State lawmakers support wrestling as an Olympic sport

(Harrisburg) — State lawmakers are speaking out in support of wrestling’s place on the international sports stage. Resolutions calling on the International Olympic Committee to restore wrestling as a recognized sport in the 2020 Summer Games have received unanimous support in both the state House and Senate.

State Representative Brandon Neuman was himself a high school wrestler.

The Washington County Democrat says the Commonwealth is a hotbed of activity for the sport.

“The wrestling community is not giving up. Wrestling is going to be in the 2020 Olympics, but we need Pennsylvania to push it,” Neuman says. “We need the IOC to know wrestling is a key thing for the Olympics and the United States.”

During a news conference last week, National Wrestling Hall-of-Famer and former Lehigh University wrestling coach Greg Strobel says he hopes other states take up similar resolutions.

The measures also had the support of Penn State wrestlers, who scored their third-straight NCAA championship this year.

The IOC’s Executive Committee voted in February to eliminate wrestling as a core sport of the Summer Olympics.