- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

Little Rock Wrestling Team Donates Over 200 Hams to Feed the Hungry

John Hill — Fri, 16 Dec 2022 22:40:02 +0000

The has donated more than 200 hams to the nonprofit to help feed people in need in central Arkansas. The hams will be distributed to Arkansas families during a Christmas celebration at the Arkansas Dream Center on Dec. 16. Every Arkansan will also deliver hams to their 14 mobile sites in Central Arkansas during the week of Christmas. “I am very excited by this donation,” said Tori Martinez, office administrator for Every Arkansan. “It’s been a blessing to serve so many families this Christmas. We look forward to doing more together with the Little Rock Wrestling team in the future.” Members of the Little Rock Wrestling Team were on hand for seven hours on Friday, Dec. 16, to hand out hams, but the best part of the day for the wrestlers was loading the 203 donated hams into Every Arkansan’s van. “It feels really good to know that these hams are going to a good place and that our efforts are going to help feed those in need,” said Mason Diel, a redshirt freshman wrestling student-athlete from Hartland, Wisconsin. This is the fourth year that the wrestling team has held their annual ham sale fundraiser and the third year of partnering with Every Arkansas to provide hams for Central Arkansas families. All proceeds will support both the Little Rock wrestling program and Every Arkansan.

The Little Rock Wrestling Team donated 203 hams to nonprofit partner Every Arkansan on Dec. 16.

When purchasing hams, there was an option to directly donate a ham to Every Arkansan to give to local families. Hams weigh from 8-10 pounds, feed up to 16 people, and cost $50. Austin Schafer, assistant wrestling coach, said the coaches were on site for an extra four hours on both Dec. 15 and 16 to get all the hams ready for pickup. “This was my first year enjoying the ham sale, but it’s the fourth year so the team has got a pretty good system down,” Schafer said. “I think it’s a great idea to give back to the community around us.” The wrestling team met this year’s goal of delivering at least 200 hams to those in need. Last year, they delivered more than 125 hams to Every Arkansas. Overall, the wrestling team sold 630 hams during the annual fundraiser. “More importantly, being a part of the Little Rock community, we were grateful to be able to get involved with the community, for the partnership with Every Arkansan and the Arkansas Dream Center, and very grateful for everything that they do for the community,” Head Wrestling Coach Neil Erisman said.

Little Rock Wrestling Feeds Local Families with Holiday Ham Sale

John Hill — Wed, 30 Nov 2022 14:48:02 +0000

The Little Rock wrestling team has launched their fourth annual holiday Ham Sale, setting a goal of selling 750 total hams to fundraise for the program and feed local families. The Trojans are partnering with the nonprofit Every Arkansan for the third year in a row with hopes of hand-delivering 200 hams to those in need. Last year, Little Rock wrestling and Every Arkansan teamed up to provide over 125 hams to families in the Little Rock area. The team needs your help to surpass that this holiday season. “This is a great tradition and fantastic fundraiser that helps with everything from team travel to team gear,” said head coach Neil Erisman. “It is also a way to serve our community through our partnership with Every Arkansan,��a great organization that helps so many people. We look forward to this time of the year.” All proceeds will support both the Little Rock wrestling program and Every Arkansan. When purchasing, there is an option to directly donate a ham to Every Arkansan to give to local families. With 39% of people in Arkansas living below the poverty line, your support will directly provide holiday meals for the community. Hams weigh from 8-10 pounds, feed up to 16 people, and have a price tag of just $50. Each ham comes custom-ordered and fully cooked, with the option of smoked or sugared. Smoked hams are done professionally using hand-cut wood, while sugared hams are seasoned with a blend of brown sugar and spices which results in delicious, light, sweet and salty flavor. All hams will be available for pickup on Dec. 16 from 12-6 p.m. at the Hatcher Wrestling Facility on the campus of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. Orders will be accepted through Dec. 15 and can be .

