[A.G.]

VERY impressive. It sure looks like they turned over the old locker room in a hurry. I thought they were using that space for the visiting football teams, though.

October 23, 2006
Lynchburg, Va.

The Liberty Wrestling Complex has been completed after renovations began the second week of September on the old football locker room located in the south end of Williams Stadium.

“This is a dream come true,” said head wrestling coach Jesse Castro. “When the program first started in 1974 they wrestled on grass in front of the old dorms on Rivermont Ave. so the progression to what we have now is such a dream.”

The wrestling program was reinstated for 2006-07 season after being eliminated in 1994. From 1980 until the program’s elimination the team used the old wrestling room located inside the Schilling center.

The new 3,800 square foot facility houses office space for the coaches, storage, adjacent locker and shower facilities, laundry room and a training room. “This is a step in the right direction to be competitive with other major Division I programs,” stated Castro.

The Flames will host all their home events in the Vines Center this season, starting with a quad march with James Madison, Campbellsville and Newberry on November 22.

http://www.libertyflames.com/index.cfm? ... 71&TeamID=

[Stevev]

That is what I thought. I guess the visiting team uses the old locker room and the rest of the building is for wrestling. As far as wrestling is concerned it seems like a long way from where the matches are going to be played assuming it is in the Vines Center. You would think that the whole wrestling complex would be right next to the Vines.

[PeterParker]

If they could get a crowd for the matches, that could be a pretty electric atmosphere, although they would probably have to have a primer to clue most people in on what was going on.

Also, side note, the Vines would make a great main event Boxing Match venue with a spotlight straight down on the ring with the place dark...just a thought.

[PAmedic]

the potential for wrestling, if its marketed well, parallels that of ice hockey.

wrestling fans are rabid, and the atmosphere at DUALS is electric, let alone tri- or quad- meets.

I'm gonna try to make some of the Away events up here, and hopefully get down to catch a home event as well

[backintheday]

Wrestling fans are rabid, especially in our neck of the woods PAmedic. Eastern PA is a high school wrestling mecca. I hope to get to one of the PA meets if possible. Jesse Castro was a student during the same years I attended Liberty. It's good to see the program coming back. Maybe some day they'll wrestle Lehigh but that's probably a few years away. Lehigh has a big time program.

[PAmedic]

yeah- in high school I made it to prep regionals up at Stabler- though that was 20 years ago. It was a great atmosphere though w/ 6 mats going at once. My brother did well up there also.

There are several other good programs in the area as well- hope to catch LU up here this fall/winter.

And I'd bet the Lehigh match isn't too far off- it would be a great benchmark test for the guys and coaches.

[A.G.]

yeah- in high school I made it to prep regionals up at Stabler

Here's the proof
(Feel free to insert midget wrestling comments below.)

[PeterParker]

LU is in a unique situation in that it is pretty central to two major 'rasslin, oops wrong kind, wrestling hotbeds in Eastern PA and Hampton Roads VA--that makes it a little easier in the recruiting area by having the school within 3-6 hours of home for the potential recruits. If they can reclaim the ascent they were making before folding, it would be a great thing to see.

[SuperJon]

Central North Carolina is pretty big for wrestling as well.

[bigsmooth]

as is far southwest virginia. grundy has out out some big time talent.

[justagirl]

in the area, Christiansburg has the MOST talent as far as High school wrestling. 6x state champions. They are REALLY good.

My brother actually won states last year in the heavyweight division of high school wrestling, and you are SO right, wrestling fans are CRAZY.

I have seen everying from mom's hyperventilating to dad's trying to beat up referees...I personally have only been kicked out of one match though, and thats because the ref truly WAS horrible. The problem with wrestling I think is that people don't know the rules or understand it enough to be interested. It is sad to me, because its one of the most entertaining and technical sports there is!

[PAmedic]

agreed.

really looking forward to seeing what Coach Castro's guys are going to do in their second season!

[justagirl]

me too! I have kind of seen the whole process of getting the wrestling program back and all..its so exciting that we even HAVE the program again, much less what Castro is going to do with it. Can hardly wait