(Ames, IA) — Iowa State University will add women’s wrestling as its 18th intercollegiate athletics program, with competition set to begin in the 2027-28 academic year. Cyclone Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard said the move builds on the school’s strong wrestling tradition while opening new doors for female athletes.
“Iowa State enjoys a rich wrestling tradition, and we believe the addition of women’s wrestling will afford tremendous opportunities for young women not only in Iowa, but around the country,” Pollard said. “This is a great day for wrestling in the state of Iowa and at Iowa State University, and we look forward to growing a program under Coach Alli St. John.”
Pollard added that women’s wrestling stood out as the best option when evaluating future women’s sports, citing its rapid growth and long-term potential at both the high school and collegiate levels.
Women’s wrestling becomes the first sport added at Iowa State since women’s soccer in 1996. Iowa St. had recently dropped women’s gymnastics. However with the addition of wrestling, the Cyclones will sponsor 18 total programs—11 women’s teams and seven men’s. ISU has plans to offer 10 scholarships and carry a roster of approximately 30 student-athletes in the program’s inaugural season.
Women’s wrestling was designated an emerging sport by the NCAA in 2020, and the organization held its first official national championship earlier this year in Coralville.
“Women’s wrestling has been an Olympic sport since 2004 and is the fastest-growing sport for young women in our nation,” said Rich Bender, executive director of USA Wrestling.
The sport continues to expand rapidly across Iowa and the country. In Iowa alone, 218 high schools sponsor women’s wrestling, with the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union hosting its fourth state championship earlier this year and planning to add a state dual meet championship next season.
Nationally, more than 8,100 high schools sponsor the sport, accounting for over 74,000 female athletes, according to the National Federation of High Schools.
Iowa State Director of Wrestling Kevin Dresser called the addition a natural fit.
“The fact that it is one of the fastest growing sports at the high school level, coupled with the overall love of wrestling in the state of Iowa, makes this a very good decision,” Dresser said. “I can envision the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk dual already and the excitement it will bring to the sport.”
Women’s wrestling becomes the first sport added at Iowa State since women’s soccer in 1996. With the addition, the Cyclones will sponsor 18 total programs—11 women’s teams and seven men’s—with plans to offer 10 scholarships and carry a roster of approximately 30 student-athletes in the program’s inaugural season.
Women’s Wrestling Sport Sponsorship Timeline:
June 2020 — Women’s wrestling added to the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program, giving the sport formal recognition and a pathway toward future championship status.
October 2023 — The sport surpassed the threshold of 40 schools sponsoring varsity programs.
February 7, 2024 — The NCAA’s Committee on Women’s Athletics officially recommended that all three NCAA divisions sponsor legislation to elevate women’s wrestling from emerging sport to full championship status.
January 17, 2025 — Women’s wrestling officially became the NCAA’s 91st championship sport.
March 7, 2026 — McKendree wins first NCAA Women’s Wrestling Championship at Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa.
April 16, 2026—Iowa State University announces women’s wrestling as its 18th intercollegiate athletics program and names two-time World Wrestling Championship silver medalist Alli St. John (Ragan) as the program’s first head coach.
