OCT. 5, 2024 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – BOSTON – Emmanuel College is very pleased to announce the addition of men's and women's wrestling as varsity programs to the athletic department. These new varsity teams – which will begin competing in the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years, respectively – will represent the only Division III collegiate wrestling programs in the City of Boston.

Wrestling is among the nation's fastest-growing sports, particularly at the collegiate level, due largely to its appeal to student-athletes from various backgrounds. Emmanuel is proud to join this movement, further expanding the range of its athletic offerings and bringing its total number of Division III programs to 18.

"This new wrestling program is a win for current and future Emmanuel student-athletes and for our entire community," said Emmanuel College President Beth Ross. "We are excited to provide wrestlers superb opportunities to engage in Division III intercollegiate competition, and we look forward to the way they will further electrify our Boston campus with their displays of athleticism, stamina, and heart."

Regarding women's wrestling, according to the Women's Collegiate Wrestling Coalition (WCWC), Emmanuel is the 105^thNCAA varsity program to offer women's wrestling. The popularity of women's wrestling resulted in the NCAA declaring it an emerging sport in 2020-2021, as 66 institutions have added the sport since then. Based on the most recent participation rate, women's wrestling is on track to become the NCAA's 91st NCAA championship.

According to the Next College Student Athlete (NCSA), 126 NCAA Division III programs offer men's varsity wrestling as Emmanuel becomes the 17^th institution in New England to offer the sport. The popularity of wrestling has been seen at the high school level as, according to the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA), there has been a 25 percent increase in participation in boys wrestling from approximately 230,000 in 2021-2022 to nearly 292,000 in 2023-2024.

"The addition of the wrestling program at Emmanuel further solidifies the College's commitment to a strong and well-rounded student-athlete experience," said Dr. Jennifer Forry, Emmanuel's Vice President of Student Affairs. "Being the first college in Boston to offer wrestling at the DIII varsity level, we continue to demonstrate why we are the Heart of Boston, it is a great day for Saint City." 

The introduction of wrestling will advance the goal of cultivating a dynamic and diverse student body, as outlined in Emmanuel's strategic plan, and bring new opportunities for growth and excellence under the leadership of President Ross.

The commitment to enhancing the student experience drives Emmanuel forward, as athletics plays a vital role in this vision. Participating in sports fosters leadership, teamwork, perseverance, and discipline—skills that translate into success both in and outside the classroom.

"Beyond individual development, the addition of wrestling will enhance our campus community. These new teams will attract more student-athletes, add to the spirit of our existing athletic events, and further strengthen our community's bonds," said Emmanuel Director of Athletics, Olivia Berry. "The introduction of wrestling aligns with our vision for fostering and growing a dynamic and diverse student body while broadening our competitive landscape."

Emmanuel women's wrestling becomes the first Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) member to add the program while men's wrestling joins Johnson & Wales, New England College, and Norwich as members of the GNAC that offer the sport.