Can you smell what XULA wrestling is cooking?

November 4, 2024

By Randy Smith III, Sports Editor

Reginald Robinson, a graduate student at Xavier, and Xavier’s Wrestling Club co-founder, established the wrestling community on campus in 2019 during his freshman year. He received several offers from predominately white institutions (PWI), but he made the decision to come to Xavier to start the now official program.  

“I’ve never been to a predominately white institution or let alone had more than one student who didn’t look like me in [high] school,” Robinson said.  

Robinson, who has 10 years of wrestling experience, believes the environment an athlete is in matters.  

 “Having that comfortability during my collegiate years and access to continue the sport I am passionate about helped me a lot,” he explained.  

Xavier isn’t the only HBCU in the country with a wrestling program. Howard University, Morgan State University, and Norfolk State University are some of the HBCUs that have also fostered a wrestling program. But the sport doesn’t have a significant presence in Southern states.  

Robinson opened the door for new and experienced wrestlers at Xavier, and now the XULA Wrestling Club aims at present more sporting opportunities for Black athletes. 

In preparation for tournament play in November, Xavier’s Wrestling club has been hosting intense practices. Practice is typically held at the university’s’ Fitness Center where members endure a variety of strength and core conditioning. Participants are pushed to their limits to be the best athlete on the mat. The wrestling club not only teaches students about the sport, but core development skills. 

 “[The wrestling club] made me more personable and connecting with students on campus,” James Searcy, a co-founder of the wrestling club, Public Health major from Macon, Georgia. 

Though one of the main reasons for the intense training is to improve wrestling skills for the players, teamwork is emphasized throughout the workout. Through each exercise, members laugh or encourage each other to persevere through the vigorous training. If one person was left behind during an exercise, the rest of the team would motivate them to continue.   

 “I made some of my strongest bonds with my teammates over crying on the mat in high school,” said Tru Jones, Xavier’s wrestling club secretary, Neuroscience major from Long Beach, California, who added that she does not hesitate to be a helping hand due to her rough beginnings on the wrestling mat. 

“Those things hold very true to me,” she added.  

Micah Cook, a Xavier alumnus from Sylacauga, Alabama, joined the wrestling club because his friends were a part of the club. Cook used his wrestling training as a supplement to improve his skills in mixed martial arts.  

“Joining the wrestling club expanded my mind as far as number the different sports available to you [at Xavier],” Cook said. 

Cook is eager to continue expanding wrestling opportunities for black athletes beyond Xavier. The club encourages all students and alumni to attend their practices and offers students the opportunity to compete nationally and learn the fundamentals of wrestling. 

“I am looking forward to starting an alumni chapter for the wrestling team,” Cook said.