The Greatest Women’s College Wrestlers Of All Time
The complete list of the greatest women’s college wrestlers of all time.
Selecting the all-time women’s college wrestling team is tricky.
The first women’s college national championships were hosted in 2004 at Missouri Valley University in Marshall, Missouri, without much fanfare. Some participants thought it was just another tournament, with brackets consisting of four to six participants.
That changed in 2008 with the creation of the Women’s Collegiate Wrestling Association (WCWA). This organization provided women with an opportunity to compete in a formal setting. It included all divisions, and the end-of-the-year tournament was considered the college national championship. The final WCWA championship was held in 2020.
In 2019, the NAIA held an invitational tournament until it sanctioned women’s wrestling for the 2022-23 season. The National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships included all NCAA programs (D1, D2, and D3), and the first national championship was held in 2020. The NCAA sanctioned women’s wrestling as its 91st sport for the 2025-26 season.
Of the four four-year divisions listed above, only the NAIA continues in its original form. Up to 15 wrestlers per team qualified for the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships, and the brackets expanded to 32 per weight class.
The 2026 NCAA women’s wrestling championships feature 18-woman brackets and a maximum of one wrestler per team, per weight. To celebrate the unique history of women’s college wrestling, we have selected the greatest college wrestler at every weight from each era. There is crossover between divisions, of course, and weight shifts, but this provides an overview of how the sport evolved.
A wrestler is evaluated only during the years she competed in college, with caveats. Winning multiple college championships is important, but international success during college factors into a wrestler’s final evaluation. Post-college success is not considered, which is why Olympic gold medalists Sarah Hildebrandt and Tamyra Mensh-Stock did not make the list. Below are the all-time women’s college wrestling teams by era, … more at … https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/14514726-the-greatest-womens-college-wrestlers-of-all-time
Participation in High School Sports Hits Record High with Sizable Increase in 2024-25
High school athletics participation increased by nearly 200,000 in 2024-25, continuing an upward trajectory since the pandemic and registering an all-time high for participation.
The NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey indicated that 8,260,891 participants were involved in high school sports in 2024-25, which is up 198,589 from the previous year and tops the previous record of 8,062,302 set in 2023-24. The total includes 4,723,907 boys and 3,536,984 girls – both record highs – according to figures obtained from the 51 NFHS member state associations, which includes the District of Columbia.
The 2024-25 total marked the third consecutive notable increase after numbers fell during the pandemic. Since the initial survey after the pandemic, participation in high school sports has increased 642,837 in three years and represents a turnaround from the decline that started the year before the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It is wonderful to see the interest in high school sports reach new heights,” said Dr. Karissa Niehoff, CEO of the NFHS. “The immense value of high school sports is reflected in these impressive numbers. As high school students have consistently demonstrated their desire to play with their peers and represent their schools and community, state and school administrators have stepped up to offer more participation opportunities to meet that demand.”
The biggest gains in 2024-25 were mainly found in girls sports, with flag football leading the way. The rapid rise of girls flag football programs across the country led to 68,847 girls participating in the sport last year – an impressive 60 percent increase from the previous year. In addition, schools sponsoring the sport increased by nearly 1,000.
Girls wrestling topped 74,000 participants for the first time, jumping 15 percent from a year ago and adding nearly 1,000 schools with a girls wrestling program. Boys wrestling participation is also enjoying a rebound in numbers, recording an increase of 8,340 to top 300,000 for the first time.
The number of participants in Unified Sports and Esports also registered increases in 2024-25. The survey indicated a total of 70,006 participants in the 15 Unified Sports, up from 51,502 in 2023-24. A total of 30,440 students participated in Esports last year – an increase of 2,939 participants from the previous year.
Outdoor track and field, volleyball and soccer all registered increases and remained the top three participatory sports for girls. Track and field participation increased to 513,808, followed by volleyball at 492,799 (up 2.85%) and soccer at 393,048 (up 2.38%). Basketball (356,240) remained in the No. 4 spot followed by fast-pitch softball (331,306). Competitive spirit (206,262) jumped to the sixth-most popular girls sport with a nearly 14-percent increase, while tennis (204,721) also increased by more than four percent. Cross country (189,260), swimming and diving (138,303) and lacrosse (99,292) round out the top 10.
