College wrestling: 2010 KMS grad Bauman ineligible to wrestle for Gophers

University of Minnesota redshirt sophomore Joel Bauman, a 2010 graduate of Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg High School, is ineligible to compete in meets, the school announced Monday.
The decision is based on Bauman’s music career that has taken off recently on internet sites www.youtube.com and www.tunecore.com. The school said it had to make the necessary move because of an NCAA by-law.
The StarTribune’s website reported Monday that the school is allowing Bauman to stay on his athletic scholarship and practice with the team.
Bauman was quoted by StarTribune saying, “The dream is to inspire people. I know through music that’s all I’m trying to do. My message is way bigger than my eligibility.”
Bauman’s writes and performs in a variety of genres, though most songs can be classified as rap or hip-hop. His song “Ones in the Sky” has been viewed just over 19,000 times on YouTube as of Monday evening.
The school — through the athletic department’s director of compliance J.T. Bruett — says it is “sympathetic” of Bauman, “but based on NCAA legislation in this area, student-athletes are not allowed to use their name, image or status as a collegiate student-athlete to promote the sale of a commercial product, including songs affiliated with a music career,”
The StarTribune also reported that Bauman has no intention of taking down the videos or performing under an alias.
Bauman was a two-time state champion at 189 pounds for KMS and competes at 197 pounds for the Gophers.