But all of those accolades haven't done him much good finding a college where he can wrestle. As more and more sports for females were added at the college level, more and more wrestling programs were axed. I schools offer the sport at the varsity level, none in the Southeastern Conference. National Open Wrestling Championship is so important. The tournament started Sunday and lasts until Tuesday at the BJCC Arena, with more than 1,000 athletes from 40 states competing.
Chapman is in the same position that more high school wrestlers find themselves in.
With fewer colleges offering varsity wrestling, the opportunities are fewer and the competition is greater. It's even more intense for Alabama prep wrestlers, who have no choice but to go out of state if they want to continue their careers into college. No school in Alabama offers the sport at the varsity level. Chattanooga is the closest school that does. At one time in the late 1970s, Auburn had a top 10 program.