Lehigh’s decision to officially make women’s wrestling its 26th varsity sport – officially announced today, though it was common knowledge it would happen – marks the Mountain Hawks as one of the most progressive athletic departments in Division I sport.

And perhaps one of the most daring.

College athletics is teetering on an edge right now, with everybody having fingers and toes crossed about the final look of the House v. NCAA settlement. No one quite knows what the scene will look post-House, especially the financial scene. Olympic sports coaches at major institutions are nervous as can be.

In such an environment, universities may be understandably hesitant to add a whole new program, In Lehigh’s case it would have been easy to wait, especially since only five Division I teams – Iowa, Presbyterian, fellow EIWA member Sacred Heart, Lindenwood, and Delaware State — currently sponsor the sport,

Maybe not the best time, then, to add the first new varsity program at Lehigh in 22 years?

Just the right time, as it turned out.

“Lehigh has a proud and storied tradition in wrestling, with our men’s program nationally recognized for both its competitive success and its commitment to developing scholar-athletes,” said Lehigh Dean of Athletics Jeremy Gibson. “Elevating women’s wrestling to varsity status is a natural and exciting next step for Lehigh University and our athletics department. This decision reflects our deep commitment to equitable opportunities for all student-athletes and to sustaining excellence – both on the mat and in the classroom. We are thrilled to welcome women’s wrestling to our varsity family and look forward to building a program that upholds the high standards that have long defined Lehigh wrestling.”

That statement leaves little room for doubt – Lehigh is all-in.

The NCAA, which has missed more boats than a blind sea gull looking to land, isn’t missing this one., Women’s wrestling will get is own championship in 2025-26, though just what that will look like isn’t known yet and could be very interesting.

The growth of women’s collegiate wrestling has truly been from the bottom up. Over 100 NCAA members offer the sport, almost all the Division II and III levels, The NAIA, the organizing unit of some of the smallest colleges, mostly in the South and West, also has a healthy women’s presence.

In Pennsylvania, 25 colleges have women’s programs – 22 in Divisions II and IIO and three junior college teams, including Northampton Community College.

And to be sure, the exponential growth of girls wrestling at the community and high school level has just been astonishing – the sport has come so far so quickly.

So, this has not been an imposition of lower levels by big schools, or the powers that be hot to trot for a specific sport, as has happened over the years.

Of course, it’s very disappointing to not see Penn State, or Ohio State, or Bucknell, or Rutgers, or Penn, or Maryland or Northwestern or North Carolina, all colleges committed to women’s sports in general, on the list of D-1 schools with women’s wrestling. Girls wrestling is exploding in New Jersey – Princeton and Rutgers have clubs, but time for an upgrade, or for Rider to snatch the honor of being first in the state.

The fact that there are only six D-1 programs now shows the risk Lehigh is taking. Sure, the NCAA sanctioning a championship in women’s wrestling ought to see more teams spring up. And you don ‘t have to have men’s wrestling to have women’s. Hello, Lafayette? Get The Rivalry going on the mats too!

But for now, Lehigh will be pioneering it out there.

There’s no question the Mountain Hawk women will have top-quality athletes. Already, they have Easton’s state and national champion Aubre Krazer, and it does not get any better than that. It’s like starting a basketball program with Michael Jordan already in hand.

And there’s also no question Lehigh will draw fans. I attended a Lehigh club match with Columbia in February and the highly entertaining competition was accompanied by a righteous racket in the stands that filled Grace Hall. An Iowa-Lehigh match in Grace? Ooooh. Bring it on!

Lehigh’s taking a bit of a chance in moving forward with women’s wrestling. It’s a chance that we think will pay off big-time.

But even better, it’s the right thing to do, a concept that rarely moves anybody in collegiate sports.

Well done, Lehigh.

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Brad Wilson may be reached at bwilson@lehighvalleylive.com.

©2025 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit lehighvalleylive.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

State Rep. Greg Markkanen

LANSING — Last Thursday, the Michigan State House of Representatives passed two bills, which would effectively ban transgender women and girls from participating in girls’ sports.

House Bill 4066 dictates that “A school district, intermediate school district, or public school academy … shall not knowingly allow individuals of the male sex to participate in any interscholastic athletic team or sport designated for participants of only the female sex.”

The bill clarifies that “sex” refers to “the biological indication of male or female, as listed on an individual’s original birth certificate that was issued at or near the time of the individual’s birth.”

The vote for 4066 was 58-46, with all Republicans voting in favor of the bill, and all Democrats voting against.

