The State of College Wrestling: A look at Varsity Opportunities as of 2019-2020

First off before we get started, lets make a few things clear.

WHAT THIS IS is a look at NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, NAIA & NJCAA (CCCAA) programs in all fifty states + Washington D.C. and seeing where wrestling is offered and where it is not.

WHAT THIS IS NOT is a look at the NCWA and all of the teams within that.  If you want a look at all of the teams in the NCWA I have a comprehensive list I put together from 2016.  I'll probably do another one here shortly.  Here is 2016's https://johnnythompsonnum1.blogspot.com/2016/01/ncwa-teams-by-state.html

I also didn't include women's wrestling at this time for a multitude of reasons.  First and foremost I don't feel that there is accurate enough information out there at this time.  When I do this again, which will probably be for the 2024-2025 season (I like to see the growth of wrestling about every five years) I'll include women's wrestling at that point.   For years we've always talked of how not having an equivalent to men's wrestling was our greatest downfall when it came to Title IX and proportionality quotas.  I don't know what five years will prove, but I'm more anxious for 10 to 15 to 20 years on down the road.  See whether that analysis holds true or not.

I also didn't include the USCAA within this study.   The USCAA has teams with wrestling & they even have a tournament but I'm not well versed within it.  It's an area that I don't know much about.  I don't feel comfortable reporting on something that I don't have much knowledge in.  If you do, then by George post about it.  No one is stopping you.

Same with the ACCA.  I know some teams have wrestling but as far as I know the ACCA does not sponsor wrestling & the teams that have wrestling compete in other divisions.

Then there is the NCCAA.   Now the NCCAA at one time did sponsor wrestling. From what I understand it wasn't exactly official and their tournament was more of an invitational.   I have a bit of information regarding NCCAA wrestling.  For that click on the links below

https://johnnythompsonnum1.blogspot.com/2019/06/gone-lost-and-forgotten-nccaa-team.html

https://johnnythompsonnum1.blogspot.com/2019/06/gone-lost-and-forgotten-teams-that.html

Can we get started yet?

Not quite....

Two more things...

Keep in mind that the information I am providing you is more of an estimate than anything.  It's nearly impossible to be 100% accurate on all of this for two distinct reasons.

A - Not all schools compete in all sports at the same level.   Some schools might be Division III in everything else but Division I in wrestling.  That can make things rather confusing.

B - When it comes to junior/community colleges sometimes a school will have more than one campus.  Say for example a school has two campuses.  The one campus may provide basketball and swimming, while the other provides wrestling and soccer.  By all means the school provides all four sports.  That can make things confusing as well.   Indian Hills in Iowa is a perfect example.  Listed in NJCAA programs is both IHCC-Ottumwa and IHCC-Centerville.  The Centerville campus has wrestling.  So IHCC does provide wrestling.   Yet if you were unaware of the Centerville Campus, and you only looked up IHCC-Ottumwa, it may look as if they didn't. 

One more thing!!

I make mistakes.  I'm prone to them.  My life has been Murphy's Law.   Did I forget to include a team?  Yeah, probably.  Did I list a team that is D3 as NAIA?  I'd bet on it.  I certainly don't mean to do any of this.  I mean to be as accurate as possible. Hopefully I at least came close.

Now to finally look at the #'s!!!!

NCAA Division I Athletic Programs: 347

NCAA Division I  Wrestling:  80  (23%) 

NCAA Division II Athletic Programs: 300

NCAA Division II Wrestling: 61 (20%) 

NCAA Division III Athletic Programs: 442

NCAA Division III Wrestling: 104 (23 1/2 %) 

NAIA Athletic Programs: 251

NAIA Wrestling: 59 (23%) 

CCCAA Athletic Programs: 108

CCCAA Wrestling: 21 (19%) 

TOTAL = 1,669 

TOTAL WRESTLING: 375 (23%) 

So overall and in most areas we're looking at a little less than a quarter.  I think with all of the hard work of the NWCA & Mike Moyer that by the 2024-2025 season raising the numbers 2% is very doable.  I think seeing 25% of varsity programs in this country offering wrestling is a very realistic goal by 2025.   In some ways it is rather depressing to know that only 1/4 of varsity collegiate programs offer wrestling.  Especially when you consider all of the teams we've lost over the years.

