Topics you don’t want to miss from women’s wrestling in March

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How do I even intro this month? In the right context, a lot of great things have happened, so that’s going to be the focus for this quasi-newsletter for March.

Women’s Wrestling at the NCWWC
NCAA programs competed at the first-ever exclusive NCAA postseason event March 6-7. The Cliff Keen National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships were hosted by Adrian College and the event was superb. The weekend will forever be a marker in the history of NCAA women’s wrestling.

McKendree won the team title with five individual champions, and head coach Sam Schmitz was awarded coach of the year. Simon Fraser placed second to McKendree by just 12.5 points and had three champions of their own. Augsburg and UW-Stevens Point were the only two programs with title winners that advanced over McKendree and Simon Fraser on the way to the top of the podium. Finalist bouts at 109 and 170 pounds were also the only two weights without a McKendree or Simon Fraser wrestler. 

Archived video is free to watch on Trackwrestling—be sure to listen for commentary by Wrestle Like A Girl’s very own Sally Roberts in the finals. 

Top 5 teams: 1) McKendree University 2) Simon Fraser University 3) King University 5) Colorado Mesa university 5) Emmanuel College 

Coverage: 5 champs lead McKendree to victory at historic NCWWC | Semifinal match-ups set for NCWWC, plus other notes from Michigan | Here’s what NCAA programs released about women’s wrestling and the NCWWC | NCWWC Preview and Predictions: 130, 136, 143, 155 | NCWWC Preview and Predictions: 109, 116, 123 | NCWWC Preview and Predictions: 101, 170, 191 (more coverage online). 

NAIA Season Highlights 
The cancelation of the NAIA National Invitational doesn’t take away from the actual achievements and growth within the NAIA this year. 

There were close to 200 women ready to take the mats in search of a title at the 2020 NAIA National Invitational; women from 28 programs across 13 states.

Eight head coaches offered their thoughts about highlights from the season, the seniors and what it’s like in the NAIA right now on a podcast with us—listen in, here. 

Numbers wise, there are 36 NAIA member institutions with programs across the country. That’s 45% of the total number of programs across all divisions—NCAA, JUCO & NAIA combined. According to program start dates, there were actually 50% more NAIA programs competing than NCAA programs before the 2019-20 season—the numbers were 22 and 11. 

As far as championship status, the NAIA has been on track for several years. One of the prerequisites for a championship application was completing two years as an invitational sport—a prerequisite met at the conclusion of this year pending further language from the NAIA. If all of that pans out well, when the NAIA gets 40 programs to declare intent to participate in the postseason the coaches association can apply for championship status and put it up for review. More about that, here. 

Conference coaches of the year were Menlo’s Joey Bareng (Cascade Collegiate Conference) Jamestown’s Shauna Kemp (Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference), Lyon’s Kevin Corbett (Sooner Athletic Conference and Campbellsville’s Lee Miracle (Mid-South Conference). 

Coverage: Podcast: Eight coaches talk 2019-20 season, seniors and the NAIA | NAIA women’s wrestling edges toward championship status | The ultimate 2020 NAIA National Invitational preview | 6 Oaks win individual titles, Menlo secures first-ever CCC Championships | Lyon Scots win first-ever Sooner Athletic Conference Championships | Jamestown wins back-to-back KCAC Championships | 2019-20 NAIA Conference Championships preview: KCAC, SAC & CCC (more coverage online).

Aurura University Adds Women’s Wrestling
Aurura University is the latest and only women’s wrestling program added in March. The Division III program located in Illinois plans to compete during the 2021-22 season. The university is also bringing back men’s wrestling after it was dropped 35 years ago. 

Aurura University brings the Illinois opportunity count up to five, stacking up alongside McKendree (NCAA Div. II), North Central (NCAA Div. III), MacMurray (NCAA Div. III) and Lincoln (NAIA). 

Illinois does not recognize women’s wrestling as a sanctioned high school sport—according to the 2019 NHS survey there were 676 girls registered in the state, but a facebook post by Illinois Girls Wrestling in January shared a number of 835.

The total number of NCAA programs is now at 37, positioning the sport just 3 schools away from the magic 40 number for championship application. Div. III programs make up 59% of the total NCAA count. 

Press: Aurora University announces addition of Men’s and Women’s Wrestling | Coach Application 

Cody Griswold to Lead Startup Program at Elmira College
Elimra College announced last week that Cody Griswold would lead the first year program out of New York. He’s a graduate of Norwich University that has spent the last five years transforming Vermont’s Williamtown High School wrestling program in Williamstown, VA. Elmira is New York’s first NCAA women’s wrestling program.

From the release: “It’s an incredible honor to be named the first women’s head coach in Elmira College history,” Griswold exclaimed. “Women’s wrestling is the fastest-growing sport in the world and I can’t wait to help grow it here at Elmira.

Elmira plans to compete during the 2020 season.

Press: Cody Griswold Tabbed Elmira College’s First Women’s Wrestling Coach | Elmira College to add New York’s first NCAA Div. III women’s wrestling program

March Headlines

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Published by Gabrielle Lord-Klein

Founder & Writer