Blue Jay Wrestling

$27,255
Donated
136% of $20,000 goal
155
Donors
This campaign ended on March 25, 2026, but you can still make a gift to Elizabethtown College by clicking here!

Featured


About

***Special Wrestling Challenge!***
Dwight ’78 P’02 and Debra ’95 P’02 Bechtold are offering a $2,000 gift to wrestling if another donor steps forward and also makes a $2,000 gift to wrestling. Text Coach Walker at 717-278-9117 if you are interested in this match.


Support Blue Jay Wrestling on Power of One Day!

The Blue Jay Wrestling program at Elizabethtown College is built on hard work, discipline, and teamwork. Every athlete on the mat is committed to pushing themselves—and the program—to new heights. Your support helps us give our wrestlers the tools they need to succeed both in competition and in life.

Here’s how your gift makes an impact:

🤼‍♂️ Additional Team and Travel Gear – Outfit our athletes with high-quality practice shorts, shirts, warm-ups, and competition day apparel so they can train and compete at their best while representing Etown with pride. (Cost: $8,000)

🧠 Mental Performance Training – Support a 12-session group program designed to help our wrestlers tackle match anxiety, build confidence, strengthen daily disciplines, and make mindset shifts that maximize their skills on the mat. The athletes also contribute to this program, giving them “skin in the game.” (Cost: $6,000)

Our Goal: Raise $10,000 for current use to equip and train our current roster, and $10,000 for endowment support to sustain the program for future generations of Blue Jays through the Ober Endowment.

Your gift — big or small — directly impacts the experience and development of our wrestlers. Help us continue building champions on and off the mat!

Contact:

Eric Walker
Head Wrestling Coach
717-361-1509
walkered@etown.edu

Gifts to Blue Jay Wrestling contribute to...

Power of One Day 2026
2,400 Donors - $813,059 Donated
Incentives
Receive Etown tech stickers
Only 1065 left!
Donate $25
Receive an Etown Knit Hat and Tech Stickers
Only 69 left!
Donate $150
Updates
Ganon Smith '26 Earns National Runner-Up at NCAA Div. III Wrestling Championships

Senior Ganon Smith ended his career with the Elizabethtown College wrestling team as the national runner-up at 184 pounds.

Smith's championship Saturday began with a major decision over Wisconsin-La Crosse's Robert Flege, the four seed. It was also his 40th win of the season, which tied for the second-most in a single season in program history.

The senior would go up against Wartburg's Kasey Ross in the 184 championship final. Smith beat Ross at last year's NCAA Championships in the consi rounds, but it would be Ross that would earn a 5-0 decision to take the 184 pound title.

Smith's second-place finish is the best for Elizabethtown since Tyler Erdman also took second in 2010.

92 days ago by Ben Osterhout

Donor Affiliations
Gradhat icon35%Alumni
Book icon12%Students
Friends icon7%Friends
Suitcase icon4%Faculty/Staff
Most Recent Donors
Claudia B Evans & Scott
Claudia B Evans & Scott
Mike Eckenroth
Mike Eckenroth
Paul mazzei
Paul mazzei
Mia Fino
Mia Fino
Anonymous
Anonymous
Matt King & Matthew King
Matt King & Matthew King
Michael W King & Amber King
Michael W King & Amber King
Marty thomas-Brumme
Marty thomas-Brumme
Tim Goldkamp
Tim Goldkamp
Chad C Rosenberger
Chad C Rosenberger
FAQs

Advocates

Bob Sands '90

Gave $100,000 during a Challenge!

Anonymous

Gave $100,000 during a Challenge!

Zella Gahagen Charitable Trust

Offered a $25,000 match

Jim Shreiner '73 H'24 G'24

Gave $22,500 during a Challenge!

Ryan Heishman '00

Gave $20,000 during a Challenge!

Mike Spangler '88

Gave $20,000 during a Challenge!

Tom McGonigle P'10 P'17

Gave $15,000 during a Challenge!

Carol Metzler '77

Gave $15,000 during a Challenge!

Community Advocates

Generated 2393 clicks and 157 gifts, totaling $13,108

Greg Donecker '91

Generated 3 clicks
Offered a $12,500 match

Questions