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Reds MiLB Notebook

We are still five weeks away from the 2025 Major League Baseball Draft, so there’s likely to be plenty of movement and changes between now and then. That might even be more true this year than normal because it just appears that no one truly stands out at the top of this draft and that […]

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Reds MiLB Notebook

We are still five weeks away from the 2025 Major League Baseball Draft, so there’s likely to be plenty of movement and changes between now and then. That might even be more true this year than normal because it just appears that no one truly stands out at the top of this draft and that group of “top players” is larger because of the lack of truly stand out guys at the very top. The crew over at MLB Pipeline unveiled their latest mock draft and once again the Cincinnati Reds are mocked as selecting Seth Hernandez, a right-handed pitcher out of Corona High School in California.

Hernandez was the national Gatorade Player of the Year for high school players this year. He’s a bit older than much of the high school class and he’ll be 19-years-old on draft day. But he’s also got elite stuff with two plus pitches in his fastball and change up and two above-average offerings with a curveball and a slider. He’s a standout athlete who would get looks as a position player if he weren’t such an elite pitching prospect.

Who is hot

If there’s someone who has been hitting better than Alfredo Duno in the minor leagues over the last four week I’d like to know who it is. Playing in the most pitcher friendly league in the minors, Duno has absolutely crushed the ball over his last 22 games dating back to May 8th. He’s hit for a .368 batting average, he’s slugging .605, and thanks to his 22 walks he’s rocking an on-base percentage of .515. That’s come over a stretch of 99 plate appearances. His OPS has gone from .714 to .900 during those 22 games.

Carlos Jorge didn’t get out to a great start this season. But the center fielder has been hitting well over the last 10 games. Since May 27th he’s hit .351/.415/.568 with four extra-base hits, four walks, four stolen bases, and he’s had eight strikeouts.

Down in Arizona, Anthuan Valencia extended his hitting streak to 10 games last night. He began the year by going 2-18. But since that start he’s run off a hitting streak where he’s hit .394/.447/.576.

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WolfPack Top 20 Moments in 20 Years

Story Links Join the WolfPack in celebrating our past!    With the upcoming 2025-26 season marking the 20th year of the WolfPack, we are excited to launch our Top 20 moments in 20 years campaign.   Recognizing the top moments both on and off the field of play from the ‘Pack, this campaign […]

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Join the WolfPack in celebrating our past! 
 
With the upcoming 2025-26 season marking the 20th year of the WolfPack, we are excited to launch our Top 20 moments in 20 years campaign.
 
Recognizing the top moments both on and off the field of play from the ‘Pack, this campaign will celebrate the many outstanding achievements that our WolfPack student-athletes have achieved since 2005-06.
 
Whether it’s a playoff victory, an overtime winner or a monumental occasion for the department  – nominate your favourite moment at the link below and have your say in the top 20 moments of the first 20 years of the WolfPack.

NOMINATION LINK

 



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Season Review: 2025 Michigan Women’s Track and Field

Big Ten Indoor Championships: T10th of 17 (31 points) NCAA Indoor Championships: T28th (8) Big Ten Outdoor Championships: 9th of 19 (46) NCAA Outdoor Championships: T26th (10) The University of Michigan women’s track and field team had another successful season, earning one NCAA individual championship, two Big Ten individual titles and seven Big Ten medals, […]

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Big Ten Indoor Championships: T10th of 17 (31 points)

NCAA Indoor Championships: T28th (8)

Big Ten Outdoor Championships: 9th of 19 (46)

NCAA Outdoor Championships: T26th (10)

The University of Michigan women’s track and field team had another successful season, earning one NCAA individual championship, two Big Ten individual titles and seven Big Ten medals, as well as setting seven program records, three national records, one collegiate record, one NCAA Outdoor Championships meet record, and one Big Ten record during the indoor and outdoor seasons.

Individual Highlights

• The Maize and Blue earned three individual medals at the Big Ten Indoor Championships, with Savannah Sutherland claiming the 400-meter dash title (51.74 seconds) for the second straight year. Aasia Laurencin finished second in the 60-meter hurdles (7.97), and Elizabeth Tapper finished third in the shot put (18.26 meters/59 feet, 11 inches).

