Connect with us
https://yoursportsnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/call-to-1.png

Sports

Here's the timeline of how women's wrestling became the 91st NCAA championship sport

Published

5 months ago

on

Here's the timeline of how women's wrestling became the 91st NCAA championship sport

The NCAA has officially added women’s wrestling as the 91st official championship sport following a vote from all three divisions at the 2025 annual convention. Adding new championship sports is a complex process though and requires a commitment from NCAA administrators as well as key activists and leaders in the sport. Here are a few of the most notable moments in the timeline of women’s NCAA wrestling’s path to championship status. 

🤼 MORE COLLEGE WRESTLING 🤼

1993: The University of Minnesota-Morris becomes the first varsity collegiate women’s wrestling program 

The National Wrestling Hall of Fame recognizes the University of Minnesota-Morris as the first collegiate women’s wrestling program — this team competed for ten years in the US against Canadian teams before the program was cut due to budget constraints. The men’s wrestling program was also shut down during this same period. The University announced that Minnesota-Morris was the only university in Minnesota that sponsored women’s wrestling at the time that the program was cut.

Dec. 7, 2017: Presbyterian College becomes the first Division I school to offer women’s wrestling 

Nearly 25 years after the University of Minnesota-Morris program shut down, Presbyterian College in South Carolina stepped up to make some history of its own. The school announced on Dec. 7, 201,7 that the university would be adding both a men’s and women’s wrestling program to the athletic department, with the women’s program becoming the first Division I team in the U.S. and the men’s program joining the Southern Conference.

The women’s program was also the 39th overall women’s college wrestling team in the country and competed in the Women’s Collegiate Wrestling Association (WCWA). In its inaugural 2019-2020 season, the Blue Hose went 6-6, but the team has improved and is 10-3 on the year this season. 

June 3, 2019: Acrobatics and tumbling, women’s wrestling get backing to join NCAA Emerging Sports

Women’s wrestling’s progression toward a championship sport took another step forward in 2019 when the NCAA proposed adding women’s wrestling (and acrobatics and tumbling) to the Emerging Sports for Women program. This put these programs on a path toward advancement with NCAA backing and formalized their growth and support within the NCAA system. 

Much of the growth of women’s wrestling at the collegiate level is a product of the efforts of Wrestle Like A Girl and USA Wrestling. In 2019, as wrestling was earning consideration for the Emerging Sports program, there were 23 active women’s wrestling programs at NCAA schools across the country. 

June 17, 2020: Acrobatics and tumbling, women’s wrestling added to NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program

This process of adding women’s wrestling to the emerging sport program became official one year later, in June 2020. The NCAA’s ‘Emerging Sports for Women’ label meant that schools could now offer “sport-sponsorship options” for athletes and use recruitment for the sport as a way to boost overall enrollment and their respective colleges. This vote also put women’s wrestling a new goal: if over 40 schools sponsored varsity women’s wrestling programs, the sport could move into championship status consideration. Previous sports that advanced through the Emerging Sports for Women program included beach volleyball, rowing, ice hockey, water polo and bowling. 

Sept. 21, 2021: Iowa announces the addition of Division I women’s wrestling

Women’s wrestling was growing as part of the Emerging Sport for Women program, but the sport was still waiting for a Power 5 program to take the initiative to sponsor the first program. Iowa became that program on Sept. 21, 2021. As one of the powerhouse programs in men’s wrestling, the University of Iowa was a school with a strong wrestling culture and a committed fan base — adding women’s wrestling was a logical, smart decision for the university. The background of this decision is a little more complex though, with Iowa making the choice to add the team following Title IX issues that emerged after the athletic department announced a decision to cut the women’s swim team, a decision that has since been reversed, and required the school to add another women’s sports team.

Adding women’s wrestling has brought great attention and glory to the Hawkeyes though, as the team won its first 024 National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling title last year and just won the Solider Salute for the second season. The team also put its first athlete on the podium at the Olympics this year too with transfer athlete Kennedy Blades winning silver at 76kg. 

Oct. 18, 2023: Women’s college wrestling on track for championship consideration

Women’s wrestling only continued to grow after Iowa’s announcement, both in terms of the number of programs and with regard to general momentum toward championship status. The sport eclipsed the 40-school threshold to become a championship sport and led the way amongst the six other sports in the Emerging Sport for Women program. A total of 51 teams sponsored programs with an average roster size of 15 athletes. The growth of the sport generated praise from the chair of the Committee on Women’s Athletics, Ragean Hill, who called women’s wrestling’s progression “exceptional” and a “model practice on how to move the needle forward.” 

Feb. 7, 2024: Women’s wrestling projected to become NCAA championship in 2026

Women’s wrestling was clearly on the championship path in the 2020s, but its potential to truly become the 91st championship sport became even more real on Feb. 7, 2024, when the NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics officially recommended that all three divisions vote in favor of creating a national collegiate women’s wrestling championship.

This announcement gave each division a little over a year to prepare a proposal and a vote in 2025 on championship status. Women’s wrestling was also given a projected timeline for what a championship experience might look like with December 2026 set as the targeted championship date. 

Nov. 22, 2024: Delaware State becomes the first HBCU to offer women’s wrestling 

Delaware State became the latest school to make women’s wrestling history when it announced the development of its varsity program, the first HBCU in the country to sponsor a women’s wrestling program. The creation of the team was supported by a $1.25 million gift from the HBCU wrestling organization, a group formed in 2021 committed to bringing back wrestling programs to HBCUs.

HBCU WRESTLING: Q&A with Morgan State head coach Kenny Monday 

Delaware State joined Morgan State as an HBCU sponsoring wrestling, as Morgan State launched its men’s program in 2023. The team will compete in its first season in 2025-2026.

Jan. 17, 2025: NCAA adds women’s wrestling as 91st NCAA championship

Women’s wrestling officially became the 91st championship sport on Jan. 17, 2025, over 30 years after the University of Minnesota-Morris sponsored the first program. This distinction will allow the NCAA to host a women’s wrestling national championship for athletes across all three divisions. Championship status has long been a goal for women’s wrestling at the collegiate level — this distinction will only continue to move the sport forward. 

By growing the college pipeline, the NCAA not only creates more potential high-level experiences and opportunities for high school athletes, but it also strengthens the Olympic development opportunities. Four women have won Olympic gold for the United States, three of whom competed for college programs. This number will only be expected to grow in the future. 

This list does not capture every decision, every activist and every athlete who worked to make this championship status a reality, nor could it possibly describe all the incremental steps — like every time a women’s division was added to a national tournament — that occurred over the last three decades. The NCAA’s decision to solidify women’s wrestling as a championship sport is more than these select moments, but these key milestones do show just how far the sport has come and what this championship status means for continued growth. 

18
Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sports

Kansas women’s volleyball vs Miami (Fl.): NCAA tournament final result

Published

16 minutes ago

on

December 6, 2025

By


Updated Dec. 5, 2025, 8:26 p.m. CT



Link

0
Continue Reading

Sports

Former UH volleyball player, youth coach accused of producing child porn

Published

32 minutes ago

on

December 6, 2025

By


HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A former youth volleyball coach who played on the University of Hawaii men’s volleyball team was arrested and charged with production of child pornography, allegedly with a former player.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Hawaii, announced Friday that Elias David, 37, of Waimanalo, was charged by criminal complaint on Dec. 3.

He was employed as a firefighter for the Department of Defense and worked at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Federal Fire Station 9.

According to the criminal complaint filed by the FBI, a 17-year-old told her aunt she was having sexual intercourse with David, who was a family friend and her volleyball coach since she was 13 years old.

Court documents said the teen’s relationship began with David in 2023 after a volleyball trip to Las Vegas. She was 16 at the time.