Outdoor track and field, soccer and golf had significant gains on the boys side, and all 10 of the most popular sports held steady or registered gains. After 11-player football (1,031,039) and outdoor track and field (644,235), the rest of the boys top 10 includes basketball (540,704), soccer (484,908), baseball (472,598), wrestling (300,214), … more at … https://nwcaonline.com/news/2025/8/18/national-wrestling-coaches-association-participation-in-high-school-sports-hits-record-high-with-sizable-increase-in-2024-25.aspx
Early Lineup Look: 2025-26 NC State Wolfpack
A breakdown of the NC State Wolfpack for the 2025-26 NCAA season.
Development was the name of the game for North Carolina State during the 2024-25 season. Head coach Pat Popolizio redshirted a few of his biggest stars, including Ryan Jack and Jackson Arrington.
The Wolfpack finished eighth at the NCAA Championships and third at the ACC Championships with a team that was battle-tested. Vincent Robinson’s NCAA title at 125 pounds was the highlight, and it marked the first individual crown for NC State since Mike Macchiavello won in 2018.
Popolizio has a solid core, with four national placers and two Round of 12ers in the line-up. All-Americans Ryan Jack, Matt Singleton, Isaac Trumble, and Robinson join three additional national qualifiers in the line-up this season. “Last year was a good developmental year for us,” Popolizio said. “It was frustrating going through the process, but I feel good about who we have in our room. It’s fun watching certain guys develop. “We have six guys with a lot of experience at the NCAA tournament. I’m looking forward to the same kind of thing during the season as we develop and get these guys feeling good toward the end of the year.”
Progress is fundamental at 184 and 197. Popolizio might start two true freshmen, but will evaluate as the second semester begins. “We have new faces at 184 and 197 that we need to work to develop,” Popolizio said
North Carolina State will compete at the inaugural National Duals Invitational on November 15-16 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. “It’s been a long time coming,” Popolizio said. “It’s exciting to compete with the best teams in the country in a dual meet setting. It is going to be good for college wrestling and good for the fans, and good for exposure for the sport. Other sports are evolving and doing unique things to keep growing. I think wrestling has to do that, … more at … https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/14468288-early-lineup-look-2025-26-nc-state-wolfpack
Toledo wrestling legend Greg Wojciechowski dead at 73
TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) – A national champion wrestler and fixture of the sport locally, Greg Wojciechowski, has died at the age of 73, according to the Toledo Blade.
Known as “The Great Wojo” as a professional wrestler, Wojciechowski won a national championship as a heavyweight at the University of Toledo in 1971, along with two state titles while wrestling for Whitmer High School.
After his pro wrestling career, he returned to town to be a teacher at Toledo Public Schools, and coach wrestling teams at Archbold, Libbey, and Bowsher high schools.
You can read more about Wojciechowski by checking David Brigg’s column from earlier this summer about his induction into the wrestling Hall of Fame. … more a … https://www.13abc.com/2025/08/14/toledo-wrestling-legend-greg-wojciechowski-dead-73/
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Distinguished Member Greg Wojciechowski Passes Away
The National Wrestling Hall of Fame was saddened to learn that Greg Wojciechowski, a Distinguished Member inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2025, passed away on Tuesday, at the age of 74. He is also a member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum’s George Tragos and Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and he received the Lifetime Service to Wrestling award from the Ohio Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2013.
“Greg Wojciechowski was a driving force in establishing a world-class wrestling culture in the greater Toledo area during the 1960s and 1970s. His passion and dedication to the sport helped spark the creation of the Wrestling World Cup, which debuted in Toledo in 1973 and was hosted by the city an incredible 17 times over the next 19 years,” said Lee Roy Smith, Executive Director of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
“During his induction as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame this past June, “Wojo” delivered a heartfelt and moving speech. In a true reflection of his character, he took the time to personally recognize individuals in attendance who had made a meaningful impact on his life. It was a powerful reminder of the deep gratitude and humility that defined him—and a testament to the way he always gave back to the community that shaped him,” he added. “On behalf of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Board of Governors and our staff, we extend our deepest condolences to Greg’s family, friends, and the many lives he influenced. His legacy will forever live on in the sport he loved and the people he inspired.”