I thought about including a list of varsity programs that at one time had wrestling Vs those that have never had wrestling.  I didn't because of two reasons.   A- There is already a ton of information here.  B - While I can be rather accurate on DI, DII, DIII, NAIA & CCCAA where I can't be accurate is on NJCAA.  For the most part I know the teams in the other divisions that used to have wrestling. I can tell you what they did and what they accomplished.  When they dropped and why.  Yet I don't have that knowledge when it comes to NJCAA teams.  I really don't want to post about until I do.

Now let's take a look at each state.....

ALABAMA 

Total # of Athletic Programs: 41

Total # Wrestling: 1

D1 = 0 of 10

D2 = 0 of 7

D3 = 1 of 2

NAIA = 0 of 4

NJCAA = 0 of 18

Only one program in all of Alabama.  I think eventually we'll see NAIA wrestling here and maybe even NJCAA.  From the looks of it, that might be the best approach to growing wrestling more in the southeast.  A few teams here and a few teams there, suddenly a doable travel schedule.

ARIZONA 

Total # of Athletic Programs: 23

Total # Wrestling: 3

D1 - 1 of 4

NAIA - 2 of 4

NJCAA - 0 of 15

I said earlier that I don't know much about the history of NJCAA wrestling. I don't, but what I do know is that some of the teams in Arizona used to have wrestling and they used to be fairly good at it.  Phoenix College and Mesa at one time I know had wrestling.  Be great to see it there again.

ALASKA

Total # of Athletic Programs: 2

Total # of Wrestling: 0

D2 - 0 of 2

Only two athletic programs in the state of Alaska.  Our chances of seeing college wrestling at the varsity level here are slim.  Yet ironically enough when Alaska-Pacific had athletics they had wrestling, and they were quite good at it.  NAIA runner-up to be specific. So it was done once before, maybe it could be again.

ARKANSAS 

Total # of Athletic Programs: 23

Total # of Wrestling: 7

D1 - 1 of 5

D2 - 1 of 7

D3 - 1 of 2

NAIA - 3 of 6

NJCAA - 1 of 3

Ironically enough Arkansas has varsity collegiate representation at all levels.  That's impressive, inspiring and in a lot of ways the most optimistic thing I can share with you.  I'm only 34 years old and I was an adult already when there was no wrestling in the state, at all, at any level.  To see seven programs now is tremendous.  It's a testimony to why within the negative their is a lot of positive. Reason to be hopeful.

CALIFORNIA 

Total # of Athletic Programs: 184

Total # of Wrestling: 30

D1 - 5 of 25

D2 - 1 of 22

D3 - 0 of 11

NAIA - 3 of 18

CCCAA - 21 of 108

There is a lot going on in the state of California. A lot of factors that weigh in on these issues.  I'd like to think that with so many schools in the CCCAA system that potentially their could be room for growth.  There's a ton of schools that used to have wrestling in California that no longer do.  I would think with wrestling being relatively inexpensive & all of the travel being within the state & furthermore within regions of the state, that wrestling could grow at the CCCAA level.   We got wrestling reinstated at Fresno State, one can only dream of reinstatement at Fullerton, UCLA, UC-Riverside, UC-Santa Barbara, UC-Davis, ect.

COLORADO 

Total # of Athletic Programs: 23

Total # of Wrestling : 8

D1: 2 of 5

D2: 5 of 10

D3: 0 of 2

NJCAA: 1 of 6

I'd like to think that over the next 5 to 10 years that we might see another Division II school pop up in Colorado.  They already have a decent representation as it is, and all five of the teams are competitive.