The teen told investigators that David was providing extra training to prepare her for college. She also admitted to engaging in different types of sexual contact with David that including oral and vaginal sex, documents said.

She also said that their sexual activities occurred at the fire station where he worked, at a nearby warehouse, as well as at David’s home and vehicle, documents said.

David was arrested in July of 2024 for sexual assault in the second degree. He waived his Miranda rights and was interviewed.

During his interview with investigators, David said they “began to develop feelings for each other and ‘fell in love,’” and admitted that he and the teen engaged in a sexual relationship, documents said.

David said that the romantic phase of the relationship began around March 2023, and admitted to ordering ride share services for the teen so she could leave her house to meet him at or near his workplace, documents said.

Investigators said they found 97 graphic videos of the two of them on her phone and 78 emails referring to ride share trips and GPS location data.

David played for the University of Hawaii men’s volleyball team in 2009.

If convicted, he could face up to 30 years in prison.

Copyright 2025 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.



Link

0
Continue Reading

Sports

Iowa State Tops St. Thomas, Advances to Second Round

Published

48 minutes ago

on

December 6, 2025

By


MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – No. 23 Iowa State (23-7, 12-6 Big 12) won in five against St. Thomas (21-10, 11-5 Summit) in the NCAA Championship First Round Friday night. No. 5-seed ISU advances to the second round to meet the winner of No. 4-seed Minnesota vs. Fairfield tomorrow at 7 p.m.

After St. Thomas took the first 25-21, ISU answered outhitting UST .552-.143 in the second to tie up the match with a set score of 25-13. The Cyclones took the match lead after another dominant set score of 25-16, but St. Thomas would win the fourth 25-21 to extend the match to a fifth. ISU used a 7-0 run in the fifth to flip the momentum and seal the victory.

Big 12 Libero of the Year Rachel Van Gorp was her usual self and had her third-straight match with 20 or more digs, ending the night with a career-high 33. The total is the second-most in an NCAA Tournament match by a Cyclone, and most since 2012. It was also match No. 35 in a row with double-figure digs and her 50th-career match in double figures.

Iowa State had a dominant night at the service line, serving to the fourth 10-plus ace match this season, and 28th of Christy Johnson-Lynch‘s career with 12 through the night. ISU was led by Nayeli Ti’a with five aces to tie the NCAA Tournament school record, while Van Gorp had four, now the second-most in a tournament match.

Alea Goolsby had her 15th match this season with 10-plus kills, leading ISU with 15. Ti’a delivered 14 kills for her 13th match this season with 10-plus, and Lilly Wachholz (12) and Amiree Hendricks-Walker (10) made for four in double figures.

SET ONE

At 6-6, Morgan Brandt tricked St. Thomas with a setter kill while Tierney Jackson served up an ace but UST followed to again knot the score. The Tommies flipped the lead at 11-10 and took the next two as Iowa State called the first timeout. Ti’a slammed down her second kill out of the timeout, but St. Thomas kept with the lead reaching 20 first (20-17). ISU cut its deficit to one at 22-21, but the Tommies ended the first on a run of three for the set win.

SET TWO

Ti’a had a no-doubt kill to make it 1-1, while the Tommies denied ISU the lead while going up 4-2. Goolsby’s third kill tied it, and the Cyclones took their first lead at 6-5 on a block. UST flipped the advantage in its favor briefly, but ISU set out on an 11-0 run to take it right back and run ahead 18-8. A Brandt ace put the Cyclones at set point and an attack error by the Tommies sealed the set at 25-13. ISU did not have a single attack error in the frame.

SET THREE

Back-to-back aces by Ti’a brought Iowa State ahead 6-2, while Ti’a delivered another bringing the scoreboard to 9-2. Goolsby’s seventh kill at .400 capped a Cyclone run of seven on the next play, but a UST scoring run of four came soon after as the Tommies came within three (13-10). Iowa State had a run of four of their own to keep command of the lead, while the Cyclones took the match lead on Goolsby’s 10th kill at 25-16.