Wojciechowski was an NCAA Division I champion and three-time NCAA finalist, competing when freshmen were not eligible, at heavyweight for the University of Toledo.
By the age of 21 he had won an NCAA title, a freestyle national title and a Greco-Roman national title.
Standing 6-foot tall and weighing approximately 250 pounds, Wojciechowski regularly gave up height and weight to his opponents, including 1972 NCAA champion and Hall of Fame Distinguished Member Chris Taylor, who was 6-foot-5 and weighed over 400 pounds throughout much of his wrestling career.
Wojciechowski had a career college record of 55-2 with his only losses coming in the NCAA finals to Taylor and Oregon State’s Jess Lewis in 1970. … more at … https://nwhof.org/news/distinguished-member-greg-wojciechowski-passes-away
USA Wrestling leader Al Bevilacqua, 85, passed away Sunday.
USA Wrestling received word from his family that long-time USA Wrestling leader Al Bevilacqua, 85, passed away on Sunday, August 10.
Bevilacqua gave a lifetime of service, commitment and love to the sport of wrestling, impacting the lives of thousands of people along the way. He was a staff member and a volunteer leader with USA Wrestling for decades, going back to its roots as the U.S. Wrestling Federation. A respected coach on the high school, college and international levels, his work extended to leadership in many other areas, including his ground-breaking work in the creation of Beat the Streets in New York. He was named USA Wrestling Man of the Year in 2005. He received the Order of Merit from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2012. Services: There are two viewings at the Massapequa Funeral Home located at 4980 Merrick Road, Massapequa, NY on Wednesday, August 13th … more at … Themat.com/news/2025/august/11/usa-wrestling-leader-al-bevilacqua-85-passed-away
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Legendary Long Island wrestling coach immortalized by ‘Seinfeld’ dies at 85
The legendary Long Island wrestling coach immortalized in an iconic “Seinfeld” scene has died — and everyone from celebrity former students to athletes recalled Tuesday how he went to the mat for them.
“They’re telling me I only have 2 to 3 minutes to give a eulogy,” said Christopher Bevilacqua, the son of beloved late 85-year-old coach and mentor Al Bevilacqua, to The Post.
“I don’t know how you can describe his life in 2 or 3 minutes.”
Al Bevilacqua, who passed away Sunday, got his 15 minutes of TV fame when superstar funnyman Jerry Seinfeld famously name-dropped his former teacher in an episode of his wildly popular series — even though Al never really watched the “show about nothing,” his family said.
“He would go, ‘”Seinfeld”? What is that? A comedy?’ ” said the former coach’s son, Michael. … more at … https://nypost.com/2025/08/12/us-news/legendary-long-island-wrestling-coach-al-bevilacqua-dies/
New College Wrestling programs
TDR Editor’s Notes; The following programs are just some of the new college teams that will be starting up. So far over 50 new teams have been announced for next season while about 10 teams will be dropped mostly due to schools’ closures. So far over 10 new teams in the following year while 2 teams will be dropped due to a school closure. While most of these schools are far away they are exaamples of the growth in collegiate and scholastic wrestling.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Wrestling Returns To Wittenberg
Wittenberg to Sponsor Donor-Supported Men’s and Women’s Wrestling Programs Starting in 2026-27 School Year
SPRINGFIELD, OH – The last time wrestling singlets were adorned with the iconic Wittenberg logo, the year was 1990, and the majority of Wittenberg’s intercollegiate athletics teams had just started competition in a new league.
Fast forward to 2025 and Wittenberg, which discontinued its wrestling program at the conclusion of the 1989-90 school year, has won more than 130 team championships across a variety of sports as a member of the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC). While the league has never sponsored competition in the sport, calls from Wittenberg alumni to bring wrestling back have never ceased.
