University of Connecticut Wrestling
NEWS & RESULTS
Under Construction
2019
UConn Wrestling has a Multi-sport Athlete
Sept. 10, 2016-Storrs, CT-UConn Wrestling team is pleased to announce that UConn wrestling All-American Stevan Webb has made the 2016-17 UConn cheerleading squad and will be performing at all the Husky football games this season as well as other sports. Steve becomes the third Husky wrestler to participate in cheerleading as Richie Zschoche did the same during the early years of the wrestling program. Also, it was well known that popular wrestler John Casper did the same from inside the "Jonathan" costume during his time here. Good luck to the cheerleading squad and be certain that Steve lines up at the bottom of the pyramid.
A Legend Steps down in Connecticut
May 7, 2016-Storrs, CT-The 2015-16 wrestling season at the University of Connecticut marked a turning point for the revived program as success was experienced at the National level like never before. Unfortunately for the Huskies, a coaching change will take place as Head Coach Rick Bartel has announced that he will retire from the ranks following this academic year. The 38 year veteran coach was handed the reins upon the program’s revival in 2007 and has been successful in building the type of team that all of Connecticut can be proud of. He has coached 10 NCWA All-Americans and is particularly proud of having coached 14 Academic All-Americans as his teams has been known nationwide for having produced graduates of the highest quality. He has been a fixture with the NCWA since the early years in the 1990’s as UConn is the 2nd college program he has initiated. A native of Burrillville, Rhode Island, Rick was Captain of the original Bronco wrestling team at the local High School. A distinguished graduate of Rhode Island College, Rick wrestled for 4 seasons in the 177 lb. weight class for the “Anchormen” including the undefeated team of 1974-75.
As an award winning teacher with the Providence (RI) Public School System, Rick has coached High School teams at Providence's Hope HS & Central HS, Our Lady of Providence Seminary, and Ponaganset HS (Foster/Glocester, RI). During his tenure at Central HS, he had the distinction of having coached Rhode Island’s only Senior High School All-American wrestler. In 1999, he became the first Head Coach of wrestling at Bryant University and is the founder of the popular NCWA Groundhog Day and Connecticut Collegiate Classic Wrestling Tournaments. Rick also coached High School football at Hope HS for many years and is currently a baseball umpire from the youth level to adult. He has been a referee of Youth, Middle School and High School wrestling in RI & CT for many years as well as with the NCWA. He has worked the wrestling camp circuit during the summer months as well as doing work for the Beat the Streets wrestling program in Providence, RI. Rick and his wife Diane reside in Foster, RI and have two grown children. He is presently on the faculty of the Ocean Tides School in RI and plans to pursue his new #1 sport, Stihl Timbersports as well as raising farm animals at his beloved farm.
A nationwide search has begun for a successor as the focus has been on the many successful professionals in the UConn alumni community as this may assure continuity of the current program goals and strengths. Coach Bartel has expressed an interest in assisting the team on an administrative basis and will be available for consultation. Any & all interested candidates should contact the team’s leadership.