• Laurencin’s time set the St. Lucia 60-meter hurdles national record while Tapper’s mark set the program shot put record and is 24th all-time on the NCAA performers list.

• The trio represented Michigan at the NCAA Indoor Championships, with Sutherland placing fourth in the 400-meter dash (51.23) and Laurencin placing sixth in the 60-meter hurdles (8.09). Sutherland’s time set the program and Canadian national records for the 400-meter dash. Tapper finished 12th (16.90m/55-5.5) in her NCAA Championships debut.

• Earlier in the season, Sutherland also set the program 200-meter dash record (23.26) and came just 0.01 seconds shy of the 60-meter dash mark with a time of 7.34 at the Michigan Invitational.

• In the outdoor season, Sutherland claimed her third straight Big Ten 400-meter hurdles title (55.37) before setting the NCAA East First Round meet record in the event for the second consecutive year with a time of 54.39 to punch her ticket to the NCAA Outdoor Championships.

• Tapper finished second in the shot put at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships and set the program record with a mark of 17.65m (57-11). Sidney Green also took home silver in the 400-meter hurdles (57.47), while the 4×400-meter relay team of Payton Smith, Sutherland, Green and Trinity Henderson earned bronze (3:32.47). Emma Yungeberg finished fourth in the javelin throw, improving on her program-record personal best with a mark of 53.08m (174-1).

Clare McNamara had a breakout performance in the heptathlon at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships, setting six personal-best marks, including coming in at No. 3 on the program performers list in the heptathlon (5,698 points) to qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Championships.

• Four Wolverines qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships as individuals, with Sutherland (400-meter hurdles), Yungeberg (javelin throw), Tapper (shot put) and Abigail Russell (shot put) punching their tickets at the NCAA East First Round. The 4×400-meter relay team of Smith, Green, Sutherland and Noelani Phillips set the program record (3:29.22) for the second time during the season to advance to the NCAA Outdoor Championships.

• In her final race for the Maize and Blue, Sutherland won her second NCAA 400-meter hurdles title (52.46). The time set a new collegiate, program, Big Ten, NCAA Championship meet and Canadian national record and is ninth all-time in the world. She is now just the second NCAA athlete to break 53 seconds in the event (Sydney McLaughlin, 52.75) and the third Wolverine to earn multiple individual national titles. Sutherland was named the United States Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Association Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year and a 2025 finalist for track and field’s highest honor, The Bowerman. She is the first Bowerman finalist in program history and is the first female finalist to represent the Big Ten for the honor.

• Tapper earned second team All-America honors with a 14th-place finish in the shot put (16.97m/55-8.25), while Russell, Yungeberg, McNamara and the relay team were named All-America honorable mention.

Savannah Sutherland
Savannah
Sutherland
Aasia Laurencin
Aasia
Laurencin
Elizabeth Tapper
Elizabeth
Tapper
Emma Yungeberg
Emma
Yungeberg
Abigail Russell
Abigail
Russell
Clare McNamara
Clare
McNamara
Payton Smith
Payton
Smith
Sidney Green
Sidney
Green
Noelani Phillips
Noelani
Phillips

Honors and Awards

NCAA

All-America (First Team): Savannah Sutherland (indoor 400m, outdoor 400m hurdles), Aasia Laurencin (indoor 60m hurdles)

All-America (Second Team): Elizabeth Tapper (indoor shot put, outdoor shot put)

All-America (Honorable Mention): Emma Yungeberg (outdoor javelin throw), Abigail Russell (outdoor shot put), Clare McNamara (outdoor heptathlon), Payton Smith (outdoor 4x400m relay), Savannah Sutherland (outdoor 4x400m relay), Sidney Green (outdoor 4x400m relay), Noelani Phillips (outdoor 4x400m relay)

Big Ten

Track Athlete of the Year: Savannah Sutherland (outdoor)

All-Big Ten (First Team): Savannah Sutherland (indoor, outdoor)

All-Big Ten (Second Team): Aasia Laurencin (indoor), Sidney Green (outdoor), Elizabeth Tapper (outdoor)

Sportsmanship Award: Sam Tran (indoor), Aasia Laurencin (outdoor)

USTFCCCA

Track Athlete of the Year: Savannah Sutherland

Great Lakes Region Track Athlete of the Year: Savannah Sutherland (indoor, outdoor)

