NAIA women’s wrestling edges toward championship status
NCAA women’s wrestling snags most of the media attention circulating about steps toward status as a championship sport, but almost 45% of the women’s wrestling programs in the mix right now are sponsored by NAIA member institutions. In fact, there were 50% more NAIA programs than NCAA programs competing before the 2019-20 season—22 and 11, respectively.
The NAIA granted women’s wrestling invitational sport status in the spring of 2018. Meaning: 25 programs were actively sponsoring women’s wrestling and declared intent to participate in the postseason. There are currently 35 programs that sponsor women’s wrestling. After the NAIA National Invitational this March, the coaches association can apply for championship status when 40 programs sponsor the sport and declare intent to participate in the postseason.
Just reaching 40 programs isn’t going to be magic, though. Several programs have strategically announced or delayed inaugural seasons out past the fall of 2020—to accommodate hiring and recruiting—and may not have a declaration to participate in the postseason just yet. So, in order to have a national championship event next season, 5 more schools need to add women’s wrestling, and, all 40 programs must submit a declaration of intent to participate. If that doesn’t happen, women’s wrestling will remain an invitational sport.
While nothing is publicly on the table, right now, it’s probably not amiss to speculate that regional qualifying events for the NAIA national tournament are being discussed as growth continues and the framework strengthens.
Conference championships were introduced during the 2017-18 season when the Mid-South Conference, which Campbellsville won last weekend, and the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference announced their commitment to sponsor the sport.
There are four conference championships in place this season, three of which are happening this weekend. The Cascade Collegiate Conference and Sooner Athletic Conference announced their sponsorship in May and December of 2019, respectively.
Programs participating in conference championships that are not members of that conference for other sports will move to their schools’ assigned conference when it decides to sponsor the sport. For example, Waldorf University sports are part of the North Star Athletic Association, but their women’s wrestling program will compete in the SAC Championships this weekend with a year-to-year membership.
The 2020 NAIA National Invitational is scheduled for March 13-14 in Jamestown, North Dakota.
Preview this weekend’s conference championships, here!
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