The National College Athletes Association (NCAA) is currently installing the extension of scholarships, which has caused an uproar in Lewis Center, Ohio.
Previously, all teams sanctioned in the NCAA wrestling programs were allowed 15 scholarships. However, teams are now permitted 30 . This means it may be easier to receive a scholarship. Over at Pursuit Wrestling Club, the coaching staff voiced their opinions and did not take anything back.
While the wrestling world was still in shock at the new NCAA news, Brakan Mead, head coach of the Pursuit Wrestling Club has stated his stance on the topic of discussion in support of the hold back year.
In Pursuit’s blog called “The Hold Back Year”, written by contributors at Pursuit Wrestling Club, elaborated further on how much this could change a student’s life.
“This topic shouldn’t be taboo. It hurts a lot of kids and families that don’t understand the systems at play.” contributors said.
“The Hold Back Year” refers to the action of holding back a child in elementary and/or middle school to help them receive an athletic scholarship to top-tier and prestigious schools of the NCAA.
Coaches seen in the specific Instagram reel point out certain children of the crowd, calling out what grades people are to repeat this next school year due to the new scholarship amount allowed. However, this was met with local and universal backlash, especially from the content director and senior editor of Flosports and Flowrestling, Christian Pyles.
Pyles has since the post of the “Hold Back Year” reel, spoken out against the coaching staff of Pursuit Wrestling Club.
Pyles states that the coaching staff is, “Overstepping and Overreaching”, to express his concern with holding back the children of the club.
Pursuit still now encourages the hold-back year to a few wrestlers after the internet feud. When one takes a quick scroll through Pursuit’s social media, one shall see plenty of posts mocking Pyles. Pursuit plans its explanation to the hold-back year soon, but for now, the main cause for a hold-back year is it can help a student-athlete academically and set them up for success when it comes to scholarships from colleges around the nation.