Great Lakes Region Assistant Coach of the Year: Steven Rajewsky (indoor, outdoor)

College Sports Communicators

Academic All-District: Savannah Sutherland

Academic All-Big Ten

Riley Ammenhauser, Sr., Sport Management

Maya Anderson, So., Sport Management

BreeAna Bates, Sr., Sport Management

Abby Bonnema, Jr., Pharmaceutical Sciences

Haley Deighan, Jr., Psychology

Natalie Desarbo, Sr., Environment

Trinity Franklin, Jr., Psychology

Sidney Green, So., Political Science

Amare Harlan, So., LSA Undeclared

Samantha Hastie, Sr., Data Science

Adele Havlick, So., Environment

Mary Caroline Heinen, Gr., Management

Trinity Henderson, Jr., Business Administration

Leah Hill, Jr., Organizational Studies

Kennedy Johnson, Sr., Sport Management

Brooke Johnston, So., LSA Undeclared

CC Jones, So., LSA Undeclared

Catrin Koselka, Sr., History and Political Science

Aasia Laurencin, Gr., Interpersonal Practice in Integrated Health, Mental Health, & Substance Abuse

Alyna Lewis, Jr., History

Mara Longenecker, Jr., Movement Science

Lisa Luecke, Jr., International Studies and Spanish

Yasmine Mansi, Sr., Business Administration

Mia Manson, Gr., Management

Clare McNamara, Gr., Business Analytics

Gabbie Michael, Sr., Molec, Cell & Dev Biology

Gabriella Newman, Jr., History BA and Political Science

Chiamaka Odenigbo, Gr., Mechanical Engineering

Lauren Pansegrau, Jr., Biology

Lucy Petee, Gr., Cognitive Science and Communication and Media

Noelani Phillips, Gr., Movement Science

Hannah Pricco, So., LSA Undeclared

Meredith Soule, Jr., Art and Design

Savannah Sutherland, Sr., Biology, Health, & Society

Elizabeth Tapper, So., Biomolecular Science

Rylee Tolson, Jr., Anthropology

Ainsley Workman, Jr., Neuroscience and History

Emma Yungeberg, Jr., Communication and Media

Jadyn Zdanavage, So., Economics



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Boys U19 National Team Sweeps Canada at 2025 Pan American Cup

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. (July 9, 2025) – The U.S. Boys U19 National Team earned its second straight win at the 2025 NORCECA U19 Pan American Cup with a commanding 3-0 (25-20, 27-25, 25-17) sweep over Canada on Wednesday in Cuernavaca, Mexico.  The U.S. (2-0) will continue pool play tomorrow, Thursday, July 10th at 3:00 p.m. […]

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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. (July 9, 2025)The U.S. Boys U19 National Team earned its second straight win at the 2025 NORCECA U19 Pan American Cup with a commanding 3-0 (25-20, 27-25, 25-17) sweep over Canada on Wednesday in Cuernavaca, Mexico. 

The U.S. (2-0) will continue pool play tomorrow, Thursday, July 10th at 3:00 p.m. PT against Puerto Rico. 

“They had some pretty big guys and we did a good job of slowing them down. They had some great servers and we passed really well,” said U.S. outside hitter Blake Fahlbusch. “It felt great to get a win against Canada. They’re a good team but we came out hotter than we did yesterday and got the win in three.” 

The U.S. outperformed Canada in service aces (9–2) and was once again led by opposite Corbin Batista with 12 points on nine kills two blocks and one ace. Middle blocker Isiah Powell followed closely with nine points, including three kills three blocks and three aces.

Outside hitter Logan Hutnick added seven points on seven kills, while Blake Fahlbusch tallied seven points as well with six kills and one ace. 

On the defensive end, libero Ben Bayer anchored the backcourt with 10 digs. The U.S. serve receive and defensive discipline limited Canada’s ability to find offensive rhythm throughout the match. 

From the start, the U.S. controlled the tempo, maintaining a steady lead throughout the opening set and closing it out 25-20. In the second set, the U.S. held a dominant lead for much of the first set, but Canada battled back to tie the score at 25-25. However, the U.S. had the final say, claiming the last two points to secure the set, 27-25. 

The U.S. was consistent in their execution in the third set, as the team closed out the third set, 25-17 to complete the sweep. 