Those calls have grown louder in recent years until they reached a crescendo this year. A group of wrestling alumni stepped forward to support the University by providing financial backing to not only re-start Wittenberg’s men’s wrestling program but also offer a new women’s wrestling program as well.
“We are deeply grateful to our supportive alumni and friends who, as donors, are allowing us to expand our athletics offerings without requiring additional investments from the University,” said Wittenberg President Christian M.M. Brady, DPhil (Oxon.). “This model preserves our financial future and positions us to offer a program of great interest and an overall excellent academic and educational experience to our current and prospective students.”
Both teams will start competition in the 2026-27 school year, following a year that will be dedicated to recruiting. A search for a new coach is already underway. “We are extremely excited about the reinstatement of our wrestling program, which will include a women’s team,” … more at … https://www.wittenberg.edu/news/07-31-25/wrestling-returns-wittenberg
Women’s Wrestling Coming to St. Ambrose in 2026-27
St. Ambrose University is announcing the addition of a varsity women’s wrestling program, building on its legacy of athletic excellence and opportunities for student-athletes. The team will begin official competition in the 2026–27 academic year, with a head coach to be hired during this academic year to lead recruiting, scheduling, and program development.
“As early as four years ago, we saw the tremendous momentum behind girls’ wrestling at the high school level, especially in Iowa and Illinois,” said Mike Holmes, Director of Athletics at St. Ambrose. “We’ve had our eye on this opportunity ever since, and we’re excited to bring that vision to life for our Ambrosian student-athletes.”
The launch of the women’s program builds upon the university’s strategic facilities plan, which included future expansion when the men’s wrestling program was launched in 2021. The current wrestling facility was constructed with dedicated space for a women’s team, including locker rooms and office space.
The university is applying for the women’s wrestling team to compete in the Heart of America Athletic Conference, the same conference where the men’s wrestling team competes as an affiliate. Adding a women’s team expands opportunities for Ambrosian student-athletes and allows St. Ambrose to further engage in conference-level competition and contribute to the rapid national and regional growth of the sport. “We designed our wrestling facility with this expansion in mind,” … more at … https://www.saubees.com/sports/wwrest/2025-26/releases/20250804g72d65
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Mount St. Joseph to Add Women’s Wrestling as 22nd Athletic Team
CINCINNATI, Ohio – Mount St. Joseph University is announcing the addition of women’s wrestling to the Universities athletic programs. The team is slated to begin competition in the fall of 2026 and will increase the total number of athletic teams to 22 at The Mount.
Women’s wrestling is one of the fastest-growing sports among high schools across the country and specifically in the state of Ohio. The Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) sponsored their first state championship in 2024. According to the National Wrestling Coaches Association, the number of female high school wrestlers nationally has exploded 804 in 1994 to more than 50,000 in 2024.
At the collegiate level, women’s wrestling was listed as an “emerging sport” by the NCAA in 2020-21. Since that time the sport has seen tremendous growth at the collegiate level and became the NCAA’s 91st championship level sport in January of 2025.
The MSJ women’s wrestling program will become the NCAA’s 58th Division III team. It will be the seventh D-III program in the state of Ohio and the first south of Westerville. … more at … https://msjlions.com/news/2025/8/5/general-mount-st-joseph-to-add-womens-wrestling-as-22nd-athletic-team.aspx
USA Wrestling Coach’s Corner: Scott Honecker (Mass./Conn.)
TDR Editor’s Note; Coach Honecker was a head coach at Greenville J.H. Rose before moving on to New England and the college coaching ranks.
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By Tristan Warner
Saying ‘yes’ to opportunities has been the story of Scott Honecker’s life. It is also his best advice for coaches, and even the many student-athletes he mentors on a yearly basis.
Head coach at Williams College in Williamstown, Mass. since the 2012-13 season, he also serves as the national team director for Connecticut USA Wrestling. More recently, he has picked up steam in the Greco-Roman coaching scene, as Honecker will lead Team USA at the 2025 U20 World Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria in August.
