Morgan State University Men’s Wrestling Joins the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association

Bears Become the 12^th Member School Added to the Nation’s Oldest Wrestling Conference and the First HBCU in EIWA History

BALTIMORE — The Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) has approved Morgan State University’s addition as its newest member institution. Morgan State has become the 12th member of the EIWA, the oldest wrestling conference in the nation, and the first Historically Black College and/or University (HBCU) member since the conference’s founding. The Bears will make their EIWA dual meet debut at Lehigh University on November 15 at 7 p.m.  

“This is an exciting time for Morgan State. The EIWA is a great fit for our wrestling program competitively, academically and regionally,” said Dena Freeman-Patton, vice president and director of Athletics at Morgan. “Our student-athletes are looking forward to competing for championships.”

“I'm pleased to welcome Morgan State University as the newest member in the long and storied history of the EIWA.  Starting back in 1904, the EIWA member institutions have been committed to advancing the sport of wrestling and providing all participants with an elite Championship experience,” said EIWA Executive Director Gene Nighman welcoming the Bears with open arms. “As we approach the start of the 121st season, the EIWA is proud to have the only HBCU program as one of our members and looks forward to all twelve EIWA schools gathering at Lehigh University on March 7 for the 2025 EIWA Championship Tournament.”

In October 2021, the University announced it would revive the wrestling program after a 24-year hiatus. The program's relaunch was supported by a $2.7 million gift, the largest single donation in the Athletic Department’s history. Mike Novogratz and the HBCU Wrestling (HCUW) Initiative, whose sole mission is to restore wrestling at HBCUs, spearheaded the gift.

Over the decades, various collegiate wrestling programs nationwide have disappeared due to Title IX and/or lack of funding. Morgan’s program was included among those affected. Today, Morgan is the only HBCU Division 1 wrestling program in the country.

The Bears first competed in the sport in the early 1950s. They were dominant well into the 60s, winning multiple conference titles. Morgan State's most recent success began in 1975 when James Phillips took over as the head coach. Of his 20 seasons at the helm, the Bears won 13 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) titles while earning Coach of the Year 12 times. He coached four national champions and 75 All-Americans during his tenure. Due to a lack of resources, the wrestling program was ended after the 1996-97 season.

Kenny Monday was hired as the program’s head coach to much fanfare in the summer of 2022. Monday, a three-time NCAA All-American at Oklahoma State who claimed two runner-up finishes and one championship took on the challenge to bring the Bears back to prominence. His career record of 122-12-2 is considered among the greatest in wrestling history at a traditional powerhouse program.  Following his NCAA wrestling career, he claimed an Olympic gold in 1988, silver in 1992, and a 6^th place finish in 1996. Coincidentally, as a perfect fit for the program, his gold medal in 1988 was the first ever won by an African American in wrestling. Monday was named a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2001. Two decades later, he is still adding to his resume as a head coach. Before Morgan State, he coached at Spire Academy, UNC Chapel Hill, and Bishop Lynch High School in Dallas, TX.

“Morgan State University's acceptance into the prestigious Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association conference marks a monumental milestone in the history of our wrestling program. This achievement is a testament to the tireless efforts, dedication, and resilience of our administration, coaches, and student-athletes,” said Coach Monday. “As we join the ranks of the EIWA, I'm very excited and honored as we're looking forward to elevating our competition, fostering growth, and making a lasting impact in the collegiate wrestling community.”

Mike Moyer, the executive director of the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA), echoes the sentiment.

“I know I can speak for the NWCA Board of Directors when I extend a heartfelt thanks to the EIWA coaches and administrators for inviting the nation's only D1-affiliated HBCU wrestling program as their twelfth member,” said Moyer. “Morgan State has a proud academic and athletic tradition that is aligned with the EIWA member schools and a location that fits nicely into the geographic conference footprint.  This is sure to create new regional rivalries that will strengthen the storied history of the EIWA as the oldest wrestling conference in the nation.”

The Bears will showcase their talents next in the Blue vs Orange intrasquad dual on October 18 at 5 p.m. on the campus of Morgan State. They officially open the season on November 2 at the Southeast Open. The full schedule can be viewed online: Morgan State 2024-25 Schedule

About Morgan

Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering more than 150 academic degree and certificate programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland’s Preeminent Public Urban Research University and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.

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