-established Quaker program that he had served as a star wrestler and assistant coach for the better part of eight years for the novelty of the great unknown in Northwest Georgia.

Shorter had no wrestling mats, no equipment, not even a place to practice. While the United States’ southeast region was starved for college wrestling – Shorter is the only four-year varsity collegiate wrestling program in all of Alabama, Georgia and Florida – no college athletic department had dared take a chance on what had unfortunately become viewed as an expendable sport by many college institutions.

“I think the excitement behind the program is more of a surprise to people outside of the wrestling community,” said Henson, who was welcomed with open arms by the passionate Georgia wrestling family that for years has fought vigorously for the return of collegiate wrestling. “I knew there were a lot of very committed and smart wrestling supporters in Georgia who would support us at every turn. We have enjoyed terrific support and turned a few heads in the process.”

“With 10,000 high school wrestlers in Georgia, there is a huge need for collegiate wrestling programs,” Henson went on to say. “Wrestling fans and supporters realize we are the first step in meeting that need.”

The importance of collegiate wrestling and the opportunities the Shorter program has presented for high school athletes is not lost on the University’s administration.

In attendance at Monday’s first practice was Shorter University President Dr. Harold Newman and Director of Athletics Bill Peterson, each eager to see first hand what all of the excitement was about.

Dr. Newman was not only introduced to the team during its pre-practice meeting, but also took time to pose for some light-hearted pictures on the mat with one of the Hawks’ top recruits, Donovan Green.

“I think all of us here at Shorter have been thoroughly impressed with Josh Henson and what he has meant to our school and this athletic program in the short time he has been here,” said Peterson, who as Athletic Director, has spearheaded the growth of Shorter’s athletic department into one of the most successful in the entire country – a statement bolstered by Shorter’s No. 11 ranking in the final NACDA Directors’ Cup standings in 2009-10.

“After watching his team practice for the first time on Monday, I can tell you that he is also a great coach,” Peterson added. “He is an outstanding teacher and I can assure you that our wrestling team is going to be fundamentally sound. He is highly organized and puts a great amount of preparation into everything he does.

“Coach Henson is a great addition to what we already consider some of the best coaches in the NAIA.”

“One of the greatest reasons to come to a smaller school is that the administrators are personally involved with students and take a personal interest in you,” Henson said. “To have the President and Athletic Director attend your practice is something that would never happen at a big school. It also typifies the great support our program has received since the very first day.”

A high level of support will be key for this inaugural group of Hawks, the majority of which are freshmen.

Henson understands that the initial challenge is great, but is confident that the hard work will pay dividends sooner rather than later.

“The team is very excited about the opportunity in front of them,” said Henson. “To have so many freshmen on one team is a unique situation. Obviously there are some growing pains, but freshmen also bring a lot of excitement and enthusiasm to their work.”

The build up towards the Hawks’ first home event of the season has already begun.

After a pair of open tournaments – the GNWA Gorilla Open in Loganville on Oct. 16 and the Citadel Open in Charlestown, S.C. on Nov. 6 – Shorter will host a dual against another first-year program, Central Baptist College out of Arkansas, at The Forum in Rome on Friday, Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. Tickets to the dual are on sale through the Shorter University Athletics website.

Shorter’s matchup with Central Baptist kicks off a Rome wrestling weekend. The Forum will host the Roman Open the next day.

“Our first dual meet is a great opportunity for everyone to come and watch college wrestling,” Henson said. “For a first time fan, it will be a great introduction into collegiate wrestling. For an aspiring youth or high school wrestler, it is a great kick off to the wrestling season and an opportunity to see a collegiate match up close and personally.

“For the wrestling supporter, it will be a celebration of college wrestling in Georgia.”