Leaders from Team Georgia donate $10,000 to Life University's new wrestling team during the 2012 Georgia High School State Championships. Photo courtesy of Life University

Intercollegiate Wrestling Made Possible with Support and Sponsorship from Team Georgia 

Marietta, Georgia, March 1, 2012 - Life University (LIFE) continues to expand to its intercollegiate sports program with men’s wrestling.  The announcement was nade official last week. LIFE already has athletic scholarship opportunities for men in basketball and rugby, as well as for women in cross country and volleyball.  

Helping launch the program is Team Georgia Wrestling, a non-profit organization dedicated to promotion and expansion of the sport throughout the state and which serves as USA Wrestling's state association. Team Georgia donated $10,000 to the LIFE Wrestling Team which will provide much needed assistance with equipment and infrastructure.

In launching wrestling, LIFE becomes only the third university in the State of Georgia to offer the sport on a varsity level, and the only university in the metro Atlanta area. 

“This is great for Life University, and great for wrestling in Georgia," said Anthony Flatt, President of Team Georgia Wrestling. "Until now, there was no college wrestling in the metro Atlanta area.” 

Atlanta produces some outstanding wrestlers who, up until now, have had to look outside the state for opportunities at the next level.  

“Now these kids have the opportunity to stay at home, get their degree from a fine institution, and continue to wrestle," said Flatt. "It also has the potential for the wrestlers to stay near home and help out at their high schools, and thereby improve wrestling at the high school level.”

“We selected wrestling because it’s an emerging sport,” said John Barrett, Director of Athletics at Life University. “LIFE is an emerging sports program right now, and we’re excited to be on the ground floor of wrestling in Georgia.”  

Wrestling requires incredible fitness and discipline, something LIFE students know well.  

"As a health conscious university, wrestling makes perfect sense when you consider the study and health habits of our student body,” said Barrett.  

Barrett, along with Associate Athletics Director Bill Firnbach and Life University President Dr. Guy Riekeman attended a check ceremony with representatives from Team Georgia Wrestling, during the 2012 Georgia High School State Wrestling Championships held at the Gwinnett Arena over the weekend.

Ron Domanico, Chief Financial Officer at Team Georgia, echoes Flatt’s sentiments, saying, “We have 6,500 youth wrestlers and 8,000 high school wrestlers in Georgia with very limited opportunities beyond high school. Without college wrestling nearby, many of these kids’ careers end after high school, but not anymore. It’s good to have college wrestling back in Georgia.”  

Life University will commence its inaugural season in late fall of 2012. LIFE is in the process of hiring a head coach right now and expects to make an announcement later in the spring.
 
About Life University
Founded in Marietta, Georgia in 1974, Life University is a health sciences institution most known for its chiropractic program, the largest in the world. Life University is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) to award four-year undergraduate and graduate degrees in a variety of health care, science, business and general studies fields, and also has programmatic accreditation through the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE) and the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). The mission of Life University is to empower students with the education, skills and values necessary for career success and life fulfillment, based on a vitalistic philosophy.
 
About Team Georgia Wrestling
In Georgia, over 6,000 student athletes participate in the world’s oldest sport through Team Georgia Wrestling.  With 140 clubs throughout the state and 120 tournaments throughout the year, Team Georgia is committed to expanding participation and promoting excellence in amateur wrestling.  From elementary age through college, from beginner to national champion, Team Georgia is committed to safety, opportunity, character, training and member satisfaction.