Owrestle
Greetings from Bartlesville, I hope this note finds you and your family doing well. It has been an exciting off season for the Eagles and we are rolling on preparing for the start of official practice in October. It has been exciting, we have some great new talent on the team and familiar faces ready to move to take on the challenge of the season.
As I am sure you know the wrestlers have been busy but so has the staff. We have planned a great season with many challenging matches and the chance to grow as a family as we work towards our team and individual goals.
The month of October will feature some challenges as we start official practice and the wrestlers get into their midterms. Even through the coming stress, I am confident they are growing as leaders, as men and as students. I look forward to seeing their hard work pay off in the classroom and on the mat as they work towards God’s calling in each of their lives.
Of course, none of this would be possible without your support and I want to thank you for all that you do for us. This year we are fundraising to supplement our season and if you are interested in donating, please visit the OKWU development website at https://www.okwu.edu/wrestling-fundraiser
A final request, please feel free to share this email with your friends and families. We want to share the news of the many blessings we have at OKWU. I am hopeful to see this mailing list double in size this year.
With kind regards,
Tom Carr
Oklahoma Wesleyan University Wrestling Head Coach
New Faces
This year has been a fruitful year in recruiting for the Eagles. We welcomed eleven new face to the team. In the coming weeks, you will get to learn more about them and this season see these new Eagles perform on the mat.
- James Peach – Pryor, OK – A transfer from Carl Albert State College. A two-time state placer, he was a state finalist for the Tigers.
- John Lowery – Grove, OK – 2x Oklahoma state qualifier, 2023 academic state champion, 2023 powerlifting state champion
- Braxton Bacon – Owasso, OK – The former Ram placed 3rd in the 6A Oklahoma State Tournament, All State Selection, two-time Regional Champion, three-time state qualifier.
- Christian Seebold – Tuttle, OK by way of Northeastern Oklahoma A&M. The former Norseman saw action for a very high performing NEO team, wrestling under legendary coach Joe Renfro.
- Bryan Ayala – State Qualifier from Washington
- Mitchel Duncan – Caney Valley, KS. A Louisiana native, Duncan relocated as a junior to the Sunflower state and wrestled heavyweight for the Bullpups.
- Noah Van Foeken – Eudora, KS – Sidelined by Corvid the former Cardinal is a ministry major at OKWU.
- Jerome Cannon – Graduate Transfer – 3rd in Delaware, 4X Sooner Athletic Conference Place Winner
- Daniel Glenn – Gilroy, CA – With the strength of the Gilroy Program Daniel was an unsung hero but he has placed and competed well in many of the toughest west coast tournaments.
- Chase Nerenberg – Peachtree City, GA – Georgia State Qualifier, Sectional Finalist
We also have two new faces on the side of the mat, Ragon Steele and Stephen Dabelko have joined us as coaches.
Coach Steele is a retired coach, who served as the coach at Bartlesville High School. He was a MIAA conference champion for Missouri State University. He has been with us over the summer and has been great to have help on the mat.
Stephen comes to us from Central Christian College of Kansas. He placed in the Sooner Conference all four years of college and was a state finalist in Colorado. He will be working with our lightweights.
Get to know – Braxton Bacon and Captain Wade Landrum
Name: Braxton Bacon 
Where are you from: Owasso, Oklahoma
Area of Study: Business major criminal justice minor
What is your background off the mat?
I was born in Tulsa and grew up in Owasso, Oklahoma. I played baseball and football when I was younger. I enjoy gaming, my favorite is Madden.
What is your family like:
My family is amazing, I have an older brother that wrestled and played football at Owasso. My father Aaron works for Advanced Alarms, he is very calm while I’m wrestling, he is spends a lot of time hunting deer, turkey and boars. My mother Casey is very cheerful and passionate for my wrestling career but she can’t sit still while I am on the mat.
How did you get into wrestling:
My dad wrestled at Broken Arrow and made me start at the Owasso Wrestling Club when I was in the first grade.
What about wrestling brought you to OKWU?:
The environment, everyone I met when I visited made me feel like I was already part of the family.
When did you start to get serious about wrestling?
8th grade year
How did you end up at OKWU?
I was wrestling and Coach Carr reached out to me. My friend Zeke Wheeler was already on the team and I knew Carter Manley from wrestling.
What has been the best part of wrestling at OKWU so far?
The people I’m around
What can people expect when they see you on the mat?
An exciting match
Why should fans be excited about this season?
We have a strong freshman class and we have really good returners on the team.
What is your favorite meal in the OKWU cafeteria?
The French toast sticks
Favorite Sport other than wrestling: Football, the Denver Broncos are my favorite team.
Favorite Movie?
Lion king
What can we find you doing on a weekend when you aren’t wrestling?
Playing Madden or doing my schoolwork
What is your favorite Bible verse and why?
Philipians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ”, I know I can do anything on and off the mat when I’m walking with God.
Get to Know Wade Landrum
What’s your background off the mat?
I was a three-sport athlete in high school consisting of football, wrestling, and track. I am now a secondary education major with the intent to teach and coach.
Where are you from?
