Takedown Report

Columbia University To Add Women’s Wrestling As 32nd Varsity Program

Emma Randall named head coach of the program, which will debut in 2027-28
NEW YORK — Columbia Athletics announced Wednesday that women’s wrestling will become the University’s 32nd varsity sport beginning with the 2027-28 academic year. Additionally, Campbell Family Director of Athletics Peter Pilling has appointed Emma Randall as the program’s head coach and will officially begin her role on July 1, 2026.
“Women’s wrestling has experienced tremendous growth at both the national and collegiate levels, and Columbia is proud to take this important step by becoming the first Ivy League institution to offer the sport at the varsity level,” said Pilling. “Elevating our existing club team to varsity status reflects both the momentum of the sport and Columbia’s commitment to providing opportunities for elite student-athletes to compete at the highest level.”
Women’s wrestling becomes the first varsity sport added at Columbia since men’s and women’s squash were introduced in 2007. “I’m deeply grateful to Columbia’s leadership and alumni for their vision and commitment to women’s wrestling,” said Randall. “This moment is incredibly meaningful. It was built through years of belief, consistency and community. I want to acknowledge the student-athletes who helped lay the foundation to get us here and feel honored for the opportunity to continue leading this team into its next chapter. We’re excited to be a program that develops exceptional wrestlers, students and leaders while pursuing excellence at the highest levels of the sport.”
The growth of women’s wrestling has accelerated rapidly across the NCAA in recent years. More than 100 NCAA institutions currently sponsor women’s wrestling programs, with the sport officially recognized as an NCAA Championship sport beginning in 2025 and crowning its first champions in 2026. … more at … https://gocolumbialions.com/news/2026/6/10/columbia-to-add-womens-wrestling-as-32nd-varsity-program?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

June 11, 2026 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment