In the history of Moorpark College athletics, the wrestling team was one of the most successful programs. When it was cut in 2008, wrestlers were left with few options, but now it’s time for a comeback.

The wrestling team at Moorpark won multiple WSC Conference Championships, and had five State Championships. The team benefited from the influx of talent that comes from the area surrounding Moorpark.

“When I wrestled at T.O. [high school], multiple schools were good,” said former Moorpark College Wrestler Dillon Brockert. “Simi Valley, Royal, and even Moorpark High had really good teams.”

High schools in the area have top-notch programs that produce top-level wrestlers. Even in the extended area of high school sports, the Marmonte League is one of the strongest leagues when it comes to wrestling.

A lot of students can’t wrestle at Moorpark, but not because there is no interest in a team. It is hard to bring a team back without money to do so. The team was cut in 2008 to lower expenses for the college. Athletic Director Howard Davis explained this earlier in the year when Moorpark announced the return of baseball and men’s cross country.

“We are already planning major fundraising events to capture the excitement of the campus and the community in bringing back these programs,” said Davis. “When they were suspended, we heard from hundreds of devastated community members. We hope and believe the same people, and many others, will be there to assist us in our fundraising efforts.”

The returning sports will have to do a lot of work to come back with full force. Cutting the wrestling team and two others in 2008 was expected to save the school $85,000-$90,000 annually.

Although cutting the wrestling program saves money, the presence of the team is an asset for students. Anyone can pick up wrestling, and it’s a great way for students to be active on campus. As a martial art, the practical benefits of wrestling are also high. Even if students don’t intend to become Olympic-level wrestlers, or wrestlers after transfering, the excitement of the sport is valuable. Wrestling is not an easy sport, but it can help students add more to their daily life.

“I think a lot of kids should get up, and stop being lazy,” said 19-year-old Art Major, Kyle Pratt. “I wouldn’t join wrestling, though, I would just get my ass kicked.”

Even though some students are hesitant to try wrestling due to the aggressive nature of the sport, those that give it a try could find a new passion for life. The purpose of college is to explore and discover what we want to do with our lives. Offering wrestling is valuable both as a sport and as an exploratory venture.

Unfortunately, we won’t know the true benefits that wrestling will bring to Moorpark College until the sport is reinstated. When people realize that the opportunities provided by wrestling outweigh the costs of maintaining the program, wrestling’s value will be proven on the mat.