James Buss, a 2014 national Division III wrestling champion, anxiously awaits his first meet as a Millikin University athlete.

Buss won’t have to wait long for his return to the wrestling scene – three home meets are scheduled on November 3rd at the Griswold Center. However, Buss’ inaugural match represents something even greater for Big Blue sports. Millikin’s wrestling program was disbanded in 2008; therefore, the upcoming 2015-2016 season serves as a revival of sorts for the sport at Millikin.

After a seven year hiatus, there are bound to be obstacles along the way. Understandably, other sporting teams have grown accustomed to monopolizing the attention and resources around them.

“We’re kind of on the backburner right now, but we’re hoping we can push ourselves up front.” said Buss.
More than anything, the lack of a stable facility has hindered Buss and his teammates. The team has resorted to visiting off-campus establishments, such as Mt. Zion High School and various Judo clubs, to achieve their mandatory workouts.

“We haven’t had a facility. We’re stressing out about getting mats, showers, everything that we need to be successful,” Buss said.

Without a place to call their own, Buss and his teammates have a harder time accessing the equipment necessary for their success. They are effectively forced to work around the schedules of other athletic departments.

“Right now, we’re having open mats and we have to wait until nine o’clock when volleyball’s done. When we’re going in the weight room, we have to wait until six o’clock because you have got track and football in there.” Buss said.

These inconveniences are especially troubling for wrestlers who have to maintain specific weights in order to compete in their designated classes. Buss himself is currently in the process of losing thirty pounds to meet the demands of his weight class. These rigid guidelines require strenuous workouts on a nearly daily basis.

“Everyone’s always trying to get their beach bodies in the summer, we’re trying to get ours during the winter,” Buss said.

Fortunately, prospects are looking up for Millikin’s wrestling team. A facility, located on North Main and West Wood Street, has been rented out solely for wrestling practice. The building comes equipped with many of the essentials (showers, weight room, film room, et al.) associated with a successful wrestling department. Buss and his teammates will no longer have to seek out other facilities for the means of fulfilling a practice.

Through all of the challenges that come along with restarting an athletic program, Buss remains optimistic about the upcoming season. And, most importantly, he understands that the fate of the newly restored wrestling department will ultimately be determined by the performance of his team. With the upcoming 2015-2016 season, Millikin’s wrestling team has a chance to prove that their athletic program deserves a higher ranking on the totem pole.
On November 3rd, Millikin’s wrestling team can demonstrate exactly what everyone was missing for seven years.

“The only way you can get off the backburner is by doing something.” Buss said.