CONNECTICUT

 Total # of Athletic Programs: 23

Total # of Wrestling: 4

D1 - 1 of 7

D2 - 0 of 4

D3 - 3 of 9

NJCAA - 0 for 3

Not real sure what to make of Connecticut.  I don't think the need/demand is as high here as it is other places. Love to see more wrestling in the state though.

DELAWARE 

Total # of Athletic Programs: 8

Total # of Wrestling: 0

D1 - 0 for 2

D2 - 0 for 2

D3 - 0 for 1

NJCAA - 0 for 3

Both Delaware and Delaware State, the two Division I schools used to have wrestling. The problem was, that the best kids that came out of Delaware didn't stay to wrestle for them.  That's what makes me wonder sometimes with these states that do produce talent, that seem like they could use a Division I school. Would their kids stay if they had the opportunity or would they choose to go elsewhere to programs that are already established.  For example I don't think there's a thing that Delaware could have done to keep Sheldon Thomas in state.  Delaware State could've offered Bobby Telford a full ride scholarship and $100,000 per year, 10 year contract job. Either way he was going to Iowa.   I do think the state does need at least one varsity opportunity though.  Just not sure at what level.

FLORIDA 

Total # of athletic Programs: 63

Total # of Wrestling: 3

D1 - 0 of 13

D2 - 0 of 13

NAIA - 3 of 11

NJCAA - 0 of 26

This is a state where collegiate wrestling has been desperately needed for nearly 40 years and we're finally starting to get it.  Three NAIA programs in the past few years has been huge & I believe that seeing all 11 with wrestling is a very real possibility within the near future.   Will this bleed into Division II?  I don't know. I think there is great potential for wrestling to start popping up at the NJCAA level.  Forty years ago Miami-Dade was one of the best programs in the state.  It could easily be again.  At the NCWA level, it seems damn near every college has a team.  Not only a team but a full roster, kids that are placing at NCWA nationals, ect.  To me that is even more testimony to why these schools need varsity wrestling programs.

GEORGIA 

Total # of Athletic Programs: 58

Total # of Wrestling: 6

D1 - 0 for 6

D2 - 1 of 17

D3 - 0 of 8

NAIA - 4 of 13

NJCAA - 1 of 14

Shorter dropping wrestling still ticks me the heck off as Georgia, like Florida, is a state where collegiate wrestling is in demand.  We're not talking Ohio or Pennsylvania, but look at DI & DII rosters around the country.  There are kids from Georgia on them.  Georgia kids want to wrestle in college. They ought to have more opportunity to.   Both NAIA and NJCAA level plenty of room for growth.  Same with D3 and D2. 

HAWAII 

Total # of Athletic Programs: 4

Total # of Wrestling - 0

D1 - 0 of 1

D2 - o of 3

I hope to live another 40 to 60 years.  I highly doubt within that time we'll ever see varsity collegiate wrestling in Hawaii. It just isn't realistic.  Yet I will say this.  Hawaii at two different times had varsity wrestling.  They were never very good.  Usually only had four to six duals per year and finished dead last in the PAC-12. Yet, they did have a team.  Just doubt it'll ever happen again.

IDAHO 

Total # of Athletic Programs: 8

Total # of Wrestling: 1

D1 - 0 for 3

D2 - 0 for 1

NAIA - 0 for 2

NJCAA - 1 for 2

Seems like a state that has something against wrestling.  A program with a successful and storied history being easily eliminated in Boise State.  Wrestling being one of the only things that makes North Idaho known, and look at all the b.s. that has gone on their.   I don't know how hopeful, if at all things look here.

ILLINOIS 

Total # of Athletic Programs: 98

Total # of Wrestling: 18

D1 - 4 of 13

D2 - 1 of 4

D3 - 7 of 23

NAIA - 1 of 12

NJCAA - 5 of 46

I was a little surprised how many schools in Illinois don't offer wrestling.  It has quite a bit of representation in the overall scheme of things but plenty of room for growth.  It's a state that produces quite well at the high school level. Doubt we see reinstatement at the DI level but I can see teams popping up within the next 10 years at the other four.

