Kent State University Adds Women’s Wrestling as 20th Varsity Sport, Planned to Compete in 2027
12/18/2025 9:58:00 AM | Wrestling, Women's Wrestling
KENT, Ohio — Kent State University announced today that women's wrestling will become the athletics department's 20th varsity sport, marking a historic addition to the Golden Flashes athletics lineup and a milestone for collegiate athletics in Ohio. Kent State becomes the first NCAA Division I institution in the state and fifth in the nation to sponsor women's wrestling.
The program will begin competition in fall 2027. Hiring for the program's first head coach is expected to take place by summer 2026, following ongoing planning and facility renovations that will include updated locker rooms and coaches' offices.
"This is an exciting day for Kent State University and for the continued advancement of women's sports," said Kent State Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Randale L. Richmond. "Women's wrestling is one of the fastest-growing sports in the country, and establishing this program allows Kent State to support that growth while creating new opportunities for female student-athletes in Ohio and beyond. We are proud to lead the way as the first Division I program in the state to sponsor the sport."
"We are thrilled to add women's wrestling, which continues our leadership in intercollegiate athletics in Ohio and the nation," said Kent State President Todd Diacon.
Women's wrestling has seen a surge of participation nationally. According to the National Federation of State High School Associations, the 2024–25 academic year included 8,100 girls' high school wrestling programs nationwide and 74,064 girls participating in the sport.
Ohio has been a leader in the sport's growth regionally. The state held its first sanctioned Girls' High School Wrestling State Championship in 2023, and participation continues to rise. During the 2024–25 academic year, Ohio featured 507 high schools sponsoring girls' wrestling and 2,535 girls competing statewide. Those numbers are projected to continue increasing as sanctioned collegiate pathways expand.
The establishment of Kent State's women's wrestling program is supported through state appropriations. As part of House Bill 96, the university received funds that will help support program development, staffing, and facility preparation.
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Women's Wrestling Timeline for Sport Sponsorship:
June 2020 — Women's wrestling added to the NCAA "Emerging Sports for Women" program, giving the sport formal recognition and a pathway toward full championship status.
October 2023 — The sport surpassed the threshold of 40 schools sponsoring varsity programs (a requirement for emerging-sport advancement).
Feb. 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. That set the stage for a divisional vote.
Jan. 17, 2025 — Women's wrestling officially became the NCAA's 91st championship sport. During the 2025 NCAA Convention in Nashville, all three divisions (I, II and III) approved the legislation.
2025-26 academic year — First official season under NCAA championship status.
March 6-7, 2026 — NCAA Women's Wrestling Championship at the Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa.
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