He has taken a winding path, at least geographically, to get where he is now, but for Honecker, taking advantage of opportunities, no matter where they take him, has been the recipe. “My competitive career concluded, and I wanted to continue in wrestling,” explained Honecker. “It wasn’t realistic for me to be decorated on the Senior level, so I started coaching because I really was mostly motivated to stay with the sport. “I have been able to make a life and a career in this sport without having the competitive accolades of many of my peer coaches. If you are passionate about wrestling and helping young people, it doesn’t matter if you had a medal around your neck.”
Fresh out of Ithaca College, Honecker’s first coaching gig took him to the Tar Heel State, where he served as varsity coach at J.H. Rose High School in Greenville, N.C. in 2005. He spent six years at the helm of the Rampants, at a time when wrestling in the state of North Carolina was still in an emerging status. “North Carolina was sort of coming out of the dark,” Honecker recalled. “Super 32 had just started on two mats. The best thing about being a high school coach in North Carolina as a 22-year-old was that, through USA Wrestling, there was a lot of opportunity. I was able to break into roles that, if I was in a more established state, would have taken me longer to earn my way into.”
This is when Honecker got involved with coaching the national teams. He was named North Carolina State Coach of the Year in 2009 by USA Wrestling. “When I was ready to transition to a full-time coaching role, doing things in Fargo helped make me a more realistic candidate.”
Upon his move back to the northeast region, … more at … https://www.win-magazine.com/2025/07/10/usa-wrestling-coachs-corner-scott-honecker-mass-conn/
Big Ten Wrestling Championships Headed to Penn State
The Nittany Lions will host the 2026 Big Ten Wrestling Championships at the Bryce Jordan Center.
Penn State will entertain the best of Big Ten wrestling in 2026. The Big Ten Wrestling Championships return to Penn State’s Bryce Jordan Center for the first time since 2022. The tournament is scheduled for March 7-8, 2026.
Penn State is pursuing its fourth straight team title, and 10th under head coach Cael Sanderson, at the Big Ten Wrestling Championships. The Nittany Lions crowned five individual winners at last season’s Big Ten tournament.
Interestingly, Sanderson has never won a Big Ten tournament title in his home building. Penn State last hosted the Big Ten Wrestling Championships in 2022 and ’21. The Nittany Lions finished second to Michigan in 2022 and second to Iowa in 2021. Before that, Penn State previously hosted the event in 2009, when it finished seventh.
RELATED: Penn State sets Big Ten opponents for 2025-26 wrestling season
The Nittany Lions will chase their fifth straight NCAA team title with another stacked roster. The Nittany Lions return two national champions (Mitchell Mesenbrink in 2025, Levi Haines in 2024) and five All-Americans who placed fifth or better at their weight classes last season. In addition, Penn State signed former NCAA runner-up Rocco Welsh from Ohio State and 2024 world freestyle champion Masanosuke Ono to its roster.
According to FloWrestling’s latest college rankings, five Nittany Lions rank among the top-20 nationally pound-for-pound, with Mesenbrink staking he No. 1 spot overall. Haines is third, followed by Tyler Kasak at No. 12, Shayne Van Ness at No. 14 and Josh Barr at No. 18.
Penn State also two of the top freshmen in college wrestling with Marcus Blaze and PJ Duke, who will be busy on the world stage before the season. Duke is scheduled to compete at three world championships, including Senior Worlds in Croatia in September. In addition, 70 percent of the U.S. men’s freestyle team competing at the U23 World Championships wrestle for Penn State.
RELATED: Penn State releases coach Cael Sanderson’s salary … more at … https://www.si.com/college/pennstate/football/why-former-syracuse-receiver-trebor-pena-sought-change-at-penn-state
Pennsylvania wins overall team race at U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals, followed by California and Illinois
With the conclusion of the Junior Greco-Roman and 16U Greco-Roman competitions on Saturday night, the overall team championship at the 2025 U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals has been determined. Each of the six national tournaments which are part of this extravaganza were completed (16U Girls, Junior Girls, 16U Boys Freestyle, Junior Boys Freestyle, 16U Greco-Roman, Junior Greco-Roman). In fact, Pennsylvania has won the team title in all four tournaments held, sitting with a combined 816 points. Pennsylvania emerged as a dominant team champion, scoring 980 points and winning the team title in four of the national events (16U Girls, Junior Girls, 16U Boys Freestyle, Junior Boys Freestyle). Pennsylvania also had competitive showing in the two Greco-Roman tournaments, placing in a tie for fourth in Junior Greco-Roman, and in a tie for second in 16U Greco-Roman. Pennsylvania placed a full 340 points ahead of the next state association team.