INDIANA 

Total # of Athletic Programs: 42

Total # of Wrestling: 9

D1 - 2 of 10

D2 - 1 of 4

D3 - 3 of 10

NAIA - 2 of 16

NJCAA - 1 of 2

With 14 teams in the NAIA without wrestling, including Taylor which at one time was a powerhouse, I think this is where the most room for growth lay in the Hoosier state.

IOWA

 Total # of Athletic Programs: 40

Total # of Wrestling: 27

D1 - 3 of 4

D2 - 1 of 1

D3 - 10 of 11

NAIA - 7 of 11

NJCAA - 6 of 13

The only state in the country where over half of the athletic programs offer wrestling.  68% of the schools in Iowa have a varsity wrestling program.  That's the highest of any state and the only state over 50%.  In reality I only see one school where reinstating/adding wrestling would be near impossible and that is at Drake.  Other than that I can potentially see Iowa offering wrestling at 39 of 40 schools.  No reason why Grinnell can't have wrestling in D3. No reason to think that it can't eventually be reinstated at St. Ambrose.  Iowa has great wrestling state wide, plenty of local high schools to feed these programs.   It's a vision of mine I think one day I'll see through.

KANSAS 

Total # of Athletic Programs: 44

Total # of Wrestling: 16

D1 - 0 for 3

D2 - 2 of 5

NAIA - 7 of 15

NJCAA - 7 of 21

Go back to win I put this together in 2016, only 11 programs.  Now we have 16.  That's five new programs in Kansas in the past four years.  Go back even further, and you'll really see the growth of collegiate wrestling in Kansas.  I think it's safe to think that at the NAIA and NJCAA level it'll grow even more.

KENTUCKY

 Total # of Athletic Programs: 24

Total # of Wrestling: 6

D1 - 1 of 7

D2 - 1  of 2

D3 - 1 of 4

NAIA - 3 of 11

Like Arkansas it is mesmerizing how much work has been done in the state of Kentucky.  When I was a kid I never dreamed that there would be collegiate wrestling at the varsity level in Kentucky. Now look, representation at all levels. (No NJCAA in Kentucky).  That is amazing.   I think it'll continue to grow.  I see the eight remaining NAIA schools in Kentucky eventually adding wrestling within 5-10 years. I really do.

LOUISIANA

 Total # of Athletic Programs: 26

Total # of Wrestling: 0

D1 - 0 of 12

D2 - 0 of 2

NAIA - 0 of 6

NJCAA - 0 of 6

There is no collegiate wrestling in the state of Louisiana right now but I think we'll eventually see it.  Most likely at the NAIA level.

MAINE 

Total # of Athletic Programs - 12

Total # of Wrestling - 1

D1 - 0 of 1

D3 - 1 of 11

Not sure what to make of Maine.  I'd like to think there's room for growth with 10 D3 schools without wrestling, but I don't know.

MARYLAND

Total # of Athletic Programs: 37

Total # of Wrestling: 4

D1 - 2 of 9

D2 - 0 of 2

D3 - 2 of 9

NJCAA - 0 of 16

I would like to think that wrestling might be able to get into at least some of the 16 schools at the NJCAA level.  I've heard it from a few different people that Frostburg State is in serious consideration of reinstating their program.  That'd be huge. D2 wrestling in Maryland would be great for the state.

MASSACHUSETTS

Total # of Athletic Programs: 65

Total # of Wrestling: 7

D1 - 1 of 8

D2 - 1 of 4

D3 - 5 of 43

NAIA - 0 of 1

NJCAA - 0 of 9

From my vantage point D3 seems to be where its at.  38 schools.  I'd think there's potential to at least get into a few of them.

MICHIGAN 

Total # of Athletic Programs: 65

Total # of Wrestling: 10

D1 - 3 of 7

D2 - 1 of 10

D3 - 3 of 8

NAIA - 1 of 10

NJCAA - 2 of 21

If you look at the history of collegiate wrestling in Michigan, its depressing to see how hard the state was hit with eliminations. I'm going to one day put together all of the programs that used to have wrestling that no longer do, and I think the wrestling community will be in shock as to how much loss their was in the land separated by a great lake.  The light at the end of the tunnel is that we have seen some reinstatement over the years.  Olivet, Alma & Adrian at the DIII level.   Hopefully we see more.

