Bethany College announces the addition of a wrestling program for the 2011 winter season. Following USD 400 board approval, Bethany will now partner with Smoky Valley High School to use its new wrestling facility.
Bethany is the first college in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference to have a wrestling program. Baker University in Baldwin City, Kan., and Newman University in Wichita, Kan., are the only other two private universities in Kansas that offer wrestling.

A committee has been formed and the process for hiring a coach has begun. One full time coach will be hired with a minimal schedule the first year depending on recruitment. Athletic Director Jon Daniels says, “We certainly want to thank USD 400 for allowing us to use their facilities. We are excited to embrace the wrestling community and that we have the ability to add another dimension to our athletic programs. We have had many Bethany alumni go on to become wrestling coaches so it would be great to tie them back to Bethany and the athletic program.”

Bethany College competes in 15 intercollegiate sports in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, including college sponsored cheer and dance teams. Since 1902, Bethany has won 147 conference championships. 

Bethany College supports the National Association of Intercollegiate Association (NAIA) Champions of Character program.  NAIA Champions of Character is the association’s innovative flagship program designed to instill character values in student-athletes, coaches and youth in the communities it serves. The five core values are integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership.

Bethany College, established by Swedish Lutheran immigrants in 1881, is a college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The mission of Bethany College is to educate, develop and challenge individuals to reach for truth and excellence as they lead lives of faith, learning and service. Bethany College is on the Web at www.bethanylb.edu.