Broad Run to Start Marketing Internship
Program Looks to Increase Attendance and Opinion of the Sport of Wrestling

     As many know, the sport of wrestling has always been considered a second tier sport, possibly even lower than that when it comes to attendance and general interest from the general public.  Sure, there are the pockets of the country where wrestling is king - Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Iowa - but for most of the country, wrestling is a niche sport that only those involved in understand or follow.

     The Broad Run Wrestling program is hoping to change that with its new marketing internship for the program.  With the help of applicants from the school's DECA program, a group that focuses their class and club efforts in the areas of Sports Marketing and other sales and promotions, BRW is looking to better promote the program in the school and in the community.  

     "Our goal has a couple of pieces to it," said JJ Totaro, coach of the Spartans.  "We want to increase our attendance and the acceptance of wrestling as a sport, while also promoting and growing the sport among the younger and older populations of our area.  But we also figured it was a great opportunity to create a real-world experience for the kids on how to market a sports program."  

     The DECA program has accepted the opportunity with open, and excited, arms.  "Our kids need to earn hours for their Marketing Cooperative efforts anyway, this is an excellent way to do this for some of the kids," said Cheryl Daley, teacher at Broad Run and one of the leaders of DECA, "and I think a lot of our kids would be really excited to do something like this."

     The internship's goals have been spelled out in very specific terms to describe what is involved.  Students will apply and be interviewed before being chosen as part of the program.  Anywhere from 1-4 applicants will be chosen to create a marketing director, or a marketing team for Broad Run Wrestling.  Their goals include increasing the social media presence of BRW, as well as looking to increase attendance at events and finding creative ways to promote the events to the study body at Broad Run, but also the local middle schools.  Those chosen will have a small budget to work with for different ideas and will gain valuable knowledge, which also will be a great resume builder for their upcoming college applications.

     According to Coach Totaro, "we are really excited about the ideas the kids may have and to have the opportunity to focus more on coaching and less on the "other stuff.  Plus we feel this will be an excellent opportunity for the kids to see how difficult, and fun, a real job can be."  The students and wrestling staff will work hand in hand on a regular basis all season long, with hopes of continuing the relationship through the off-season.

     So where does an idea like this come from?  "We would love to take credit for the idea, but we stole it" said Totaro, "The coaches of UVA and Coyte Cooper were gracious enough to share the NCAA Marketing Manual that was released at the NWCA Coaches Convention and have helped to adapt it to fit a high school program."  The coaches were especially thankful to the efforts of UVA's Alex Clemsen, who has really aided in creation of some of the ideas, as well as hosting the upcoming clinic, which has given the first "marketable" activity.  

     Only the future will tell how effective the program will be, but they are optimistic that this internship will help both the DECA and wrestling program and that it will grow to other sports in the coming years.