MINNESOTA

 Total # of Athletic Programs - 45

Total # of Wrestling - 14

D1 - 1 of 1

D2 - 4 of 9

D3 - 3 of 20

NJCAA - 6 of 15

Like Michigan, I don't think the wrestling community is aware of how hard the state of Minnesota has been hit with elimination.  The recent drop at St. Olaf was beyond ridiculous.  It's a state that needs growth, not reduction.

MISSISSIPPI

Total # of Athletic Programs: 30

Total # of Wrestling: 0

D1 - 0 of 6

D2 - 0 of 2

D3 - 0 of 3

NAIA - 0 of 4

NJCAA - 0 of 15

If you go back to the 1960's, even back further than that, getting amateur wrestling into the state of Mississippi has been like pulling teeth.  I've heard an assortment of different theories as to why, but the fact remains that it seems our most difficult challenge. The day we see any varsity collegiate wrestling in Mississippi is a huge victory for wrestling.  We have many other hurdles to jump through first, including sanctioning it at the high school level.

MISSOURI

 Total # of Athletic Programs: 53

Total # Wrestling:  9

D1 - 1 of 5

D2 - 4 of 14

D3 - 1 of 4

NAIA - 3 of 15

NJCAA - 0 of 15

That # at D2 should be 5 and not 4 and I'll be happy to say that to anyone in Kirksville. Truman State dropping wrestling is another thing that boils my blood.   What really surprises me here is that none of the NJCAA schools have wrestling.  That's where I see a need.

MONTANA 

Total # of Athletic Programs: 12

Total # of Wrestling: 2

D1 - 0 of 2

D2 - 0 of 1

NAIA - 2 of 6

NJCAA - 0 of 3

We lost more here at the NAIA level than we ever should have.  How in the Hell NAIA champions Western Montana dropped their program is beyond me.  All of the NAIA programs here should have wrestling, but especially Western Montana.

NEBRASKA 

Total # of Athletic Programs: 22

Total # of Wrestling: 9

D1 - 1 of 3

D2 - 2 of 3

D3 - 1 of 1

NAIA - 5 of 8

NJCAA - 0 of 7

Don't even get me started on Nebraska-Omaha.  I'll liable to throw something.  The Cornhusker state might be as good as we're going to get.  Might see growth at the NAIA and NJCAA level though.  We'll see

NEVADA 

Total # of Athletic Programs: 4

Total # of Wrestling: 0

D1 - 0 of 2

NAIA - 0 of 1

NJCAA - 0 of 1

It's weird to me that two of our largest wrestling tournaments of the season, CKLV and Reno are both held in a state without any collegiate wrestling at the varsity level.   UNLV's NCWA team, their enthusiasm and success shows that a competitive team at the varsity level could be a reality in Nevada.   Getting the one NAIA school to sponsor a team would be huge.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

 Total # of Athletic Programs: 10

Total # of Wrestling: 2

D1 - 0 of 2

D2 - 0 of 3

D3 - 2 of 5

Not a lot to say in regards to New Hampshire

NEW JERSEY 

Total # of Athletic Programs: 44

Total # of Wrestling: 10

D1 - 3 of 8

D2 - 0 of 4

D3 - 3 of 15

NJCAA - 4 of 17

New Jersey has a lot to say and a lot of what they say is backed up at the high school level, but in the overall scheme of things it is pathetic to how little opportunity there is in the state for their kids to wrestle at the college level. I mean don't get me wrong. Hear what I say, not what I don't.  Rutgers, Princeton & Rider are great for their elite kids but only 3 of 15 at DIII, only 3 of 17 at NJCAA?  That's not right for a state with such outstanding talent.  I know it's been tried before, but Montclair State not having wrestling is like Wimpy from "Popeye" not having a hamburger.  It just isn't right.

