College Wrestling: WCWA, NAIA, NCAA—Where Is All This Going?

Dymond Guilford of Missouri Baptist was a 2019 WCWA National Champion. (Photo: mbuspartans.com)

by Derek Levendusky, AWW staff writer

Sailors are known to say, “Red sky at night, sailor’s delight.” But if they see the red sky in the morning, they say, "Red sky in the morning, sailor’s warning.” Well, when it comes to reading the sky in women’s college wrestling on the morn of the 2019-2020 season, take a look at the clouds—the sport is growing fast, 20 programs have been added within the last year alone, major changes are happening in the NAIA & NCAA—looks like a storm is headed our way.

But it’s a good storm. It’s a welcome storm.

Since 2007 the WCWA has brought identity and been a rallying point for women’s college wrestling. The Women’s College Wrestling Association was formed in 2007-2008 by the college coaches, and held its first national tournament in Oklahoma City in 2008. It was like a catch-all, a multi-divisional environment where programs from all governing bodies could come together and crown one individual and team national champion. For those moving in the sea of college wrestling, the WCWA was a sailor’s delight. But to quote Bob Dylan, “The times, they-are-a-changin’.” Looking at the horizon on the dawn of the 2019-2020 college season, “Red sky in the morning, sailor’s warning.”

McKendree head coach, Sam Schmitz, has a practical view when commenting on the changes. “At some point it has to happen,” he said.

You might call it a women’s wrestling revival. Or maybe just a “vival”—that a word? Has the world ever seen what we’re seeing? Women’s wrestling has gone ham to the point that it now has world-wide attention, opportunities, and fans. It really is an amazing time for women and the sport. But anytime a “revival” happened in human history, whether religious, social, business, or sports, it always begins out-of-control. There’s so much interest, excitement, and inertia, it seems to act like a wildfire. But then, over time, it settles into its new state, its new place in society.

In the last few years alone, the shift in women’s college wrestling would have to be called seismic. Last season, the NAIA held their own national invitational for the first time, moving women’s wrestling a big step forward toward being a fully-sanctioned NAIA championship sport. Then, just a few months ago in June, the NCAA followed suit, recommending adding women’s wrestling for emerging sport status, and this year will have their own Invitational. That means this year, for the first time, there will be national invitational champions and All-Americans crowned in every division and organization—the NAIA, NCAA, NCWA and WCWA. But what does all this mean for the WCWA?

“The WCWA is an organization that is going through an evolution due to collegiate governing bodies recognizing the sport,” says Life University head coach and WCWA Nationals host, Ashley Sword, “as well as a complete change in leadership.”

Even with the growth of multiple college divisions, Sword sees great value in the WCWA. “In the next couple of years I believe we will see things start to branch off more, but I truly believe that within our sport there will always be a place for a competition within divisions.”

Even so, it will be interesting to see which teams show up at WCWA Nationals this year. First, it’s an Olympic year with a bloated Olympic schedule full of qualifiers and of course, the trials. Second, with the NAIA and NCAA now hosting Invites, some teams may choose only to attend their governing body’s Invite. This doesn’t mean the WCWA doesn’t still have a significant place in the landscape of women’s wrestling. “This year specifically there is huge value in the WCWA,” continues Sword, “as the national champion at each weight class qualifies for the 2020 Olympic Team Trials in April. In general, I believe that more competition always breeds greatness, and so having a place where athletes from any division can compete is important.”

All of this is affecting recruiting as well. One anonymous source, though encouraged by the growth, lamented the thinning out effect that adding all the new programs has had on recruiting. “There so many options now,” the source said, “it’s getting harder to get a full recruiting class.” It’s a worthy note to point out that the numbers of girls wrestling in high school programs has also grown.

5x time world champion Adeline Gray, who just won her 5th world title in Kazakhstan last month, isn’t worried. “No, I don’t think we’re growing too fast,” said Gray on The Open Mat’s “Takedown Radio” with Tony Hager, commenting on the quick increase of college teams. “I think that, the more support and the more money you put toward women’s wrestling, there’s a build-and-they-will-come kind of opportunity, so we’re trying to grow wrestling as a whole…to be able to wrestle on a team and feel part of something is something really special.”

The change does have the effect of making some uneasy. It’s like women’s college wrestling is moving from one place to another, but has to go through a valley to get there. Change is always scary and painful. But remember the lesson of the little fish being moved from one tank to another. The little fish is always freaking out in the net between tanks, but once it lands in its new habitat, all is well.

Overall, while there are many challenges that come with the growth and changes, you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone involved in women’s college wrestling that terminates their take with negativity. Most conversations end with a positive view of the future. These are welcome challenges and growth pains. So yes, the sky is red this morning. Yes, a storm is coming. But we’re headed somewhere we need to go, is the sentiment, so let’s welcome the changes and challenges as we move into a brighter future for female wrestlers.

In the meantime, regardless of what programs attend, you can expect this year’s WCWA Nationals to be a great experience for those who do make their way to Marietta, Georgia. “As the host for this year’s tournament,” says Sword, who also hosted the event last year, “my goal is to put on a tournament that is memorable to our student athletes and honors the hard work they have put in throughout the season. As a qualifier for the Olympic Team Trials there is an added layer of stress and excitement for our athletes. I personally competed in the WCWA National Tournament in 2008. I hope to give these student athletes the experience I wish that I had at my national tournament.”

WCWA Nationals will take place on February 7-8, 2020.