Takedown Report

Meet the New Women’s Collegiate Programs for 2019-20

With Labor Day having come and gone, we inch closer and closer to the beginning of the college season. For women’s wrestling, this should be a banner year. 14 schools are set to offer women’s wrestling for the first time, two states will get their first women’s collegiate programs (South Carolina, and West Virginia), while Minnesota gets an active program (Minnesota-Morris offered women’s wrestling from 1993-2003). As good as those numbers sound, expect them to grow in 2020-21 as eight colleges have already pledged to start women’s team’s during that school years. But before we get ahead of ourselves and worry about next season, let’s take a look at the women’s programs that will hit the mat for the first time in just a few short months. 

Alderson Broaddus Battlers – Phillipi, West Virginia (DII)
Head Coach: Sam Gardner
The plan for Alderson Broaddus in 2019-20 is to bring in a small class and wrestle and abbreviated schedule. Next year, with two recruiting classes enrolled, the Battlers will wrestle a full schedule. 
Staff: Sam Gardner will handle coaching the women’s team along with the men’s squad. The 2019-20 season will be his fifth leading the wrestling program. Under his direction, two wrestlers have combined to qualify for the DII national tournament on three occasions. Gardner is a Maryland native, so he may turn back to his hometown roots when looking to recruit for the women’s team. He’ll be in luck, as Maryland will sanction a girl’s state tournament for the first time in 2019-20. 

Augsburg Auggies – Minneapolis, Minnesota (DIII)
Head Coach: Max Mejia
Key Contributors:
Emily Shilson (109)
Vayle Baker (116/123)
Gabby Skidmore (123)
Kaylee Moore (130/136)
Melissa Jacobs (143)
Marlynne Deede (155)
Faith Tuttle (170/191)
There’s a lot to be excited about surrounding the first year of the Augsburg women’s wrestling program. Augsburg has a storied history with their men’s team, so there’s no doubt that the school, administration, and the community will support the women’s program, as well. Augsburg becomes the only school in the state of Minnesota that offers women’s wrestling.  Rest of the story and details at https://news.theopenmat.com/womens-wrestling/meet-the-new-womens-collegiate-programs-for-2019-20/74332?mc_cid=0c4ed16935&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

September 6, 2019 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized