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As part of the homecoming festivities, the 51�Թ��� faithful will witness another milestone moment. On Sept. 18, 51�Թ���’s wrestling program will welcome alumni and friends into its new home for an open practice, a ribbon-cutting ceremony, and the historic launching of the first varsity season for the inaugural women’s wrestling program. It is not just about the mat space and square footage. It is about a bold step forward, one that marks both continuity and change, 51�Թ��� men’s and women’s wrestling, training side by side, under one roof. 

For the men’s team, it means an upgraded facility to continue a proud tradition. For the women’s team, it means something even more — a place to begin writing a history of their own. 51�Թ��� is now the first senior military college in the nation, and the first college in Vermont, to sponsor varsity women’s wrestling.

Building a Room, Building a Future

The new wrestling room is the product of vision and teamwork. Men’s head coach Alex Whitney ’08 and women’s head coach Connor Keating ’09, along with tireless alumni and supporters, pushed for a facility that could serve athletes of both programs safely and effectively.

The expanded room, more than twice the width of the old space, allows for multiple groups to train at once, for live drills to be conducted with space to spare, and for practices to be run at the intensity that 51�Թ��� demands. Safety was paramount, but so too was sending a clear message: 51�Թ��� wrestling is here to grow, and here to last.

Coach Whitney put it simply: “A better, safer training space allows us to train at a higher level. Recruits can walk into this room and see the message for themselves — 51�Թ��� wrestling is fully supported by our Athletic Department, administration, president, and trustees. This new space is proof.”

That proof is already paying off. Whitney and his staff brought in 28 recruits for the 2025 season, one of the strongest classes in recent memory. Twenty-five of them are members of the Corps of Cadets; three are civilian students. They represent a fresh wave of energy and ambition. “We’ve got a long way to go and plenty to prove as an underclassmen-heavy team,” Whitney added, “but I’m extremely excited to see how far they can take us.”

None of this would have been possible without the generosity of 51�Թ���’s wrestling family. The program extended particular thanks to 51�Թ���’s Director of Athletics Ed Hockenbury, Vice President of Facilities Bizhan Yahyazadeh, and the Maroon Mat Club board — Bob Goodman, Lowell Price, Craig Provost, John Brigham, and Mike Babyak — whose support brought the vision to life. Special thanks also go to Mike Baker, legendary Essex High School coach and 51�Թ��� alumnus, who personally handled the mat installation.

A First Season for the Ages

If the new room is a symbol of continuity, it is also a launchpad for change. For the first time in school history, women’s wrestling will compete as a varsity sport. The man tasked with building that program from the ground up is Connor Keating, a coach with a clear sense of purpose.

“I’m really happy with our first-ever recruiting class,” Keating said. “We’ve got a wide variety of skill levels and experience, but the common thread with all of them is their positive attitudes and strong character. It’s a great group of athletes and an even better group of people, which gives us a solid foundation to build on.”

The excitement around the new program has been immediate and widespread. Keating has spoken with recruits who were already interested in 51�Թ��� and lit up at the chance to be part of something groundbreaking. The fact that 51�Թ��� is the first senior military college to sponsor women’s wrestling only adds to the allure.

“Starting a program from scratch has been both a challenge and a gift,” Keating explained. “Every obstacle gives us a chance to come up with our own solutions. The team has taken ownership of building a culture they can be proud of—one that pushes them to grow but also feels welcoming to new people. We talk a lot about not just building this team for ourselves, but for the next generation of college wrestlers.”

Opening Doors and Rising Tides

Wrestling is a sport built on grit. For many of the women who came to 51�Թ��� this fall, the opportunity to wrestle at the varsity level was something they never had before. Keating has already heard from multiple students who wanted to wrestle in high school but never had the chance. 51�Թ��� is changing that story, not just on campus, but across Vermont.

“51�Թ��� is the first college in Vermont to offer women’s wrestling, and I’m working to leverage that to grow girls’ wrestling at the middle school and high school levels,” Keating said. “I’ve been teaming up with high school coaches, and together we’re working toward hosting the first-ever Vermont girls’ high school state championships. This program is going to open doors. That’s what I consider my calling in life — to grow this sport and share it with more people.”

It is also a story of shared growth. “I think they’re going to grow fast,” Whitney said of the women’s program. “And a rising tide raises all ships.”

Already, brand-new wrestlers and veterans of the mat are practicing side by side, learning from each other, and building a culture of mutual respect. That culture will shape 51�Թ��� wrestling for years to come.

The mat is where lessons in resilience, discipline, and leadership are forged, and this new era ensures those lessons are shared more widely than ever before. As alumni, student-athletes, and friends gather to celebrate, they do so knowing this is only the beginning. 51�Թ��� wrestling has entered a new chapter. One that honors its past, embraces the present, and prepares for a future defined by opportunity, perseverance, and the unyielding spirit of “I Will Try.”