Elizabeth City State University Vikings Tickets

Nestled in the historic city of Elizabeth City, North Carolina, Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) has built a reputation for being one of the top Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in America. Home to various NCAA Division II sports teams, one team that stands out amongst the rest is the ECSU Vikings wrestling team.

First established in 2015, the wrestling program has quickly gained notoriety within its short lifespan. The team is coached by Darryl Pope, who brings years of experience from coaching at the high school level and serving as an assistant coach at American University in Washington D.C. under legendary coach Mark Cody.

Given the nature of HBCUs, it's no surprise that diversity plays a significant role in the program's makeup. The current roster includes student-athletes from various backgrounds, with African Americans making up the majority. The program's main objective is to provide an equal opportunity for all student-athletes to showcase their talents on the mat while earning an education.

The Vikings have achieved numerous milestones in just six years of existence. Their biggest achievement thus far is winning the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) conference championship in 2020. The CIAA is known as the oldest African American intercollegiate athletic conference in the United States, making this accomplishment even more historic for the Vikings.

However, success did not come easy for the Vikings. In the early stages of the program, they suffered many defeats. This only served as motivation to keep pushing forward and improving. Their persistence paid off when they clinched their first victory after a series of defeats in 2016. Since then, the program has continued to build momentum year after year.

One notable aspect of the program is their focus on serving the community. They have partnered with different organizations to give back to the community through charitable events and volunteer work. Most notably, in 2019, the team hosted a "Take Down Breast Cancer" fundraiser where they raised money for the local community to support breast cancer research.

Overall, the ECSU Vikings wrestling program is a testament to what can be accomplished through hard work, dedication, and perseverance. The team's goal of creating a diverse environment that gives student-athletes an equal opportunity has proven successful thus far. With a bright future ahead, it's exciting to see what more the Vikings can achieve both on and off the mat.