Iowa State wrestling coach Kevin Dresser is not one to hold back.
He certainly didn’t do that on Monday during the Cyclone Tailgate Tour stop in Webster City when asked about the newly formed Cardinal and Gold Collective, which will benefit Iowa State student-athletes in the sport of wrestling.
“I’m excited about our folks,” Dresser said. “We got a bunch of people that kind of spearheaded that out of the Okoboji area and it just gives us a chance to to give our athletes some opportunities. We’ve got a lot of big time athletes, we got some big time recruits and so now these guys are gonna get to go out and do a little work and make some money. That’s the college way right now.”
Every common fan knows that’s the college way right now if they follow football or men’s basketball, but the average fan might be surprised to learn how big of an impact NIL has played in wrestling and women’s basketball.
Dresser says he’s seen and heard of numbers in the six figures for a high-level wrestler.
“Really heavily in wrestling. Maybe more than football or basketball in terms of dollars unless you’re Alabama or Georgia or wherever,” Dresser said. “I think in women’s basketball and wrestling it’s really big right now. We’re seeing six figure numbers. I don’t think football or basketball at Iowa State are seeing those numbers yet but they’re different sports right now.”
