The women’s wrestling team at North Central College in suburban Chicago competes in Division III and is one of the top programs in the country at any level.
North Central women’s wrestling team’s Tiera Jimerson stretches during a practice at North Central College in Naperville, Ill., Tuesday, March 5, 2024. The team is a national powerhouse even though the program is only a few years old and the school is D-III.
North Central women’s wrestling team’s Kendra Ryan smiles at Sydney Petzinger during a practice at the Alliant Energy Powerhouse arena in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Wednesday, March 6, 2024. The team is a national powerhouse even though the program is only a few years old and the school is D-III. North Central women’s wrestling team’s Maddie Avila, left, works with Janessa George, right, during a practice at North Central College in Naperville, Ill., Tuesday, March 5, 2024. The team is a national powerhouse even though the program is only a few years old and the school is D-III.
The program has ballooned in its five years from nine wrestlers to 51 from 23 states stretching from the East Coast to Alaska. It is clear what is feeding the boom: Girls’ wrestling has become the fastest-growing high school sport in the country.“We go to tournaments,” said Maddie Avila, a national champion at 101 pounds in 2023. “We see so many younger wrestlers there and it’s so awesome and also motivating to just see the sport growing as a whole.”North Central’s Yelena Makoyed listens to head coach Joe Norton during a practice at North Central College on March 4, 2024.
Members are expected to vote at the NCAA Convention in January. If it passes, the first championship could be in 2026. Wrestling would join rowing , ice hockey , water polo , bowling and beach volleyball as the sixth to gain championship status through the Emerging Sports for Women program. In a short period, a long line of All-Americans have passed through the steamy gym on the second floor of a fieldhouse built in 1930.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Bomb threats force campus shutdowns at Queens College, York CollegeA “credible threat' at York College and Queens College in NYC has forced all classes to move remote, according to CUNY's website.
Read more »
College Basketball Central Florida vs Brigham Young Box ScoreCentral Florida Knights vs Brigham Young Cougars College Basketball game box score for Mar 13, 2024.
Read more »
College Basketball William & Mary vs North Carolina A&T Box ScoreWilliam & Mary Tribe vs North Carolina A&T Aggies College Basketball game box score for Mar 08, 2024.
Read more »
March 9 college basketball odds, previews and picks: Duke vs. North Carolina predictions & moreAlready winners this season, William Byron and Kyle Larson are the favorites to find Victory Lane at the one-mile track
Read more »
North College Hill holds special meeting after most of its fire department quitsThe state is conducting a special auditing investigation that looks into allegations of misused public money
Read more »
Mass resignation at fire department after staff say they've hit a 'breaking point'Three-fourths of the entire North College Hill Fire Department (NCHFD) is resigning.
Read more »