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Home , Collegiate wrestling, Freestyle wrestling, Helen Maroulis, Wrestling weight classes

NCAA EMERGING STATUS PROPOSAL PLAN WOMEN’S The wrestling community is currently preparing its pro- posal to seek NCAA Emerging Sports Status for women’s wrestling, with the intention of submitting its formal appli- cation on August 1, 2017.

A collection of leaders and stakeholders, including USA Wrestling, Wrestle Like A Girl, collegiate institutions and the National Wrestling Coaches Association, have united behind this effort.

The Case for Women’s Wrestling Women’s wrestling is currently in position to meet all re- quirements of NCAA Emerging Sports Status. The colle- giate sport sponsorship demand is growing and youth participation numbers are soaring.

International Women’s Wrestling Facts • Women’s is an Olympic sport, con- tested in the last four Summer (2004- Athens, 2008-Beijing, 2012-London, 2016-). • There have been Senior World Wrestling Championships for women since 1987 and younger opportunities also exist at the Cadet, Junior and University levels. • The is a world power in international Helen Maroulis, the first U.S. wrestler to win an Olympic women’s wrestling, winning the World Team title in 1999, gold medal, on the podium at the Rio Olympic Games. and placing in the top three at the World Championships nine times. High School Women’s Wrestling Facts • Helen Maroulis, a Simon Fraser University (NCAA-Div. • Girls high school wrestling in the USA has grown every II) grad, became the first U.S. Olympic champion in year since 1990. According to the NFHS statistics for 2015- women’s wrestling at the 2016 Rio Games. The USA has 16, there are 13,496 girls high school wrestlers, represent- won five Olympic medals in women’s wrestling, all by ath- ing 2,000 programs. letes who have wrestled in college. • California, Hawaii, Texas, Washington, Tennessee and Alaska provide official sanctioned girls high school state College Women’s Wrestling Facts championships in wrestling • There is a quarter-century of women’s college wrestling. • Girls wrestling is also an official sport in New York City The first women’s varsity team was created in 1993-94 at public schools. the University of Minnesota-Morris. • Numerous states are holding organized all-girls tourna- • There have been 14 years of national tournaments for ments and considering official status. women’s college wrestlers in the United States. The • Girls wrestling ranks No. 14 among high school programs Women’s Association (WCWA) was (ahead of 29 ) and No. 19 in the number of officially founded in 2007-2008 to oversee women’s col- high school participants (ahead of 25 Olympic sports). lege varsity wrestling. • There are currently 33 college varsity programs affiliated USA Wrestling’s Women’s Programs with the WCWA with three new teams already joining for • USA Wrestling female athlete membership reached an all- the 2017-18 season. time high in 2015-16 with 11,582 registered. This has in- • The roster of WCWA teams for 2016-17 includes 10 creased for eight straight years. NCAA teams, 20 NAIA teams and six NJCAA teams and • USA Wrestling hosts competition for girls and women at continues to grow annually. the Kids, Cadet, UWW Cadet, Junior, UWW Junior, Uni- • There has been 10 years of national championships for versity, Senior and Masters levels. women’s wrestling club teams in the National Collegiate Wrestling Association (NCWA). See reverse side for draft outline of NCAA plan DRAFT OUTLINE OF THE PROPOSED NCAA WOMEN’S WRESTLING PROGRAM PLAYING SEASON Season: Fall Semester, single semester sport Style: Freestyle Wrestling Rules: Match the freestyle rules, with ability to modify by NCAA Women’s Wrestling Com- mittee. Length of Playing Season: 144 day season (same as men’s wrestling). This will include two segments, a championship segment and a non-championship segment. Preseason Practice: August 15 First Date of Competition: September 5 End of Regular Playing Season: (same as men’s wrestling) “last date of final examinations for the regular academic year at the institution.” Proposed National Collegiate Championships: Third week of December Number of Dates of Competition: 16 maximum (same as men’s wrestling) and 13 contest minimum. Two-Day Meets and Dual Meets on Two Consecutive Days: (same as men’s wrestling) Not more than two two- WCWA College National champion Sarah Hildebrandt of King day meets and not more than two occasions on which dual University, now a member of Women’s Team USA. meets are held on two consecutive days. Maximum Scholarships: 14, equivalency (this is the same Competition that Exceeds Two Days: (same as men’s as and as track, which have 9.9 for men and 14 wrestling) for women). There are 10 starting positions on a wrestling Annual Exemptions: (same as men’s wrestling) Confer- team, with means 9.9 does not even cover the starting ence Championships, Season-Ending Tournaments, Alumni lineup. Rosters can be 30-40 athletes, so the 14 equivalency Meet, Hawaii or Alaska, Fundraising Activity, Celebrity scholarships is important to building a strong team. Sports Activity, U.S. National Team, NWCA All-Star Meet, Minimum Participants: 7 (same as men’s wrestling) NWCA National Duals Facilities: Workout facility with wrestling mats and locker Additional Annual Exemption: Inclusion of foreign teams room access, ability to host competitions in a gymnasium in early season tournaments hosted in the United States. which can be shared with other sports teams. Addition to Season Ending Tournament: As the WCWA Budget:Current women’s college operating budget starts at may continue after the approval of Emerging Sport Status, $35,000 (without salary and scholarships). Men’s Div. I op- the “Season Ending Tournament” item must be expanded erating budgets range from $100,000 to $500,000 (without beyond the men’s wrestling to include NCAA Champi- salary and scholarships). onship, NAIA Championship and WCWA Championship. Once in Four-Year Exemption – Foreign Tour – (same as NATIONAL COLLEGIATE CHAMPIONSHIPS men’s wrestling) Contests on foreign tours are exempted if Upon acceptance of Emerging Sport Status, immediately held once every four years seek to establish a National Collegiate Championships. Note: In order to expand the fan base for the sport and to Minimum requirement is 40 institutions for women’s establish meaningful competition within conferences and sports, but the exception is for Olympic sports (18.2.10.1, divisions, dual meets will be an important part of the an- page 297 of NCAA Manual) nual schedule. These can be supplemented with individual- format tournaments, or dual meet tournaments. See reverse side for Women’s Wrestling Facts

OTHER DETAILS Contact for Emerging Sports Status Maximum Number of Coaches: (same as men’s wrestling) Proposal for Women’s Wrestling Four, including one volunteer coach. (Could have a Director • Rich Bender of Wrestling for men’s and women’s program) Executive Director of USA : 10, same as men’s wrestling (new United • Email - [email protected] World Wrestling weight classes starting in 2017) • Office number - 719-598-8181