A second House Bill, 4469, alters the Elliott-Larsen civil rights act. This 1976 legislation prohibits discrimination based on factors such as race, sex, and religion. 4469 adds a new section to the Elliott-Larsen act, which states that K-12 educational institutions, which are subject to the anti-discriminatory laws of Title IX, are allowed to prevent transgender students from joining sports teams that don’t align with their sex at birth.

This means schools can keep a transgender boy from playing on a boy’s sports team, for example.

The vote for 4469 was 59-45, with all Republicans and one Democrat, Rep. Amos O’Neal, voting in favor of the alteration.

In a Facebook post announcing his support of the bill, State Representative Greg Markkanen, R-Hancock, who represents the Keweenaw area, wrote, “Men cannot magically become women. The opposite is also true. I stand with my colleagues in support of science.”

He also posted a graphic, with the captions, “I voted to protect girls’ sports” and “Preserving safety and opportunities for true female athletes”.

Following the passage of the bills in the State House, Equality Michigan (EQMI), an LGBTQIA+ advocacy group for youth in Michigan, released a statement condemning the actions of state Republicans.

“The bills, beyond openly encouraging discrimination against transgender young people, could also subject all Michigan kids to dangerous and invasive gender inspections and ridicule!” EQMI wrote. “Independent expert-bodies like the MHSAA are best equipped to create processes for fairness and access to opportunity in youth sports,” EQMI continued. “The MHSAA has already said there are zero trans girls with waivers to compete in winter and spring sports right now.”

The bills will now go to the Democrat-controlled State Senate, where they’re likely to fail. If they make it through the Senate, they will have to be signed into law by Governor Gretchen Whitmer, a long-time supporter of the LGBTQ community, and, thus is unlikely to support such legislation.

HELPING YOUTH — Bobbyjon Bauman, executive director of the Sycamore Youth Center, and Jenn Cesta, public relations coordinator for the Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County, have joined forces and will offer Steubenville and Wintersville youth between the ages of 1 and 18 food and books during the summer months. A mobile food pantry and the library’s Bookmobile will visit six designated sites beginning in June.
— Contributed

STEUBENVILLE — A new summer initiative offering food and books to children who are in need throughout the Steubenville and Wintersville areas, will be led by Bobbyjon Bauman, executive director of the Sycamore Youth Center.

Beginning June 6, the Sycamore Youth Center Mobile Food Pantry will provide free meals to children ages 1 through 18. The mobile unit will make designated neighborhood stops every Friday through Aug. 8, Bauman noted.

But that is not all. Through a unique and enriching partnership, the Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County will join the center’s effort.

The library’s Bookmobile will offer free books to children along the pantry route on select dates, including June 6, June 27, July 18 and Aug. 8, according to Jenn Cesta, public relations coordinator. The library’s outreach will be led by Cesta, with a focus on promoting literacy and a love for reading during the summer months.

“This initiative is about more than just feeding children — it’s about nourishing the whole child,” Bauman stated. “We want to make sure that youth in our community are supported physically and educationally during the summer break.”

The weekly food pantry and Bookmobile are scheduled to stop in Wintersville each Friday at the Ridgewood Place Apartments at 11:25 a.m. and at the Briarwood Apartments at 11:55 a.m.

The stops through Steubenville will take place at the Elmer White Family Units at the North End around 12:20 p.m.; the Earl Rogers Plaza at the South End at 12:40 p.m.; Rosswell Avenue on the corner of Rosswell and Maple at 12:55 p.m.; and on Maryland Avenue at the corner of Maryland and Carnegie Street at 1:10 p.m.

According to Bauman, the program aims to bridge gaps in nutrition and literacy throughout the summer months, mainly for those children who come from under-resourced neighborhoods.

For information or to get involved, visit sycamorecenter.com or call (740) 409-2986.

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WFFT) – One of the top high school basketball players to graduate from Northeast Indiana was back on the court in Fort Wayne Tuesday evening.

Connor Essegian attended a Team Focus practice, where he talked with the young athletes about his path through college basketball.

Essegian graduated from Central Noble High School as one of the top scorers in Indiana history.

He began his college career at Wisconsin where he was named Big Ten All-Freshman.

His sophomore season is where he experienced his first major bump in the road, as he lost playing time and didn’t contribute in the way he wanted to on the court.

Essegian says he got caught up in a college lifestyle that wasn’t conducive to his goals on or off the court.

He says he developed a strong relationship with his faith and ultimately transferred to Nebraska.

Essegian says he’s glad to spend some time back in his hometown and hopes to inspire members of his former youth basketball team to work hard and pursue their own dreams.

As for the remainder of his college career, the rising senior says he’s been very happy at Nebraska and hopes to use his final season to help the Cornhuskers to an NCAA Tournament win.

Have a story you want FOX 55 to cover or a news tip? Send an email to news@wfft.com.

May 27, 2025

This piece is sponsored by the University of South Dakota.

University of South Dakota alumnus Trevor Sinclair, who graduated in 2024, gained invaluable experience through Coyote Business Consulting. Now, as an associate financial adviser at Elgethun Capital Management, he’s helping the next generation of students access the same opportunities that helped shape his own career path.

Driven by a desire to make the most of his college years, Sinclair immersed himself in campus involvement.

In addition to competing on the men’s swimming and diving team, Sinclair could be found leading Coyote Crazies, holding roles in the Student Government Association and helping offices and departments like the Office of Outreach & Multicultural Affairs, Athletics and Marketing Communications & University Relations.

As a busy economics and data analytics student-athlete with a packed schedule, Sinclair didn’t have the time to take on an internship. But he still wanted real-world experience that could help stack his resume.

The Beacom School of Business’ Coyote Business Consulting program presented Sinclair with the ideal opportunity.

“Coyote Business Consulting allowed me to work directly with real businesses and business owners in South Dakota while still staying involved on campus,” Sinclair said. “It gave me a way to earn income and gain experience that would set me apart after graduation.”

Pairing student teams with South Dakota businesses, Coyote Business Consulting serves a dual purpose – connecting businesses with motivated student-consultants to solve a critical problem for their organization and providing those students with hands-on experience and financial support.

Sinclair worked on two major projects through Coyote Business Consulting. In the spring of 2023, he worked with Fernson Brewing Co. in Sioux Falls on a marketing initiative and Google Analytics – projects that allowed him to combine his creative instincts with his analytical training.

The next semester, Sinclair worked with Sanford Sports and USD alumnus Steve Young, who earned his bachelor’s degree  in 2001 and his master’s in 2003, on a large-scale economic study examining the impact of Sanford’s youth sports offerings.

“It was really cool to work with a USD alum,” Sinclair said. “Steve was very engaged and interested in how data could help them advocate for more support, attract more tournaments and better understand their economic footprint.”

Sinclair credits his USD experience – and the connections he made through the Coyote network – with setting the foundation to his career.

His introduction to Elgethun Capital Management came through the President’s Senior Leadership Institute at USD, where he met his now-boss, Conrad Adam, a 2018 USD graduate, during an event in which Adam was a panelist.

Additionally, Sinclair met ECM president and owner John Barker, a 2007 USD graduate, through Coyote Athletics.

“All roads to my current job led through USD,” Sinclair said. “I’m very grateful for the university.”

Now on the other side of the table, Sinclair served as adviser to the ECM-sponsored Coyote Business Consulting project this spring. He collaborated with Beacom School of Business students on marketing and data analytics projects for the investment firm, offering them not only mentorship but also an insight into life after graduation.

“We wanted to tap into the expertise of Beacom’s marketing and analytics students,” Sinclair said. “The students helped us think critically about how we market our services and how we can better use data to serve our clients.”

For Sinclair, giving back to Coyote Business Consulting has been a full-circle moment.

“It’s a great opportunity to give students what you wish you had when you were in their shoes,” he said. “Real-world experience builds confidence. It shows students they can provide real value to businesses even before they graduate. Programs like Coyote Business Consulting allow students to stack meaningful experience during school.”

Youth baseball players throughout the northern Nevada region will once again hone their skills at the Reno Aces’ home in the Biggest Little City, while receiving instruction from former Major League baseball players Chris Gimenez and Chris Aguila at Northern Nevada Baseball Club Camp at Greater Nevada Field.

The camp will run from July 28 through July 30, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. daily, and is open to kids ages 9 to 13.

Parents can register their child for $325 by filling out this online form or visiting RenoAces.com.

Registration fees include three days of instruction in addition to play at Greater Nevada Field and access to a Major-League-quality facility, along with lunch being provided each day.

The deadline to register is Thursday, July 17.

Each participant will receive one complimentary ticket to the Aces’ game on Friday, July 25 against the Oklahoma City Comets, Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Family members can purchase additional tickets to the game at this website.

With limited space, parents are encouraged to sign up early as this camp will sell out.

The Reno Aces contributed to this report.