By JOHN KLEIN Senior Sports Columnist on May 9, 2013, at 1:59 AM  Updated on 5/09/13 at 7:36 AM

The International Olympic Committee probably won't notice, or even care, that Oklahoma legislators and the State Capitol in Oklahoma City held a rally on Wednesday to support Olympic wrestling.

A resolution, urging the IOC to reinstate wrestling for the 2020 Olympics, was introduced by Rep. Lee Denney (R-Cushing) and wrestling dignitaries from the across the state were in attendance.

It was the right thing to do in a state with the nation's best wrestling history.

No state, and few countries, can match Oklahoma's wrestling accomplishments.

"We just want to make people aware of our history and what our sport has meant to this state," said Lee Roy Smith, executive director of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. "At this point, everything helps."

Oklahoma will be the 15th legislative body in the country to endorse a resolution to keep wrestling in the Olympics. The U.S. Senate passed a similar resolution last month that was co-sponsored by Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK).

What this means in the effort to save Olympic wrestling is anybody's guess.

However, the decision of the IOC Executive Board to recommend that wrestling be eliminated as a core sport of the Olympics in the 2020 Olympic Games has been met with a vigorous worldwide effort to save the sport in the Olympics.

Wrestling is among seven sports that will meet with the IOC later this month to plead its case for reinstatement. From that meeting, one to three sports will be recommended for reinstatement for a full vote of the IOC in the fall.

Many believe wrestling has a good chance to be among the recommended sports.

Yet, no one in the sport is taking anything for granted these days.

"No question this has awakened our sport," said Smith. "Maybe we got complacent or whatever. But, this has motivated a lot of people in a sport that has a lot of motivated people in it.

"It is amazing how the worldwide wrestling community, with members in 177 countries, have come together with one voice to save the sport in the Olympics."

Inside the Rings, a leading Olympic internet site, has been conducting an online poll to gauge support for the seven sports. Wrestling (57.2 percent) is a runaway winner. Squash (19.4 percent) is second. Softball/baseball lags far behind at 4.2 percent.

Yet, common sense doesn't seem to mean much to the IOC. Wrestling was dropped even though Pentathlon was thought to be the sport on the chopping block.

In case you haven't noticed, the IOC has been plagued with scandal and corruption in recent years.

So, wrestling must now fight an uphill battle to get back on the Olympic program for 2020.

That means doing everything possible to generate support and interest in a sport that dates back more than 3,000 years and was one of the original sports in the ancient Olympics.

Trying to rally support in Oklahoma is a natural. Oklahoma is at the heart of wrestling in the United States The state has produced 65 Olympic wrestlers, 21 Olympic wrestling medalists and 13 Olympic gold medal wrestlers. That's more than any other state and many countries.

"There are nations out there with very strong wrestling that don't have the history and tradition in Olympic wrestling that we have in this state," said Smith.

Smith along with his brother, Oklahoma State wrestling coach John Smith, were among four wrestling dignitaries on the floor of the Oklahoma House of Representatives for the reading of the resolution on Wednesday. Also on the floor were former OU wrestling Olympic medalists Danny Hodge of Perry and Wayne Wells of Oklahoma City.

Wrestling coaches Mark Cody from OU, David James of Central Oklahoma and former Perry High School wrestling coach Scott Chenoweth were also at the Capitol for the rally.

"We thought it was important to get as many of these wrestlers to this event as possible," said Smith. "It isn't just Olympic wrestling that has a great tradition in this state. Our colleges and high schools and junior wrestling programs are among the nation's best."

Oklahoma's major college wrestling programs have combined to win 56 NCAA championships with 261 individual national championships. OSU has won 34 national championships with 136 individual national champs. All of those are by far the most in the nation.

In addition, Perry High School has won a national record 56 state titles with more than 160 individual state champs.

"Also, the Tulsa Nationals is the most prestigious junior wrestling tournament in the country," said Smith. "Tulsa Central High School has produced more NCAA wrestling champions than any other high school in the nation.

"In just about every way, Oklahoma is at the heart of wrestling in this country. We want to make sure everyone in our state is aware of the great history of wrestling in our state. We want to rally wrestling fans all over the world to this effort to save Olympic wrestling and what better way than to start by doing it right here at home."
Original Print Headline: State takes stance to support Olympic wrestling