Hastings College adds women’s wrestling

HASTINGS, N.E. – – Hastings College joins the growing number of NAIA member schools to add women’s wrestling as a varsity sport. The college becomes a third option for prospective student athletes to choose from in the state of Nebraska, alongside Midland University and York College.

“Women’s wrestling is a fast growing sport in intercollegiate and interscholastic levels across the country,” said Athletic Director B.J. Pumroy. “We believe it’s the right time to join the trend of schools adding the sport to meet an increasingly growing marketplace. We know Nebraska high schools traditionally have strong wrestling programs. We also believe with the national and state increase in participation in girls wrestling, the Nebraska School Activity Association may soon sanction the sport.”

There are approximately 21,000 girls wrestling in high school and nearly 1,000 women wrestlers at various NAIA, NCAA and NJCAA college programs. While numbers are steadily increasing across the nation, the vote to sanction girls wrestling in Nebraska fell short of being passed by just a single vote in early April 2019.

The announcement bumps the total number of colleges and universities adding women’s wrestling in 2020 up to 13—5 of which are NAIA member schools. Those 5 programs contribute to the 40-program requirement to apply for NAIA championship status, and there are a total of 28 NAIA programs competing this season.

View a comprehensive list of colleges with women’s wrestling programs, here.

Press release: Hastings College

Transition Wrestling is an independent women’s wrestling news publication.