Cyclone Fans:
Never in the history of college athletics has there been a time when the financial contributions of individuals and corporations have mattered more. The fact of the matter is: Donor dollars increase the ability to win!
I have spent hundreds of hours this past year talking about the importance of donor dollars for both the newly formed Cardinal & Gold Collective and the Cyclone Regional Training Center.
Both the Collective and the Cyclone RTC are invaluable to running a top-notch Division I wrestling program. Teams at the very top increasingly operate as their own small businesses. As the CEO of the Cyclone Wrestling program, it is on my staff and I -- along with all of our many supporters -- to find the resources to win. The ability of wrestling programs to meet this challenge will determine their chances of succeeding the highest level, which continues to be my goal.
The Cardinal & Gold Collective was formed in May 2023 and it already is having an impact on our team and athletes. The Collective is a for-profit corporation managed and run out of Okoboji, IA by Ryan and Patty Rohlk. They started the Collective to provide Name, Image, and Likeness opportunities for wrestlers. These wrestlers make appearances for payment throughout the state, around the calendar. Donation dollars to the Collective are not tax deductible, due to IRS rules.
In just one year, the Collective has become a key player in our landscape. It has helped our athletes pay their college bills and enabled the Collective to attract top competitors to Ames. I believe that showed with our 4th place finish this year at the NCAA Tournament in Kansas City.
The Collective also just hired David Carr in the position of associate director – allowing him to use his skills to communicate with key athletes and also raise money to attract and keep those athletes.
David just kicked off his first Collective campaign to encourage 500 new donors to make monthly contributions to the Collective – at the $50 and $100 levels. You can respond to that campaign HERE (https://cardinalandgold.org/support-our-athletes/) and help David towards his goal of 500!
You also can make a donation of your choice at that link.
The other major driver of our success is the Cyclone RTC – a 501©3 nonprofit organization we formed in April 2017 to support our staff and our athletes and all the expenses they incur to train and compete, mainly in freestyle wrestling events throughout the season and the off season. This provides us with a much-needed Olympic/freestyle component.
The C-RTC also currently supports four post-graduate athletes who are invaluable training partners in the practice room: R. Ortega, D Carr, M. Coleman, and D. Lee.
And the RTC offers training opportunities for other college athletes and qualified HS wrestlers within 250 miles of Ames. Hundreds of wrestlers over the past 7 years have come to Ames – and continue to come to train with the Cyclone RTC.
Next month is the kick-off of a summer full of C-RTC events and we invite you to join us at one of those. Take a look HERE (https://cyclonertc.org/#events) to see if you can fit any of these into your schedule. Right now would be a great time to register for any of these events! I’ll personally be at each one with my staff and athletes and would love to see you there.
The purpose of my message today is to update and educate all of you who have supported us over the years in some form or fashion, whether that was by giving money, participating in a golf event, donating an auction item or maybe just being a fan and season ticket holder.
Finally, and most importantly, we cannot win without you – our financial partners! I truly look at every dollar coming into our two organizations as a partnership with our program. I encourage you to take the first step toward a partnership with us – and thank those of you who already help us for your continued support.
Coach Dresser
Never in the history of college athletics has there been a time when the financial contributions of individuals and corporations have mattered more. The fact of the matter is: Donor dollars increase the ability to win!
I have spent hundreds of hours this past year talking about the importance of donor dollars for both the newly formed Cardinal & Gold Collective and the Cyclone Regional Training Center.
Both the Collective and the Cyclone RTC are invaluable to running a top-notch Division I wrestling program. Teams at the very top increasingly operate as their own small businesses. As the CEO of the Cyclone Wrestling program, it is on my staff and I -- along with all of our many supporters -- to find the resources to win. The ability of wrestling programs to meet this challenge will determine their chances of succeeding the highest level, which continues to be my goal.
The Cardinal & Gold Collective was formed in May 2023 and it already is having an impact on our team and athletes. The Collective is a for-profit corporation managed and run out of Okoboji, IA by Ryan and Patty Rohlk. They started the Collective to provide Name, Image, and Likeness opportunities for wrestlers. These wrestlers make appearances for payment throughout the state, around the calendar. Donation dollars to the Collective are not tax deductible, due to IRS rules.
In just one year, the Collective has become a key player in our landscape. It has helped our athletes pay their college bills and enabled the Collective to attract top competitors to Ames. I believe that showed with our 4th place finish this year at the NCAA Tournament in Kansas City.
The Collective also just hired David Carr in the position of associate director – allowing him to use his skills to communicate with key athletes and also raise money to attract and keep those athletes.
David just kicked off his first Collective campaign to encourage 500 new donors to make monthly contributions to the Collective – at the $50 and $100 levels. You can respond to that campaign HERE (https://cardinalandgold.org/support-our-athletes/) and help David towards his goal of 500!
You also can make a donation of your choice at that link.
The other major driver of our success is the Cyclone RTC – a 501©3 nonprofit organization we formed in April 2017 to support our staff and our athletes and all the expenses they incur to train and compete, mainly in freestyle wrestling events throughout the season and the off season. This provides us with a much-needed Olympic/freestyle component.
The C-RTC also currently supports four post-graduate athletes who are invaluable training partners in the practice room: R. Ortega, D Carr, M. Coleman, and D. Lee.
And the RTC offers training opportunities for other college athletes and qualified HS wrestlers within 250 miles of Ames. Hundreds of wrestlers over the past 7 years have come to Ames – and continue to come to train with the Cyclone RTC.
Next month is the kick-off of a summer full of C-RTC events and we invite you to join us at one of those. Take a look HERE (https://cyclonertc.org/#events) to see if you can fit any of these into your schedule. Right now would be a great time to register for any of these events! I’ll personally be at each one with my staff and athletes and would love to see you there.
The purpose of my message today is to update and educate all of you who have supported us over the years in some form or fashion, whether that was by giving money, participating in a golf event, donating an auction item or maybe just being a fan and season ticket holder.
Finally, and most importantly, we cannot win without you – our financial partners! I truly look at every dollar coming into our two organizations as a partnership with our program. I encourage you to take the first step toward a partnership with us – and thank those of you who already help us for your continued support.
Coach Dresser
