GAFFNEY, SC - Limestone College announced today the expansion of its Athletic Department to include intercollegiate wrestling.  The new program will be guided by Head Coach Ben Stehura.    Stehura earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania in December 2000.  In May 2003 he completed his Master's degree in Education at Cleveland State University.    "I am very excited to be joining Limestone College," said Stehura.  "This is a phenomenal opportunity. High School Wrestling is blossoming in the South, and I look forward to building that trend into the collegiate ranks."    Stehura has previous coaching experience as a Graduate Assistant Coach for nationally ranked Cleveland State University (2001-2003).  At Cleveland State he served as the Assistant Coach as well as Freestyle and Greco-Roman Club Coach. While with Cleveland State, Stehura helped guide the team to a 2nd place finish in the prestigious Easter Wrestling League (EWL) dual meet season and a top 25 national ranking.  He also coached ten NCAA Division I Tournament qualifiers, as well as two Freestyle and one Greco Roman World Team Trials qualifiers.    Stehura has also served as a Wrestling Instructor for Jeffco Lakes Wrestling Camp in Jefferson, OH and for Lock Haven University Summer Camps.  In addition, he worked as Head Junior High Coach and Assistant Varsity Coach for Bucktail Junior/Senior High School (Renova, PA) from 2000-2001.    Stehura was a three-year starter at 165 lbs for Lock Haven University.  He earned fourth and fifth place finishes in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Tournament.  He also earned fourth place in the EWL Tournament, and was a member of the EWL All-Academic Team.    Limestone College joins Anderson College as the only two institutions in the state of South Carolina to offer NCAA Division II Wrestling.  The Citadel also offers NCAA Wrestling; however, they compete in Div. I.  Including Limestone there are now 40 Div. II wrestling teams in the nation.    The wrestling program will bring 25-30 new student-athletes to Limestone College.  This is a tall order for a first-year recruiting class, but Stehura looks forward to the challenge.  "I want to build on the growing popularity of wrestling in the South, in addition to the strong crop of athletes being developed in Ohio and Pennsylvania."  He would like to initiate Summer Camps and Clinics both at Limestone and around the area for kids of all ages to help generate local interest in the sport.  In regard to recruiting Stehura said, "this campus really sells itself, and these kids have a chance to be a part of history.  The inaugural team here at Limestone will be something special and something to remember."    Limestone College is an accredited, independent, coeducational, four-year liberal arts institution located in Gaffney, SC.  Limestone has an on-campus enrollment of 560 students and offers 17 intercollegiate sports.