California finished in second with the overall team race with 640 points. Although California did not win any of the six tournaments, the team was a consistent contender in each of them, placing in the top six each time. California was second in Junior Boys Freestyle, third in Junior Girls, fourth in 16U Girls, fourth in 16U Boys Freestyle, Sixth in 16U Greco-Roman and sixth in Junior Greco-Roman.
Illinois made a big jump during the two Greco-Roman tournaments, climbing from fifth in the overall standings after the first four national events up to third in the final overall team standings. Illinois made the biggest jump by winning the Junior Greco-Roman national event with 190 points, a full 101 points ahead of the next team. Illinois had four Junior Greco-Roman champions, Vincent DeMarco (106), Kaleb Pratt (113), Wyatt Medlin (157) and Josh Hoffer (215) and 12 total All-Americans. Their tie for sixth in 16U Greco-Roman featured a champion, Robert Ruscitti (126) and nine All-Americans.
Iowa held on to its fourth place in the final standings with a strong Greco-Roman effort, including winning the 16U Greco-Roman tournament and placing eighth in the Junior Greco-Roman. In the 16U Greco-Roman Nationals, Iowa finished with 138 points, including three individual champions Ty Martin (88), Diego Robertty (106) and Lucas Feuerbach (285) and nine All-Americans.
Ohio claimed fifth place in the overall standings, … more at … https://www.themat.com/news/2025/july/21/pennsylvania-wins-overall-team-race-at-u-s-marine-corps-junior-nationals-followed-by-california-and-illinois
TJ Dudley named Campbell wrestling head coach
BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Campbell has elevated assistant coach and former three-time All-American TJ Dudley to head wrestling coach for the Fighting Camels, announced today by University President Dr. William Downs and Director of Athletics Hannah Bazemore.
“TJ Dudley embodies all the qualities that I was looking for as we set out to hire the next head coach of Campbell’s storied wrestling program,” affirmed President Downs. “He is a proven winner. He is a fierce competitor driven by the desire to exceed—not just match—previous heights of excellence. He knows and appreciates our mission at Campbell, where the job is to turn student-athletes into champions on and off the mat. Perhaps most importantly, TJ commands a room with his authenticity…no drama, just a will to succeed. There’s a ton of fight in this Camel…I’m eager to see his impact!”
“I am excited to welcome TJ Dudley as our next head wrestling coach,” said Bazemore. “Through this process, Coach Dudley separated himself through his dedication to our student-athletes and Campbell University. As one of the greatest wrestlers in the history of the region, Coach Dudley also knows this area as well as anyone, and will continue to recruit and develop championship caliber student-athletes at Campbell. He knows Campbell, is a connector, and is a great fit to lead our program.”
“I’m extremely excited and beyond grateful to step into this opportunity as head coach at Campbell University,” said Dudley. “This journey has taken a lot of hard work, faith, and perseverance, and I couldn’t have gotten here without my Lord and Savior, my family and friends, and support from incredible people I’ve met in my time here at Campbell. A special thank you to the President of Campbell University, … more at … https://gocamels.com/news/2025/7/26/wrestling-tj-dudley-named-wrestling-head-coach.aspx
TDR blog
After 20 seasons of publicizing wrestling The TakeDown Report’s (TDR) focus has changed to the collecting of college coaching records from North America since 1903. We will continue to recognize and reward successful wrestlers in eastern North Carolina (east of Raleigh & Fayetteville), assist with schools in starting or re-starting a team and this blog. Join us on our FaceBook Page – “The TakeDown Report” for photos and news. Please send results, stories, links and news to pass along. E-mail us at takedownreport@gmail.com
Martin Fleming, Editor
Takedown Report
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