SET FOUR

A 4-0 scoring run took the Tommies ahead 7-3 as ISU then called an early timeout. Iowa State would go on to knot the score at 13s on yet another ace by Ti’a, while a UST attack error gave ISU its first lead of the set. That lead was not safe as the Tommies went ahead 19-15 to cause Iowa State’s final timeout of the set. The Cyclones had a late run of three, but St. Thomas pushed on to force a fifth at 25-21.

SET FIVE

Iowa State took the first point on a kill by Ti’a, but St. Thomas followed going ahead 5-2. ISU did not let up, hitting a run of four to take a 6-5 lead and cause a UST timeout. The run stretched to seven as Iowa State switched sides with the lead of 8-5, and Goolsby capped the run next with a kill. ISU would go on to win it 15-8 after a St. Thomas service error.



Link

0
Continue Reading

Sports

Updates, highlights as Wisconsin advances with sweep vs North Carolina

Published

1 hour ago

on

December 6, 2025

By


9:43 pm CT December 5, 2025

See some highlights from Wisconsin’s NCAA tournament win vs North Carolina

John Steppe

9:39 pm CT December 5, 2025

Mimi Colyer’s stats vs. North Carolina in second round of NCAA tournament

John Steppe

  • 22 kills
  • 5 attack errors
  • 42 total attacks
  • .405 hitting percentage
  • 13 digs
  • 3 blocks

9:37 pm CT December 5, 2025

Wisconsin vs. North Carolina NCAA tournament final stats comparison

John Steppe

  • Kills: Wisconsin 60, North Carolina 37
  • Hitting percentage: Wisconsin .365, North Carolina .233
  • Service aces: Wisconsin 2, North Carolina 0
  • Service errors: North Carolina 5, Wisconsin 8
  • Digs: Wisconsin 56, North Carolina 40
  • Total team blocks: North Carolina 6, Wisconsin 5

9:33 pm CT December 5, 2025

Wisconsin coach Kelly Sheffield comments on Badgers’ NCAA tournament win vs. North Carolina

John Steppe



Link

0
Continue Reading

Sports

2025 NCAA volleyball tournament: Bracket, schedule, results

Published

1 hour ago

on

December 6, 2025

By


Dec. 5, 2025Updated Dec. 6, 2025, 12:22 a.m. ET



Link

0
Continue Reading

Sports

Saddle Up: No. 3 Badgers advance to Regional Semifinals

Published

2 hours ago

on

December 6, 2025

By


MADISON, Wis. – The No. 3 seeded Wisconsin volleyball team punched their ticket to the Regional Semifinals for the 13th consecutive season with their second sweep in as many days, this time defeating North Carolina (25-14, 25-21, 27-25) in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament. 

UW maintained their momentum from their First Round battle right away in set one, putting together a 15-9 advantage with a potent attack on the offensive end. 

The Badgers (26-4) were able to close out the first frame behind a 4-0 run, highlighted by a pair of kills turned in by outside hitter Mimi Colyer. Setter Charlie Fuerbringer was able to cap it off with a kill of her own, tallying eight between the pair of matches this weekend. 

After a back-and-forth affair to begin the second set, Wisconsin found some separation by winning four-of-five rallies to build a 12-7 lead. The Tar Heels provided a quick response to bring it within 18-17 with the help of their physical block. 

Outside hitter Una Vajagic and right side Grace Egan each racked up a kill to force a North Carolina (22-9) timeout. Egan wrapped up the set two with another kill, as the Badgers went on to win three of the four last points. 

Wisconsin and the Tar Heels continued to trade points throughout the majority of the third set, which saw 19 ties and 10 lead changes. Colyer accumulated her 20th kill of the match in the process—giving UW a narrow 14-13 lead at the midway point of the set. 

Vajagic recorded six kills in the set, providing a spark on the offensive side of the ball. The redshirt sophomore continued to excel for the Badgers, concluding the match with 12 kills on a .435 hitting percentage. 