With strong serving efficient attacking and steady defense, the U.S. will look to carry this momentum into its next match against Puerto Rico. 

2025 Boys U19 National Team Pan American Cup Roster

Name (Pos., Ht., Hometown, School, USAV Region)

2 Ben Bayer (L, 6-1, Menomonee Falls, Wisc., Sussex Hamilton HS, Badger)
3 Thomas Phung (L, 5-10 Garland, Texas, Harvard University, Southern)
6 Thomas Demps IV (OH, 6-4, Raleigh, N.C., Broughton HS, Carolina)
9 Dante Cayaban (MB, 6-7, Saint Cloud, Fla., Saint Cloud HS, Florida)
13 Logan Hutnick (OH, 6-6, Huntington Beach, Calif., Huntington Beach HS, Southern California)
15 Blake Fahlbusch (OH, 6-8, Manhattan Beach, Calif., Loyola HS of Los Angeles, Southern California)
17 Peter Chriss (S, 6-6, Menlo Park, Calif., Menlo Atherton HS, Northern California)
18 Brett Novak (S, 6-6, Lancaster, Calif., Paraclete HS, Southern California)
22 Kale Cochran (OH, 6-7, Roseville, Calif., Whitney HS, Northern California)
23 Corbin Batista (OPP, 6-7, St. George, Utah, Alta HS, Intermountain)
24 Isiah Powell (MB, 6-7, Silver Spring, Md., Springbrook HS, Chesapeake)
25 Brodie Heshler (MB, 6-7, Harrisburg, Pa., Central Dauphin HS, Keystone)

Coaches

Head Coach: Jonah Carson (MVVC)
Assistant Coach: Sean Byron (Marist College)
Assistant Coach: Spencer Wickens (Stanford)
Performance Analyst: AJ Ruttenberg (UCLA)
Team Doctor: Dr. Chris Cornell (Coduhi Clinic)
Team Lead: Brandon Oswald (NTDP)

Schedule

All times PDT

July 8: USA def. Venezuela, 3-1 (20-25, 25-18, 25-16, 32-30)
July 9: USA def. Canada, 3-0 (25-20, 27-25, 25-17)
July 10: USA vs. Puerto Rico, 3 p.m.
July 11: Quarterfinals
July 12: Classification 7/8, 5/6 and semifinals
July 13: Medal matches



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Petitions, protests freeze define Kisumu regional sports kick-off 

Thursday 10th July, 2025 03:40 AM| By Bosco Magare Secondary schools ball games officials (extreme left and centre) are introduced to football team players, before kick-off of a boys football match. PHOTO/Lilega Sports Chaos over player eligibility forced organisers to postpone the kick-off of the Nyanza regional secondary schools ball games in Kisumu, […]

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Petitions, protests freeze define Kisumu regional sports kick-off 
Secondary schools ball games officials (extreme left and centre) are introduced to football team players, before kick-off of a boys football match. PHOTO/Lilega Sports

Chaos over player eligibility forced organisers to postpone the kick-off of the Nyanza regional secondary schools ball games in Kisumu, as officials moved swiftly to vet all athletes and block ineligible participants before today’s rescheduled start. 

In an exclusive interview on July 9, 2025, with People Daily, shortly after arriving at the competition venue in Kisumu City, Nyanza Regional Secondary Schools Sports Association (NSSSA) Secretary General Tom Thomas Odhiambo said, “The ball games were initially scheduled to kick off on, Wednesday, July 9, and instead we decided to devote the whole day to vetting athletes, identifying bona fide participants from schools, and weeding out ineligible participants. So, the regional games will start on Thursday, July 10, 2025.” 




Odhiambo explained that Nyanza regional secondary schools’ ball games officials decided to start the competition programme with vetting of athletes to avoid disruption of the games fixtures midstream through the filing of petitions by competing school teams once the games tip off. 

He also noted that the vetting exercise was introduced to curb the increasing cases of petitions filed by various school teams over the fielding of ineligible athletes by opponent school teams. 

Odhiambo stated that “over the years, petitions by various school teams ended up disrupting the regional competition. This year, there have also been several petitions filed by a number of school teams at both the sub-county and county levels.” 