Little Rock Wrestling Partners with Every Arkansan to Help Families in Need

John Hill — Mon, 20 Dec 2021 15:52:18 +0000

The has received donations of 115 hams that will go to help families in need during the holiday season. In partnership with , the Little Rock Wrestling Team collected donations from the community during their third annual ham sale fundraiser. Each ham, which cost $50, weighs 8-10 pounds and can feed up to 16 people. “I think it’s awesome that we can help people in need,” said Will Edgar, a junior psychology major and student-athlete from O’Fallon, Illinois. “It’s something we can do to connect with the community and to show them they are just as much a part of this family as we are.” On Dec. 17, members of Every Arkansan, a culmination of the Arkansas Dream Center and CityServe Arkansas, collected the donated hams from the Hatcher Wrestling Center to distribute to the community. “Our mobile team will go out to multiple communities in the area and bless many families with these hams before Christmas,” said Tori Martinez, an administrator for Every Arkansan. “We are very thankful for Little Rock Wrestling’s help with this wonderful fundraiser.” In addition to the mobile unit, the Arkansas Dream Center held a family night on Dec. 17 where the families had dinner and watched a holiday program put on by the children. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock wrestling student-athletes also attended the event and handed out hams to families in attendance. “We as a program appreciate the opportunity to partner with Every Arkansan,” said Tanner Mendoza, a sophomore student-athlete from Tempe, Arizona. “They give us a chance to be active in the community. I was very excited to see the families at the Arkansas Dream Center and how excited they were to take home a ham for Christmas.”

Wrestling student-athletes take donated hams to Every Arkansan’s vehicle.

This is the highest amount of donated hams the wrestling team has collected to date. Last year’s fundraiser brought in 85 hams for the community. “I am super proud of our guys and what they have done this year on the mat, in the classroom, and in the community,” Head Wrestling Coach Neil Erisman said. “We sold 600 hams total and will feed 125 families in need this holiday season through the nonprofit Every Arkansan and local churches. This annual fundraiser is a great way for us to give back to the Little Rock community and will also greatly support our student athletes, as it directly helps them be better in every way. Thank you to all who supported us!”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Wrestling Announces Third-Annual Holiday Ham Sale, Partnership with Nonprofit Every Arkansan

John Hill — Wed, 24 Nov 2021 14:14:24 +0000

The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock wrestling team has announced the launch of their third-annual fundraising Ham Sale, partnering with the nonprofit Every Arkansan for the second year in a row with the goal of selling 500 hams this holiday season. All proceeds will support both the Little Rock wrestling program and Every Arkansan. In addition, there is also an option to directly donate a ham to Every Arkansan to give to local families. Last year, Little Rock wrestling and Every Arkansan teamed up for the first time, feeding 85 families in need, and look to surpass that number this holiday season. With 39 percent of people in Arkansas living below the poverty line, your support will directly provide holiday meals for the community. “We are excited to be doing our ham fundraiser again,” said head coach Neil Erisman. “This is great for our program not only financially, but it’s also a great way that we get to engage and serve the community. We are so grateful to everyone who participates. Help us meet our goal!” Hams weigh from 8-10 pounds, feed up to 16 people, and have a price tag of just $50. Each ham come custom-ordered and fully cooked, with the option of smoked or sugared. Smoked hams are done professionally using hand-cut wood, while sugared hams are seasoned with a blend of brown sugar and spices which results in delicious, light, sweet and salty flavor. All hams will be available for pickup from 11 a.m. through 6 p.m. on Dec. 17 at the Hatcher Wrestling Facility at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. Orders will be accepted through Dec. 15. Order your ham by . For the latest information on Little Rock Wrestling, make sure to check out