Late in the set, North Carolina fought back to force extra points by winning three-straight points. Outside hitter Trinity Shadd-Ceres and libero Maile Chan entered late and made an instant impact, highlighted by a block from Shadd-Ceres and a pair of digs turned in by Chan. UW made one final push to officially advance in the NCAA Tournament, led by a resilient effort on the defensive end—converting on a trio of kills to wrap up the match. 

Colyer, in her final match at the UW Field House, ended a lengthy rally with a kill to seal the victory. The senior finished with 22 on the evening, the 11th time this year where she has accumulated 20 or more. The five-time Big Ten Player of the Week also earned her eighth double-double of the season, adding 13 digs. 

Egan joined Colyer in the double-double department, emerging as a staple on the defensive end with 11 digs, complemented by her 11 kills. Libero Kristen Simon put together another standout showing defensively as well, totaling a team-high 16 digs. The freshman added eight assists to wrap up a strong week of play in her NCAA Tournament debut. 

On the front line, Fuerbringer led the way with 43 assists—powering the Badgers to a hitting percentage of .365 (60 – 14 – 126) against one of the strongest blocks in the country. 

Middle blocker Carter Booth was one of the beneficiaries, turning in her third-straight errorless match with eight kills on 16 attempts. After tonight’s performance, Booth will enter Texas swinging .540 (27 – 0 – 50) in her past three matches. 

 

Straight from the Court

Head Coach Kelly Sheffield (on continuing to build confidence down the stretch): “It’s earned through work. Confidence is earned by the work you put in; it’s earned by how you talk to yourself. It’s been something that these guys have worked a lot on, not just having an individual confidence, but a collective confidence.” 
(On the performance of outside hitters Una Vajagic and Mimi Colyer): “These two hitting over .400 against one of the best blocking teams in the country is just a ridiculous number. They got some blocks on us, but we stayed aggressive and we continued to accelerate and hit good shots and know when to be patient.”
Outside Hitter Mimi Colyer (on playing one last time in the Field House): “Coming to Wisconsin has been the best decision I have ever made. This program and this fan base is just so special. Just the love that we have for each other and the love this fan base has for each other is just so special. It’s incredible, there’s nothing like it.”
Outside Hitter Una Vajagic (on building on her first postseason run): “I feel it was great tonight, playing with my team and having their backs all of the time was such a huge thing for me. Just with them behind me, I felt super confident and I’m so excited.” 
 

Notes:

  • With the 3-0 sweep over North Carolina, Wisconsin will advance to the NCAA Regional Semifinals for the 23rd time in program history and 13th-consecutive season under head coach Kelly Sheffield.

  • The victory also moves Wisconsin to 72-29 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, and 21-5 in the Second Round of the tournament.

  • The Badgers had three players with double-figure digs, Kristen Simon (16), Mimi Colyer (13), and Grace Egan (11).

  • Senior Mimi Colyer recorded her eighth double-double of the season and 44th of her career with a 22 kill, 13 dig performance.

  • Right Grace Egan totaled her fourth double-double of the season, eighth of her career with an 11 kill, 11 dig performance.

  • Wisconsin also had three players with double-figure kills, Colyer

  • Wisconsin totaled 56 digs, tying a season-high for most digs in a three-set match.

  • With 57 assists, Wisconsin totaled it’s second-highest assist mark for the season in a three-set match.

  • For the 16th consecutive match, Colyer totaled double-figure kills at 23, and her 11th match with 20 or more kills this season. She also tied Ellen Chapman (2013) in program history for most consecutive matches with double-figure kills.

  • In consecutive nights, senior Carter Booth recorded another error-less match. She tallied eight kills on 16 swings for a .500 hitting percentage.

Up Next: The Badgers will await their next opponent in the Regional Semifinals down in Austin, Texas. The date and time for the match is still to be determined.





Link

0
Continue Reading

Most Viewed Posts

Trending