Recruiting season is in full swing and it’s time to make a college decision. Here is what you need to know about picking a women’s college wrestling program. 

What Are My Options?

Plenty of schools offer women’s college wrestling from NCAA to NAIA to junior college to California junior college. Below is a breakdown of the number of programs in each division. 

NCAA Division I: 4
NCAA Division II: 31
NCAA Division III: 62
NAIA: 45
NJCAA: 27
CCCAA: 7

Division III does not offer athletic scholarships while the others do. However, it does not mean you aren’t eligible for financial aid. A Division III program might be less expensive if you meet the qualifications. It’s important to ask questions and understand the process.

Several major colleges don’t sponsor women’s college wrestling but have a club program. These colleges won’t compete at the end-of-year championships but typically wrestle in open tournaments. 

The National Collegiate Wrestling Association (NCWA) is a folkstyle option with an end-of-season tournament, but this is a guide for colleges that offer women's wrestling as a varsity sport. 

All three NCAA divisions compete at the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships. Women’s freestyle wrestling is projected to be an NCAA Championship sport in 2026. 

The NAIA is currently the only division that offers women’s freestyle wrestling as a championship sport. 

The best resource to get started is thewcwc.com. It provides detailed information about available college programs and coaches. Most college athletic websites have a recruiting form to get started. 

Also, some colleges created a women's wrestling program and are in transition. That could mean waiting for a year or two for a varsity schedule to begin. 

Know what you want, be open-minded, and take all your visits. 

What Kind Of Team Do You Want To Be A Part Of?

The answer varies for every wrestler, but it’s important to consider when deciding on a college. Every program has a different competitive level and every coach has a different vision.

Do you want to be part of a big team or a small team?

Do you want to be part of an upstart or established program?

Do I want to compete for a national championship or do you want to participate?

Does the school offer my degree?

What kind of teammate will I be?

How will I fit in with the culture? 

What are you looking for in a school?

What are you looking for in a coach?

These questions will guide your decision. Be honest with your expectations and your current level of competitiveness. Not everyone will be an Olympic gold medalist, but that should not detract from your college experience. There’s a place for all levels.

Ask yourself: “What do I want from the college wrestling experience?”

How Do I Get A Scholarship?

Anyone can get a scholarship, but few get a full ride. Your on-the-mat success typically determines the level of athletic scholarship.

However, academics are important. A highly successful wrestler can get a full ride based on classroom success. Ask your high school or club coach to advocate for you. Most coaches will email a college coach on your behalf — if you’ve earned it.

What Does Your Social Media Look Like?

Every coach looks at your social media accounts to learn about you. This might determine what programs recruit you. Keep this in mind when posting. 

Kids have no idea how much coaches learn from social media.

Coaches have also studied your film and watched you compete. They are watching body language and how you interact with others. What you do off the mat is as important as what you do on it. 

Know Something About The Program?

Do your homework about the team. It seems simple, but some recruits know little about the history of the program they are pursuing. 

Know the coach’s first and last name. 

Know the coach’s background. 

Know where the school is located.

Know the size of the town where the school is located. 

Know the division of the school. 

Know where the team finished at the national tournament. 

Know how many qualifiers the team sent to the national tournament. 

Follow the team on social media.

Most schools should have this information on the school’s athletic website. If they don’t, this could be a red flag that the school isn’t as invested in the program as it should be. 

Know Your GPA

It doesn’t look good if a coach asks about your GPA and you say “Umm, I think it’s like a 3.0.” 

That’s a red flag for a coach. Do you think it is 3.0, or is it 3.0? You don’t know your GPA?

Know The Style

Women's college wrestling uses freestyle rules. And it always has. 

Seek The Best Competition

Compete at the toughest freestyle tournaments in the country. Make the trips to Women’s Nationals, Fargo, and Super 32. If a coach is going to invest a scholarship in you, they want to know that you seek challenges and embrace tough competition, and they want to see how you do against the top competition.

Understand The Women’s Freestyle Wrestling Landscape

Learn about women’s college and international wrestling. You can’t know everything about everyone, but you should know the wrestlers and coaches impacting the sport. 

A good start is the four Americans who have won Olympic gold medals in women’s freestyle wrestling: Helen Maroulis (2016), Tamyra Mensah-Stock (2021), Sarah Hildebrandt (2024), and Amit Elor (2024). You should also know that Terry Steiner is the head women’s national team coach at USA Wrestling. 

Know your history.

Speak For Yourself

Don’t let your parents speak for you. Coaches are recruiting the 18-year-old — not the 40-year-old. Parents won’t wrestle or attend class for you, so they shouldn’t answer for you. 

Ask Questions And Reach Out

Just because a coach hasn’t reached out doesn’t mean he or she isn’t interested. Most coaches will respond if you call or send an email. If they don’t, that should tell you something about the coach and the program. 

Take all the phone calls you can to gain experience and have a list of questions you want to ask. Here are a few examples.

What’s your coaching style?

What’s your coaching philosophy?

How do you run a practice?

What’s your vision for the program?

How do you develop culture?

Can I earn a higher scholarship through the years?

When might I lose my scholarship?