Northwestern College to Launch Women’s Wrestling Program in 2026
Published: April 29, 2025, 23:36:26
ORANGE CITY, Iowa – In a meaningful stride for gender equality in athletics, Northwestern College announced plans to introduce women’s wrestling as its 23rd varsity sport. The program is slated to begin competition in the fall of 2026,marking a pivotal moment for the college and the burgeoning sport.
Strategic Vision Behind the Expansion
The decision to add women’s wrestling follows extensive research into the sport’s rapid expansion both regionally and nationally.
I’m excited to announce the addition of women’s wrestling as a varsity sport at Northwestern College,”
stated Vice President for Athletics Tony Hoops. Throughout the past two years we have done extensive research regarding the rapid growth of the sport regionally and nationally. Strategically, women’s wrestling enables Northwestern to add a women’s sport featuring a competitive roster guided by a strong Christian leader that will lead a program reflecting our mission.
NAIA Recognition and GPAC Integration
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) recognized women’s wrestling as an invitational sport in the 2018-19 season before officially sanctioning it as a championship sport in 2022-23.The national championships are held annually in Park City, Kansas. Currently, 43 NAIA institutions sponsor women’s wrestling at the varsity level.
The Great Plains Athletic conference (GPAC) followed suit, sponsoring women’s wrestling in 2024-25, becoming the sixth NAIA conference to do so. Northwestern will join the ranks of Morningside, Hastings, Doane, Midland, Waldorf, and Dakota Wesleyan as the seventh GPAC school to offer the sport.
Coach Dahl’s Optimism for the Future
Men’s wrestling head coach Rik Dahl expressed his enthusiasm for the new program, highlighting the college’s unique position to foster a thriving wrestling community.
I am excited that Northwestern is willing to take this step forward and invest in our sport’s young women,
said Dahl. I believe that Northwestern is uniquely situated to build a quality program in a region and state that has seen girl’s wrestling explode in recent years. With our college and department’s commitment to excellence and our distinct commitment to faith and developing the whole person, I am confident we can attract some quality candidates and promising women wrestlers to Orange City!
Growth of Women’s Wrestling Nationally and Locally
The surge in popularity of girls’ and women’s wrestling is undeniable. At the high school level, 45 states have officially sanctioned the sport, and women’s wrestling is poised to become a championship-level NCAA sport by 2026. According to the National Federation of State High School Associations, the number of high school girls’ teams has quadrupled nationally, with over 60,000 girls now participating across the country.
In Iowa, the momentum is equally strong, with 31 high school conferences sponsoring the sport. MOC-Floyd Valley High School, for example, saw the participation of 14 female athletes in their wrestling program during the 2024-25 season.
Careful Consideration for future Expansion
While the addition of women’s wrestling marks a significant expansion, Northwestern College emphasizes a strategic approach to further athletic progress.
Adding additional sports at Northwestern College will only occur when it makes strategic sense and reflects our Christian mission,
Hoops added. Currently, we do not anticipate adding any additional sports.We will focus on building nationally competitive programs with roster sizes that retain well and enhance the student-athlete experience.
Recruitment and Launch Timeline
The search for the program’s inaugural head coach is set to commence this spring, with recruiting efforts spanning throughout the 2025-2026 academic year. Northwestern College’s women’s wrestling team is scheduled to begin its first year of competition in the 2026-27 season.