“In Siaya, we had the case of Maranda High School moving to court after the school’s boys football team was not cleared by games officials to participate in the county games, since the entire team players had not been registered in the newly introduced Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) Players Information System (PIS) database,” Odhiambo recalled. 

He further stated, “Schools like Maranda did not register their football team players in the PIS and argued that the players are Kenyans and should just be allowed to compete during the Siaya county games. You see, schools like Maranda were introducing their own games regulations instead of adhering to KSSSA sports management rules.” 

He pointed out that elsewhere in Kisii County, the Sameta High School football team was also disqualified from playing at the county ball games following failure by the school to register players in the PIS database. 

Odhiambo added that “Kisii County will be represented in boys’ football at the Nyanza regional schools games by Nyagicha Secondary School football team. In Nyamira County, where last year’s regional games participants Matutu P.A.G Mixed Secondary football team was banned at the semis this year, the county will be represented by Gekendo Secondary’s football team at the Nyanza regional games.” 

The NSSSA Secretary General also cited Kisumu County as being plagued by cases of petitions, especially by boys’ football teams such as Kisumu Boys, Kisumu Day, and Onjiko, who were accused by opponent teams of allegedly fielding ineligible players at either sub-county or county levels. 

Odhiambo said to avoid similar cases coming up during the course and duration of the Nyanza regional schools ball games, NSSSA officials decided to vet, identify bona fide athletes, and isolate ineligible participants before the regional competition kicks off in earnest today at the following venues: Moi Stadium, Jomo Kenyatta Stadium in Mamboleo and other school-based sports grounds within Kisumu City. 

“Athletes from all secondary schools teams that qualified to compete in all the Nyanza regional ball games must be vetted afresh, and participants whose details were not captured in the Players Information System (PIS) database recently introduced by Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) will not be cleared to participate and compete at the games,” he explained. 


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20 Straight Semesters of Academic Excellence for CUI Swimmers

Story Links IRVINE, Calif. – In their 2024-25 season representing the Green and Gold, the Concordia University Irvine swim and dive teams once again rose to the occasion with high academic marks. The College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) announced the Spring Team Scholar All-America honorees and for […]

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IRVINE, Calif. – In their 2024-25 season representing the Green and Gold, the Concordia University Irvine swim and dive teams once again rose to the occasion with high academic marks.

The College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) announced the Spring Team Scholar All-America honorees and for the 20th straight semester, both Concordia swim and dive teams earned a GPA of at least 3.0 or higher.

Under the leadership of head coach Bert Bergen, the CUI women’s swim and dive team earned a combined 3.26 GPA in the 2025 spring semester, while the men’s squad also earned a 3.10 GPA.

With 20 straight semesters of academic excellence with this honor, that means the CUI swim and dive programs never missed that mark during their entire run through the NCAA DII Era.

For the full list of schools that made the bar from the CSCAA, CLICK HERE



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NCAA adds women’s wrestling as 91st championship

The NCAA added women’s wrestling as its 91st championship sport, providing another athletics opportunity for female athletes to compete. Divisions I, II and III approved the addition at the Association’s annual Convention this week in Nashville, Tennessee. Women’s wrestling now advances from the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program to become a national collegiate championship, […]

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The NCAA added women’s wrestling as its 91st championship sport, providing another athletics opportunity for female athletes to compete. Divisions I, II and III approved the addition at the Association’s annual Convention this week in Nashville, Tennessee.

Women’s wrestling now advances from the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program to become a national collegiate championship, featuring female athletes from all three divisions competing against one another. The NCAA’s first women’s wrestling championship will be in 2026.

“We are thrilled that women’s wrestling will be an NCAA sport, making it the 91st championship that we host,” NCAA President Charlie Baker said. “We extend a big thank you to everyone who supported this effort and the athletes, coaches and fans for their passion for a fast-growing and exciting sport that brings even more opportunities for women to participate in athletics.”

There were 76 women’s wrestling programs at NCAA schools in 2023-24, with projections pointing to an additional 17 programs in 2024-25. More than 1,200 women wrestlers are competing at NCAA schools today. The sport is also diverse. At least 45% of the student-athletes competing are of diverse or international backgrounds.

“This means so much to women’s wrestling and to women’s sports in general,” said University of Iowa student-athlete wrestler and 2024 Olympic silver medalist Kennedy Blades. “It gives women’s wrestling recognition and shows that it is important, not just around the world, but also in our country. College sports are huge in the United States. This shows how much women’s wrestling is growing. Since I was a little girl, I dreamed about being an NCAA national wrestling champion. It will fulfill so many little girls’ dreams, including mine.”

USA Wrestling, the national governing body for the sport, and organizations such as Wrestle Like a Girl have steadily supported efforts for an NCAA championship in the sport.

“USA Wrestling salutes the NCAA leadership for its historic decision to make women’s wrestling its 91st NCAA championships,” said Rich Bender, executive director of USA Wrestling.

“Women’s wrestling has been an Olympic sport since 2004 and is the fastest-growing sport for young women in our nation. We thank each of the NCAA institutions which have already added women’s wrestling for their leadership and vision and invite others to consider providing this opportunity. We celebrate today with all of those within wrestling and college athletics who have worked so hard to make this dream a reality,” Bender said.

Sally Roberts, chief executive officer and founder of Wrestle Like a Girl, also shared her excitement.

“I am filled with immense pride and gratitude as we celebrate the landmark decision to recognize women’s wrestling as the 91st NCAA championship sport,” Roberts said. “This moment is a testament to the relentless determination, passion and perseverance of countless athletes, coaches and advocates who believed in the transformative power of wrestling for women — our next generation of leaders.”

The NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics oversees the Emerging Sports for Women program and worked with the wrestling organizations throughout the process.

“The NCAA’s approval of women’s wrestling as its 91st championship is a groundbreaking achievement that reflects the continued rise and strength of women’s sports,” said Ragean Hill, chair of the committee and executive associate athletics director/senior woman administrator at Charlotte.

“This milestone opens the door to new opportunities for female student-athletes across Divisions I, II and III, showcasing the NCAA’s commitment to fostering equity and growth in collegiate athletics. The success of this effort is a testament to the incredible collaboration between the wrestling community, institutional leaders, and advocates who share a vision of expanding pathways for women to compete and excel. The Committee on Women’s Athletics is thrilled to celebrate this historic moment and look forward to the future impact of women’s wrestling on campuses nationwide,” Hill said.

The NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics made a recommendation in February that NCAA Divisions I, II and III sponsor legislation to move women’s wrestling to championship status. In addition, the NCAA Board of Governors approved $1.7 million in Association-wide funding at its meeting in April to establish the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships.

Before the Committee on Women’s Athletics made its recommendation to move women’s wrestling to championship status, 40 schools had to sponsor the sport at varsity level and meet other competition and participant requirements. Women’s wrestling, which became an emerging sport in 2020, eclipsed the sponsorship minimum in the 2022-23 academic year. A women’s wrestling committee will now be established to work with NCAA staff on the development of the first championship for winter 2026.

Women’s wrestling is the sixth emerging sport to earn NCAA championship status. Since the emerging sports program was established in 1994, based on a recommendation from the NCAA Gender Equity Task Force, five women’s sports have earned NCAA championship status: rowing (1996), ice hockey (2000), water polo (2000), bowling (2003) and beach volleyball (2015). In the 2023-24 academic year, these sports collectively included nearly 14,000 student-athletes, about 6% of the total student-athletes competing in NCAA women’s championship sports, according to the most recent NCAA Sports Sponsorship and Participation Rates data. Women’s wrestling accounted for an additional 1,226 student-athletes in 2023-24.

The emerging sports program continues to thrive. Currently, five sports are working to reach championship status: acrobatics and tumbling, equestrian, rugby, stunt and triathlon. Additionally, the NCAA received an application this summer requesting that women’s flag football join the emerging sports program.

Women’s sports and female athletes continue to generate fan and media attention. Hill commented on the rise of women’s sports, equity, and the value to intercollegiate athletics.

“This milestone for women’s wrestling is a declaration that women deserve equitable opportunities to compete, to lead and to thrive,” Hill said. “It’s a step toward gender parity in sports and a powerful reminder that when women are given the platform to rise, they inspire generations to come. Women’s wrestling is not just a sport; it’s a movement that empowers women to see their strength, their value and their limitless potential.”

The following are additional comments about women’s wrestling being added as an NCAA championship:

• Madison Avila, junior All-American women’s wrestler at North Central (Illinois), Division III
“I think women’s wrestling being elevated to an NCAA championship is a good representation of our hard work — all the blood, sweat and tears that we’ve put into this sport. We have put countless hours into this sport, and we are working just as hard as the men, so it will be really awesome, for women’s sports in general, to see women’s wrestling at the NCAA championship
level.”

• Beth Goetz, Henry B. and Patricia B. Tippie director of athletics chair, Iowa, Division I
“Competing for an NCAA championship is a dream for every student-athlete. We are thrilled women’s wrestling athletes will have that reality next year. Women’s wrestling continues to see record growth at the high school and youth levels. Providing a championship experience will only enhance the excitement surrounding this sport.”

• Maureen “Mo” Harty, executive director, College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin, Division III
“I am excited that women’s wrestling will become an NCAA championship sport in 2026. It’s been rewarding for our conference to be a part of the growth of the sport at the collegiate level. The CCIW was the first conference in all three divisions to host a conference championship in 2023, and we are thrilled that our student-athletes will now get to compete for an NCAA national title. A benefit to adding women’s wrestling is an institution does not need a full roster to begin competition. They can start small and grow over time. Our student-athletes and coaches are looking forward to 2026.”

• David Hicks, vice president for athletics/head triathlon coach, King (Tennessee), Division II
“As one of the original NCAA institutions to sponsor women’s wrestling back in 2009, we are
extremely excited at the incredible growth of women’s wrestling at the NCAA level over the past several years. It’s amazing to look back on those early years of championships hosted in small institutional gyms and know that our student-athletes will now be competing in an NCAA championship. I am excited not only for our young women at King, but for the female student-athletes at all member institutions, as well as the young girls coming through the high school ranks in one of the nation’s fastest-growing sports — they are the future of this sport.

“This is a landmark day for NCAA Division II and our student-athletes, as well, who will now have the opportunity to compete in an official NCAA championship. I would like to acknowledge the
administrators from NCAA Division II who helped spearhead this effort to get women’s wrestling to the finish line in this process and prioritized creating opportunities for young women. Lisa
McGuirk, Nate Moorman, Sandee Mott, Tom Gioglio and many others have worked hard to make this a reality, and their investments in the experience of our female student-athletes will have a lasting impact on the sport and on the NCAA.”

• Sarah Hildebrandt, former King (Tennessee) women’s wrestling athlete, 2024 Olympic gold medalist and 2020 Olympic bronze medalist
“It is incredible to see the growth of women’s wrestling, specifically seeing collegiate women
wrestlers finally getting the stage and recognition they deserve. I’m so excited to see what this event can do for the continued growth of the sport moving forward.”

• Sarah Hirshland, chief executive officer, U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee
“This is a great day for wrestling, for college athletics and, most important, for the athletes who have given so much to pursuing excellence in their sport. Many people across our broad sport community came together to make this championship in women’s wrestling a reality — and it’s a testimony to the dedication of all who believe in the power of sport and the necessity of
opportunity. We are proud to support this progress, and we will be cheering on these great athletes.”

• Mike Moyer, executive director, National Wrestling Coaches Association
“On behalf of our NWCA board of directors and our 16,000 high school and college member coaches, we could not be more excited about the NCAA officially adopting women’s wrestling as its next championship sport.

“We are proud to have helped to add so many of the intercollegiate wrestling programs set to compete in the inaugural 2026 NCAA championships and are honored for the privilege to work alongside the NCAA and all other partners in the wrestling ecosystem to continue to grow the sport and provide opportunities at our NCAA institutions across the country.”

• Lee Roy Smith, executive director, National Wrestling Hall of Fame
“Wrestling has come a long way from being a traditionally male-dominated sport. It’s inspiring to see how dedication and perseverance have opened doors for women. With opportunities like their own NCAA wrestling championships, women are now thriving in the sport. Wrestlers serve as incredible role models, and it’s exciting to see young women being empowered both physically and through the educational opportunities wrestling provides.”

• Lynda Tealer, senior vice president of championships, NCAA
“The addition of women’s wresting as the 91st NCAA championship reflects the continued commitment by the membership to support and provide opportunities for female athletes. It is also a testament to all the young women who participated in the growth and development of the sport.”



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