I'm sure most of you in the wrestling community know my story. If not, I'll give a brief summary.

I was a four-time Nebraska state champ, six-time junior All-American and a Junior National freestyle and Greco champ my senior year. I was named the outstanding wrestler in Greco. I was recruited by UNO, Nebraska, UNI, Iowa, and several others.

In high school I was extremely close to Coach Denney, Coach Higdon and several members of the UNO wrestling team. However, I chose to be a Hawkeye at the University of Iowa. I loved wrestling for Iowa. I love the intensity, the way they compete. I looked up to Tom Brands and I still do. But I left the program for personal reasons. I was struggling with life choices and wasn’t doing the right things. 

I left and came back to Omaha where I'm from. I thought things would get easier, but they didn't. They got worse, a lot worse. 

Now I will get to the point. Coach Denney, Coach Higdon, and the entire University of Nebraska at Omaha wrestling team offered me a helping hand. They gave me another chance to make things right. Coach Denney didn’t have to do that, but he did. He recruited me out of high school and I chose another school. Most coaches would have been bitter, and probably turned the other way on me, but he didn't. 

Why did Coach Denney give me another chance? It's because he cares about people. He wanted to help me. I've never met someone who cares about people as much as he does. He is the kindest man I've ever met. Coach Denney cares about each one of his athletes. He would go to battle for every single wrestler on his team. Anyone who has ever been on a team knows coaches have their favorites, not Coach Denney. I can honestly say with 100% certainty that Coach Denney, Coach Higdon and the University of Nebraska at Omaha wrestling team saved my life.

I was a three-time National Champ for Coach Denney and just finished up my second season coaching with him. My loyalty will forever run deep for this program. I owe my life to this organization. 

We are a family, and this family needs your help. The wrestling community is special, Everyone in the wrestling community knows the life sacrifices an individual and a program have to make to be successful. UNO wrestling is a huge part of Omaha's community. UNO wrestling is a huge part of the wrestling community. 

I'm asking anybody out there who cares about wrestling to stand up and fight for this team. The coaches and athletes had a meeting with members of our administration about dropping our football/wrestling programs along with information on the move to Division I. Words can’t describe the pain myself and others felt as we were having our hearts ripped out. 

I feel with tremendous belief that our Athletic Director only cares about himself. I wish all of you could have been there to see AD Trev Alberts roll his eyes, check his watch, and even smirk as questions were being asked, It was absolutely disgusting. When Trev Alberts showed up on campus a couple years ago I remember hearing that he had asked Coach Denney if wrestling at UNO was a "club sport?" Seriously, a club sport? There is no way he actually believed that. It was merely a shot at Coach Denney and our program. 

He has battled Coach Denney on countless issues ever since he got to UNO, which makes no sense at all. Coach Denney has done nothing but bring our athletic department a good name. The amount of extra work the wrestlers do on campus and through community service is unreal. 

We need all of you to help us in this fight. There has been talk of possibly a magic number as far as the amount of money that it would take to save our program. I don't know the details yet but if there is a number it will be out to the public soon.

I know there have been many other articles on the issue. I just wanted to give my perspective as well. We didn't have to go to Div. I. Trev Alberts stated that our athletic department was in debt. Do you think any coaches were told about this and asked to raise more money? Of course not! This is all Trev Albert’s master plan. I would be willing to guarantee that he won’t even be at our school in a couple years. Not one of our coaches at UNO wanted to go Div. I. Everyone was against it. I believe Trev Alberts doesn't represent UNO athletics; he represents himself. 

I feel bad for other members of the administration who I feel have been pressured into this situation. One of those members is Chancellor John Christensen. I know Chancellor Christensen personally. His boys Anders, Erik, and Dana are my best friends. Anders is the Head Wrestling Coach at Omaha North High School. Chancellor Christensen and his wife Jan have been like second parents to me. I can tell you that he doesn't want this. Their family doesn't want this. Listening to him speak about dropping our program hurt me in a way that words can’t describe. However, when listening to him I could feel his pain. It was written across his face. It was unlike Athletic Director Trev Alberts, who looked as if he was enjoying every moment.

Please help us fight this. We can and will win. This isn't just about UNO. This is about our great sport!!!