The nationally acclaimed MATPAC Wrestling Club in Bismarck-Mandan has donated a transformational financial gift to the University of Mary Marauders wrestling program. While the University of Mary is honoring MATPAC's request to withhold the financial parameters of this gift, it is the largest dollar gift in UMary wrestling history, one of the largest ever received by any NCAA wrestling program, and provides a considerable increase in scholarship opportunities that is intended to significantly elevate Marauders wrestling to even greater heights on a national level.

A significant part of this historic gift establishes the Milo Trusty MATPAC Wrestling Endowment and honors the beginnings of both Marauders wrestling and MATPAC. Trusty, a member of the Marauders Hall of Fame, established the MATPAC program in 1978. He then created a national powerhouse when joining UMary in 1987 as the wrestling program's first head coach.

In 15 seasons as the Marauders head coach, Trusty led UMary to 11 top-10 finishes at the NAIA National Championships, including back-to-back national runner-up finishes in 1995-96 and 1996-97. Trusty coached 12 national champions and 77 All-Americans. Additionally, Milo's son, Monte, became UMary wrestling's first national champion in 1992 and is also a member of the Marauders Hall of Fame.

MATPAC Wrestling Club is one of only eight clubs in the United States honored as a Gold Club Wrestling Organization by USA Wrestling (USAW) and is nationally ranked by TrackWrestling.com. According to its website, coaches and mentors "focus on teaching the fundamentals of wrestling, sportsmanship, hard work, teamwork, and being great kids." Visit https://www.matpacwrestling.org/ for additional information on MATPAC.

"With our years of connection to the University of Mary wrestling program and the opportunity to honor Milo Trusty, it was an easy decision for MATPAC to make this gift in support of Marauders wrestling," said MATPAC President Richard Steidler.

Last season the UMary wrestling program featured three MATPAC alumni in the Marauders starting lineup, Reece Barnhardt (St. Mary's Central High School), Matthew Kaylor (Legacy High School), and Kaden Renner (Bismarck High School). Barnhardt and Kaylor are NCAA All-Americans.
 
"This is a very important day for the University of Mary, Marauders Athletics, and our wrestling program," said Cooper Jones, executive director of Intercollegiate Athletics at the University of Mary.
"Rarely do you experience a partnership that meets the definition of transformational; however, the relationship we have with MATPAC meets and exceeds the definition of transformational.

"Working together with Rich Steidler, Chad Renner, and the great group of MATPAC Board Members have made this process even more enjoyable," added Jones. "Their reverence for the sport of wrestling, as well as their desire to strengthen the relationship between UMary and the Bismarck-Mandan communities, has been evident throughout our discussions. Early on in our conversations, it was easy to see that this was a passion-project for everyone involved with the MATPAC community.

"I speak on behalf of our wrestling program, as well as our team within Marauders athletics, when I share my profound gratitude for this transformational investment in our scholar-athletes. Because of this amazing support, it truly is a great day to be a Marauder!"

The Marauders reached No. 5 in the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) poll during the 2023-24 season; the highest-ever NCAA Division II ranking achieved by UMary. A pair of Marauders, Reece Barnhardt and Luke Tweeton, earned All-American honors at the NCAA Championships. For Barnhardt, it was his third career podium finish on the national stage, while also becoming the first three-time NCAA All-American in program history.

"We are so grateful to MATPAC for their tremendous generosity and support of the University of Mary and Marauders wrestling," said UMary Head Wrestling Coach Adam Aho. "Our community and alumni continue to embrace our scholar-athletes for their hard work and effort on the mat and in the classroom and their contributions around Bismarck-Mandan. For our wrestlers to receive this type of unprecedented support is both incredible and humbling."

Since taking over the helm of the Marauders in 2013-14 as UMary's third NCAA-era head coach, Aho has coached 13 All-Americans and 18 national qualifiers while leading the Marauders to 13^th place at the national meet in 2023, UMary's best NCAA finish. Selected as the 2017-18 Northern Sun Coach of the Year, Aho's Marauders have garnered 60 NSIC All-Academic honors, nine All-NSIC awards, twice received NSIC Rookie of the Year recognition, and one NSIC Wrestler of the Year citation. In 2022 Barnhardt was the NWCA National Rookie of the Year.