Chandler Rogers Added to Little Rock Wrestling Staff

John Hill — Fri, 28 Aug 2020 19:03:47 +0000

Little Rock wrestling has named as its newest addition to the staff. Rogers, a former Oklahoma State wrestler, was also coached by current Little Rock head coach Neil Erisman in high school. “Chandler brings an exciting new dynamic to our staff and program,” said Erisman. “His character, background, and wrestling knowledge have instantly elevated us. We are already seeing dividends of having him here on staff and we are grateful for him and his wife, Tori, for believing in our mission and joining us here in Little Rock.” Rogers joins the Trojans as an assistant coach after spending a year as director of operations for Air Force wrestling, where his duties included logistics, management, and social media support. Concurrently, Rogers spent his time in Colorado Springs pursuing his wrestling career as a 2020 Olympic Trials qualifier and fourth on the ladder in the nation. His post-collegiate wrestling career is fairly new yet highly impressive. In April 2019, Rogers represented the United States men’s freestyle team at the 2019 Pan American Championships in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Rogers was instrumental in the USA’s momentous showing as the squad swept all 10 gold medals in freestyle for the first time in history. Since then, Rogers took third at the U.S. Open in Senior Greco and later recorded a second-place finish at the U23 Greco World Team Trials. Rogers graduated from Oklahoma State in 2019 with a degree in general education after a successful four years with the decorated Cowboy wrestling program. He was a four-year starter for Oklahoma State, a three-time NCAA qualifier, two-time All-American, and Big 12 champion at 165 pounds. During his five years with the Cowboys, he compiled a record of 110-30, claiming top honors at several tournaments. The Stillwater, Oklahoma, native had a successful prep career as well, finishing with a 169-6 record with Stillwater High School. Rogers’s accomplishments included being a Fila Cadet World team member in 2012, four-time state champion, three-time Greco National Champion, Folkstyle National Champion, and six-time All-American. “I’m excited to join the Little Rock staff, and I’m really grateful that Neil could give me the opportunity to start my coaching career at the Division I level,” said Rogers. “I feel like I’m going to be in good hands with experienced coaches like Coach Neil and Coach Javi. I’m looking forward to working with all the guys and seeing what we can do this year.” Rogers will assist in all aspects of the Little Rock wrestling program as the Trojans head into their second season this year.

Little Rock Wrestling names Javier Maldonado as assistant coach

Janea Snyder — Tue, 28 May 2019 15:43:13 +0000

Little Rock head wrestling coach Neil Erisman today announced the addition of Javier Maldonado as the first assistant coach in Trojan program history.

“Javier is going to be a great addition to our program,” Erisman said. “His knowledge, experience and overall character align with who we are and the direction we are going. He has a unique experience in building a program from scratch as well, so those insights will be invaluable as we build ours. I am thrilled to have Javier and his family here at Little Rock.”

Maldonado has spent the past four seasons as the head coach at Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida. Maldonado faced a similar challenge as Erisman, building a program from scratch, and led the Fire to a 41-31 dual meet record in his four years.

During his tenure at Southeastern, Maldonado mentored 18 national qualifiers with six wrestlers earning NAIA All-America honors. His teams posted a winning record in three of his four seasons, winning 12 dual meets in both 2015-16 and 2018-19.

Additionally, Southeastern finished 12th in the 2019 National Wrestling Coaches’ Association Scholar All-American rankings with a combined 3.145 GPA for his starting lineup.

Prior to his time at Southeastern, Maldonado spent five seasons as an assistant coach at his alma mater of Osceola High School in Kissimmee, Florida. During his time with the Kowboys, Maldonado coached seven individual state champions, 22 state place winners and nine All-Americans. As a team, Osceola finished in the top five in the state 3A rankings four times.

He also previously served as an assistant coach at Las Cruces High School in New Mexico and as a graduate assistant at NCAA Division I University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

Maldonado was a three-time NCAA qualifier at 125 during his collegiate career at Chattanooga, capturing the Southern Conference individual title in 2006, 2007 and 2008. Maldonado posted a 79-31 record during his career with the Mocs, and his successes were not just limited to the mat as he was also a three-time NCWA Academic All-American and All-Southern Conference Academic Team member.

The Kissimmee, Florida native was a two-time Florida state champion at Osceola, going 44-1 as a senior. Maldonado was named a Senior Nationals Freestyle All-American and was an Academic Hall of Fame member, notching a pair of district titles.

