SOURCE: www.teamusa.org

January 28, 2020

It's our pleasure to announce just now, the NCAA voted yes for Full Emerging Sports Status for Women's Wrestling in Division II & III.

The growth for NCAA collegiate opportunity for our women is in full effect! Congratulations to all involved and to all who made this possible! pic.twitter.com/bClbPFzZkr

— Wrestle Like A Girl (@WrstleLikeAGirl) January 25, 2020

ANAHEIM, CA (1-25-2020) --Today, Saturday, January 25th, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), gathered at the Anaheim Convention Center in California and voted Full Emerging Sports Status for Women's Wrestling in Divisions II and III. The wrestling community applauds and thanks the NCAA for its governance and vision. This is a momentous and historic mark in women's wrestling.

"Today's a very monumental day in history of women's collegiate wrestling!" Julia Salata, Wrestle Like A Girl's Collegiate Initiative Programs Manager stated. "Opportunities continue to expand and this is another step in the right direction. We've had an excellent group of stakeholders, administrators, and personnel who have worked hard to make this possible and will continue to help us move forward to full Championship Status."

Lisa Goddard McGuirk, Chair of Women's Wrestling Executive Committee and Gannon University Athletic Director, shared her excitement stating, "I am excited that the Division II membership has supported women's wrestling as an Emerging Sport. This will afford additional opportunities for female studentathlete to pursue their academic and athletic passiona at the collegiate level."

Last year on June 3rd, 2019, the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics (CWA) "recommended that all three divisions of the NCAA governance structure add women's wrestling as an NCAA emerging sport, effective August 1, 2020." This recommendation is a grand step towards the accomplished vote established today; full Emerging Sports Status. The NCAA Division I vote will take place in April 2020.