Every once in a while, a season rolls around where everything feels… different.
Not in a loud way. Not in a way you can fully explain on a whiteboard.
There’s real excitement around the team that is coming back. We are ranked 12th in the Intermat pre-season rankings, with seven wrestlers in the top 25, three of whom are in the top 10. We have a team that can win a trophy. That’s the part that can be explained on a whiteboard.
The other part that can be partially explained on a whiteboard is the fact that we have new leadership. John Donahoe started as the new athletic director Monday, September 8, and on Wednesday, September 10th, just three days in, he had the courage to face the head coaches (we can be a demanding and somewhat unreasonable group at times).
Instead of coming in telling us how “things are going to be” under his leadership, he gave a brief explanation of his leadership philosophy, which is centered around “servant leadership”, and how the student-athlete is at the center of absolutely everything we do. That’s an amazing start in my book.
He then took questions from the coaches. I truly appreciated his responses as he didn’t proclaim to have all of the answers, but rather explained that we will work to figure it out together, with the intention of taking Stanford athletics to the top of the college athletic landscape again.
He explained that we have been “on our heels” through the beginning of the most transformational time in college athletics and we must work to not only catch up with our competitors, but to become leaders, innovators; we must be the model of how the business of college athletics is run in this new landscape. Simply put, I’m a fan of John Donahoe and excited to see what Stanford can achieve under his leadership.
Now, for the stuff I can’t quite exactly explain on a whiteboard, and if you’re reading this, it most likely involves you to some degree.
I was rereading The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell recently (yeah, I read things besides match results) and there’s a line that stuck with me:
“The tipping point is that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire.”
I think Stanford Wrestling is there. Or close.
I have a working thesis that in this new era of college athletics Olympic Sports will continually struggle without the support of a strong community around their team. This, of course, involves alumni of the program, but also, people who have no connection to the university, but want to touch the magic of sport.
Because of this we work very hard in this area and the results are starting to pay off. Alumni who have not had a connection to the program since they left are re-engaging, curious about the team. The local community is starting to rally around the program.
People are curious. They’re excited. They’re leaning in to see what’s “happening” with Stanford Wrestling. It’s difficult to explain, but things “feel” a lot different from even one year ago.
There is momentum…hopefully this is the year it “tips” and becomes a Movement. October is the month we try to nudge it along.
October = Stanford Wrestling Kick Off
For those who are new to our ecosystem, October is a big month.
We kick things off on October 1 with our State of the Program Zoom. That call is open to any alum, supporter, parent, or curious soul who wants to know what’s going on behind the curtain. We’ll share what’s ahead, how far we’ve come, and where we’re going.
Then we roll right into what’s become one of my favorite traditions — our Alumni Happy Hours.
Each class decade gets its own night. The stories get better (and more questionable) the older the class. I love these calls, not just because I get to hear about who actually made weight in 1982, but because it reminds me how deep the Stanford Wrestling experience really runs. I also learn a ton about the history of the program.
We’ll cap it off with our alumni tailgate and intersquad dual during Reunion Weekend (Oct 18). If you’ve never watched our guys scrap right after housing a plate of pulled pork and potato salad… well, now’s your chance.
Season Tickets, 2,000 Fans, and a Bold Vision
This year, for the first time, we’re offering season tickets. And not just for convenience. It’s a statement.
Most Olympic sports run at a deficit. We want to be different. We can be different.
When I look at programs drawing 3,000+ fans, it’s not just because they have hammers. It’s because they have people who show up. People who believe in what’s being built.
We had 800 fans at the ASU dual last year, one of the biggest crowds in a long time.
This year? We’re aiming for 2,000.
That might sound ambitious. But so did reviving a dropped program.
The goal is not just to compete. It’s to build something great: a team, a program, a community. One that belongs at the center of this athletic department. We can be the model of how an Olympic Sport can thrive in this new age of college athletics.
Match Month = Momentum
October also marks Match Month for the California RTC. Details on that effort will be sent in a separate communication…but be on the lookout.
We’re not building a program that wins once. We’re building a program that sustains. That means structure. That means staff. That means community.
The truth is, we’re not chasing NIL bidding wars. That’s not who we are.
What we are doing is building a culture that’s so strong, it pulls people in and doesn’t let them go. A place where people want to wrestle, want to give back, and want to build something bigger than themselves.
We’ve raised the standard. Now we need the support to match it.
So Here We Are
October’s coming. And it’s not just the start of the season. It’s a spark.
A tipping point.
I hope you’ll be a part of it. Whether it’s by hopping on a Zoom call, showing up for the tailgate, or just dragging three friends to a dual and teaching them what a scramble is.
We’re building something special here. You can feel it.
Let’s make sure we don’t just feel it. Let’s tip it.
See you in October.