Mannford, Oklahoma
What’s your family like?
I am blessed with a close family that enjoys cooking out and watching football.
How did you get into wrestling?
My parents wanted to find a way for me to be in athletics at a young age. They also wanted to teach me discipline, responsibility, and a way to burn my excess of energy.
What about wrestling brought you to OKWU?
A great environment
When did you really start to take wrestling seriously and realize you could be pretty good?
In my first match of freshman year, I knew that I had the work ethic and drive to compete with some of the best wrestlers in Oklahoma.
How did you end up at Oklahoma Wesleyan?
I transferred in during my sophomore year of college.
What are you enjoying the most so far about wrestling for OKWU?
My teammates are a pivotal part of my time at OKWU. I enjoy their camaraderie and work ethic that push me to be the best version of myself.
What can OKWU fans expect when they see you on the mat?
A wrestler that looks to control the match and continue to wrestle until the final whistle blows.
Why should fans be excited about this season of OKWU wrestling?
OKWU Wrestling is in a special place this year. We have a mix of seasoned upperclassmen and an exciting recruiting class. We intend to work together to make a historic season for the program.
Favorite meal?
Steak and vegetables
Favorite sport other than wrestling?
Football
Favorite movie?
Star Wars Revenge of the Sith
What can we find you doing on a Saturday when you aren’t wrestling?
I love to spend Saturdays with my family watching college football.
Favorite place in Bartlesville?
Abelardos
Favorite verse and why?
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:2 KJV
I strive to be a person that can turn people to Christ by the way I carry myself. I pray that God work through my heart, mind, and actions to continue to grow.
Season Tickets
For the first time OKWU is offering our season tickets for purchase, this is the perfect way for you and your family to support the Eagles at all of our home events this season. The $50-dollar donation includes an OKWU Wrestling polo shirt valued at $45 dollars as well as seating for home matches.
Post-Match Socials
As you mark your calendar with our home events, please set aside time to join us post-match for a social. I will be in touch in the next week or so to share the information on location and times.
Sponsorship Opportunities
As we move into the season, we will begin seeking sponsorships from our community. This year it is our goal to sell the naming rights to our two home tournaments as well as sponsorships for each of the ten weight classes. If you know of any businesses that would be interested in supporting the Eagles or if you would be interested yourself, would you please reach out to Coach Carr at [email protected]. Building support in our community is one of the best ways to increase the visibility of the program and the experience of our student athletes.
Home Events
I don’t like to release the schedule until the poster is ready. I think it is something that the wrestlers look forward too and I hope you hang one on your refrigerator at home. That said, with the season so close, I wanted to send you a preview of our 5 home events this season. We welcome the first Division I team OKWU has ever wrestled to Bartlesville on November 11th for an early afternoon dual. Bucknell is a solid program with several national qualifiers that will be an early test. Nationally ranked Ottawa will be in Bartlesville early in December and we will finish off the first semester with an open tournament at home.
| Bucknell University | H | Dual | 11/11/2023 |
| Bethany College | H | Dual | 11/15/2023 |
| Ottawa University | H | Dual | 12/7/2023 |
| 918 Open | H | IBT | 12/16/2023 |
| Green Country Duals | H | Multi Dual | 1/11/2024 |
How to follow the Eagles this season
Make sure to subscribe to our social media accounts @OKWUWrestling on Twitter and Instagram as well as our YouTube page. All home and conference events will be streamed on the KCAC Network. https://www.kcacnetwork.com/okwu/ Make sure to bookmark the link so you can stay up on our events.
New Team Gear
For some time, I have been seeking out a solution to providing a merchandise line for friends and family of the program. With that TeeSpring has a wide variety of merchandise that is available at reasonable prices. We have started launched a store with everything from shirts to flags. Everything you need to be equipped for the season.
https://okwuwrestling.creator-spring.com/
Schedule Preview
As we put the finishing touches on our schedule. We are looking forward to some great competition, including a return to the Missouri Valley Open, we will welcome, Ottawa and Bethany in conference action as well as Texas Wesleyan, Oklahoma City and Saint Mary’s. There will be a big dual against a team we have never wrestled before to kick off the season. Keep an eye out for our team poster to debut with the full schedule soon.
OKWU Wrestling Sponsorship Opportunities 2023-24
Poster Sponsorship $1,000
Your logo featured prominently on our team poster. 5,000 copies of the poster will be distributed in the Bartlesville area. One spot available. We will also recognize your organization in email blasts to local wrestling supporters.
Weight Class Sponsor $150
A presenting sponsor for each of the ten collegiate weight classes. This spot will be featured on a banner hung in the gym, program, score sheet and announced prior and during the competition. 10 available.
Title Sponsorships
Open Tournament $500
On December 16th some of the best collegiate wrestlers in Oklahoma will take the mat in an open format. Name recognition in programs and on date line of poster and distribution of information in the visiting team guide and coach’s packet.
Dual Meet Tournament $500
Collegiate teams clash in Bartlesville in a dual meet format tournament. Sponsorship includes recognition in programs, PA announcements, and distribution of information in the visiting team guide and coaches’ packet.