Maldonado joins Erisman as the duo continue the task of building Little Rock’s inaugural wrestling roster to begin competition in fall 2019. The Trojans have secured a conference affiliation, announcing its invitation to join the Pac-12 last week, and are working to complete Little Rock’s inaugural schedule, which will be released later this summer.

Little Rock Wrestling Teams Up with MatTalk Online to Produce Rocked Up Podcast

Ajani Oyindamola — Mon, 13 May 2019 15:33:37 +0000

As the University of Arkansas at Little Rock continues to inch closer to its inaugural season of Division I wrestling this fall, the Trojans will have an additional resource to help tell its story. Little Rock Wrestling has teamed up with MatTalk Online, founded by Jason Bryant, to help produce the Rocked Up podcast, a serialized, storytelling format which will serve a dual purpose. The series will tell more than just the story of how wrestling came to Little Rock, but will outline how the sport surfaced in Arkansas and why building the sport at the high school level was crucial to the addition of the sport on the Little Rock campus. Season one of the podcast will include 12 episodes released every two to three weeks leading up to the start of the wrestling season in November. Those podcasts are available at ,��and through the link on the wrestling home page at LRTrojans.com. The first two episodes of the series, “Where the Journey Begins” (episode one) and “The Chicken or the Egg” (episode two) are currently available. “Little Rock is unique in the aspect that while it’s not the first state school to add or reinstate a Division I wrestling program in recent memory, it is the first to do it in a state that didn’t even have high school wrestling not that long ago,” Bryant said. “The story isn’t just about the school, but about the entire wrestling community and how Little Rock is now poised to truly be a flagship institution for a sport within Arkansas.” Bryant, president of the National Wrestling Media Association and an 11-time Wrestling Journalism and Broadcasting Award winner, visited Little Rock in December 2018 to record much of the audio footage for the program. Those interviews encompassed a wide range of specialization – everything from Little Rock athletic and university administrators to community leaders and Little Rock sports media personalities, giving insight to the unique opportunity wrestling will play in Arkansas. “I am very excited about partnering with Mat Talk Online and Jason Bryant on this fantastic podcast,” said Little Rock head coach Neil Erisman. “To understand the significance of our program, it is important to know the history and culture of wrestling. This is what season one of Rocked Up is all about. I believe the story behind it embodies who we are, the direction we are already going and what being ‘Rocked Up’ is really all about. The story is fascinating and will leave listeners wanting to know more as we lead up to the Trojans stepping on the mat for the first time.” The idea for the podcast came in a meeting of the minds between coach Erisman and Bryant, giving a natural platform to promote the sport not just in the state of Arkansas, but throughout the national scene. “The relationship I’ve built with Coach Erisman over the years has been a good one, and he was really on board with giving me an opportunity to do something more creative to tell that story,” said Bryant. “There will be hundreds of other institutions nationwide following Little Rock’s lead. As a wrestling advocate, that’s beneficial to the entire health and longevity of the sport. We’ve seen how well Arkansas has taken to high school wrestling. Now we can document the story of how those kids now have an opportunity to compete at the highest level.” Little Rock’s wrestling program continues to build from the ground up – literally and figuratively. To date, five wrestlers are currently enrolled in classes on campus and training with a significant number of newcomers expected to be announced in the coming weeks. Construction continues on the Trojans’ 19,000-square foot state-of-the-art Hatcher Wrestling Complex, expected to be completed later this summer. Coach Erisman continues to build Little Rock’s inaugural schedule, which will also be released later this summer. Season tickets for the 2019 Trojan wrestling slate are currently on sale, beginning at $30 for general admission seats. Mat side seating is also available in limited quantities as tickets for the inaugural season of Little Rock wrestling can be secured by contacting in the Trojan ticket office at 501-569-3393 or e-mail at sajones3@ualr.edu.

- University News Archive - ����Vlog��ý Little Rock