Mount St. Joseph University Introduces Women’s Wrestling Team for 2026
Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati, Ohio, just announced it’s adding a women’s wrestling team to its athletic programs. The new team will start competing in fall 2026, which bumps the university’s total athletic teams up to 22.
This move follows a bigger trend. Women’s wrestling has been growing fast, both in high schools and colleges.
The Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) held its first state championship for women’s wrestling in 2024. The NCAA recognized women’s wrestling as an emerging sport back in the 2020-21 academic year.
MSJ’s women’s wrestling program will become the NCAA’s 58th Division III team and the seventh in Ohio. That’s a pretty big deal for the region.
The Growth of Women’s Wrestling
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Women’s wrestling has taken off in the past few decades. According to the National Wrestling Coaches Association, the number of female high school wrestlers in the U.S. jumped from just 804 in 1994 to over 50,000 in 2024.
This huge increase shows how much interest there is now, and how organizations have pushed to support women’s wrestling.
High School Level
States like Ohio have really led the way at the high school level. The OHSAA sponsored its first women’s wrestling state championship in 2024, which was a big step forward.
That championship gave young female wrestlers a real stage to show their skills and compete seriously. It definitely helped draw more girls into the sport.
Collegiate Level
Colleges have seen the same surge. The NCAA recognized women’s wrestling as an emerging sport in 2020-21, and since then, it’s only grown.
By January 2025, the NCAA made it their 91st championship-level sport. That opened the door for more colleges to add women’s wrestling and gave female athletes more ways to keep wrestling after high school.
Mount St. Joseph University Joins the Movement
Mount St. Joseph’s decision to add a women’s wrestling team fits right in with this national trend. Their new team will be the NCAA’s 58th Division III women’s wrestling team and the seventh in Ohio.
It’s also the first Division III women’s wrestling program in southern Ohio, which is exciting for the area.
Recruitment and Competition
The university has started a national search for a head women’s wrestling coach. They plan to hire someone in 2025.
That gives the coach a full year to recruit athletes and build the team before the 2026-27 season. It’s a solid plan to get the team ready to compete right away.
Institutional Support
Mount St. Joseph has a strong track record of supporting women’s athletics. Adding a women’s wrestling team just continues that tradition.
Vice President of Athletics Melanee Wagener shared her excitement about the new program and stressed the university’s commitment to giving women more chances to compete in college sports. Support from the administration will matter a lot for the team’s future.
The Future of Women’s Wrestling
For athletes, this growth means more chances to do what they love. Young female wrestlers can keep competing after high school, maybe even earn scholarships, and get help with college costs.
More visibility for women’s wrestling also chips away at old gender barriers in sports. It’s a step toward more equality and inclusion.
Community and Cultural Influence
There’s a bigger cultural impact too. As more women get into wrestling, it challenges old stereotypes and helps build a more open, diverse sports culture.
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Seeing female wrestlers succeed could inspire more young girls to chase their athletic dreams. That can only be a good thing for the next generation of athletes.
Conclusion
Mount St. Joseph University decided to add a women’s wrestling team. That’s a pretty big step for the sport’s growth and development.
The university’s administration and the wrestling community both seem to back the new program. Honestly, it’s exciting to see what they’ll accomplish together.
If you want more details about women’s wrestling at Mount St. Joseph University, or you’re just curious about how the sport’s expanding, check out the National Wrestling Coaches Association.