Women's wrestling is one of the fastest-growing sports at the scholastic and collegiate levels. The NWCA is committed to growing women's wrestling from the grassroots level to the colleges. The NWCA is currently working towards championship status for NCAA women's wrestling, which is recognized as an NCAA Emerging Sport. The NAIA officially recognizes the women's sport with a championship, while the NJCAA has also announced women's wrestling as an emerging sport.
FACTS & RESOURCES
- Since 1994, the number of women who wrestle in high school has grown from 804 to more than 50,000, according to OPC weight assessment data (Spring 2023).
- In 2022 the NAIA adopted women's wrestling as the 28th championship sport.
- In 2020 The NJCAA Announced they would recognize Women's Wrestling as an emerging sport.
- In 2020 The NWCA Multi-Divisional National Duals hosted separate NAIA & NCAA Women's Divisions for the first time.
- In 2019 the Women's Collegiate Wrestling Coalition announced the creation of the Cliff Keen National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championships for NCAA Teams. The event was hosted by Adrian College on March 6-7, 2020
- In 2019 the Committee on Women's Athletics Recommends Emerging Sports Status for Women's Wrestling to the NCAA
- 150+ colleges now sponsor a varsity wrestling program.
- 44Â States now sanction an official scholastic state championship for Girls: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
- Since 2004, women's wrestling is now a recognized Olympic sport.
- Women's high wrestling participation numbers are higher than the NCAA sponsored sports of crew, fencing, skiing, and rifle and NCAA emerging sports of rugby, sand volleyball, and equestrian.
- Since 2015, the NWCA has invited 100 Coaches to take part in the NWCA CEO Academy for Women's Coaches as part of the NWCA Traditional Leadership Academy
- NWCA has been instrumental in getting women's wrestling added as a new sport a number of schools
