Sports

Wayzata Wrestlers Weigh In On Decision To Cut Sport From Olympic Games

The Wayzata High School Head Wrestling coach told Channel 12 news that he was shocked to learn that wrestling may be removed from the Olympic Games.

On Tuesday, the International Olympic Committee announced it will cut wrestling from the Olympic games, beginning in 2020. It was news that upset 2004 Olympic alternate and Wayzata High School Head Wrestling Coach Tim Hartung.

“It’s like the grandfather of olympic sports,” Hartung told Channel 12 news in an interview. “How can they do that?”

Reporters from Channel 12 also sat down with Wayzata High School senior and 5-time state qualifier Weston Droegemueller who said that he will continue pursuing his love for the sport, with or without the backing from the International Olympic Committee.

Related: Watch the Channel 12 interview here.

Like Droegemueller, others in the wrestling community are hoping that the decision will be reversed.

Yahoo Sports reported Tuesday that the wrestling governing body, International Amateur Wrestling Federation (FILA) plans an emergency campaign to be chosen again in September to participate in the Olympics.

On the Minnesota State Wrestling Tournament Facebook page, wrestlers wrote:

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No olympic wrestling in the 2020 summer games? Ya sure... we'll see about that.
That "Committee" doesn't know the strength of wrestlers.


A new Facebook page called Save Olympic Wrestling was also formed. Already, the page has garnered more than 54,000 likes.

SHARE: How do you feel about the decision to cut wrestling from the Olympic roster? Tell us in the comments.

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