NEW MEXICO 

Total # of Athletic Programs: 10

Total # of Wrestling: 1

D1 - 0 of 2

D2 - 1 of 3

NAIA - 0 of 2

NJCAA - 0 of 3

It seems like its been this way for about even. I remember the University of New Mexico dropping wrestling over twenty years ago and ever since then New Mexico Highlands has been the sole survivor in the state.  Like to see another D2 or NAIA pop up.

NEW YORK 

Total # of Athletic programs: 142

Total # of Wrestling: 23

D1 - 7 of 22

D2 - 0 of 14

D3 - 11 of 67

NJCAA - 5 of 39

New York is a funny state when it comes to wrestling. Like Michigan & Minnesota it's been hit harder with elimination than you would think.  Thankfully we've only lost one program here as of recent times.  Yet, we need growth, not elimination.

NORTH CAROLINA

 Total # of Athletic Programs: 65

Total # of Wrestling: 12

D1 - 7 o f 18

D2 - 3 of 18

D3 - 1 of 9

NAIA - 1 of 2

NJCAA - 0 of 18

It's obvious that where North Carolina really hurts is at the NJCAA level.   Room for growth at all levels of course, but this is where it is really needed.  Seems asinine that there are 7 DI programs and not a single one at the NJCAA.   Weird.

NORTH DAKOTA

 Total # of Athletic Programs: 14

Total # of Wrestling: 5

D1 - 1 of 2

D2 - 2 of 2

NAIA - 2 of 4

NJCAA - 0 of 6

I think eventually we'll see wrestling back at the two NAIA schools that used to have it.  Both could use a boost in accomplishment that wrestling has already provided and will again.

OHIO 

Total # of Athletic Programs: 65

Total # of Wrestling: 20

D1 - 4 of 13

D2 - 6 of 12

D3 - 9 of 22

NAIA - 1 of 8

NJCAA - 0 of 10

For a state that claims it is the greatest high school wrestling state in the nation, we sure let a lot of the colleges drop their wrestling programs.  If you look at the 45 programs in the state without wrestling, damn near every single one of them provided wrestling at one time.  Getting back at the DI level is probably unlikely. I'd say the same for D2.  Yet D3 and NAIA, should be a rather easy sell.  These rosters could be filled in a day.  NAIA is all about tuition dollars?  Reinstate wrestling at these schools and they'd have them in less than a week.

In Ohio you also have the Ohio Regional Campus Conference. Wrestling might not do too bad if it could ever become a part.

OKLAHOMA 

Total # of Athletic Programs: 34

Total # of Wrestling: 5

D1 - 2 of 4

D2 - 1 of 11

NAIA - 1 of 8

NJCAA - 1 of 11

With the history of dominance of Oklahoma State and Oklahoma at the DI level and the history of dominance of Central Oklahoma at the DII level you'd think that would've bled into the rest of the state.  It didn't.   It's not like Iowa where it kinda went everywhere.  It just sorta stayed where it was.  That's shocking to me.  I know Bacone dropped within the last few years.  Absolutely ridiculous.  You'd think that it would've grown out of Okie State to everywhere.  I can't make sense of why it didn't or why it isn't.

OREGON

Total # of Athletic Programs: 29

Total # of Wrestling: 8

D1 - 1 of 4

D2 - 0 of 2

D3 - 1 of 5

NAIA - 4 of 7

NJCAA - 1 of 11

I need to make a note here.  Oregon doesn't officially participate in the NJCAA. Their junior colleges belong to the NWAC (Northwest Athletic Conference).   Of the 11 schools with athletic programs Clackamas is the only one with wrestling.  Washington is also a part of the NWAC with their junior colleges. I'll speak more about that when I get to Washington, but there are enough teams in the NWAC to where if they had wrestling, like the CCCAA in California, it'd make a great place for wrestling.

PENNSYLVANIA 

Total # of Athletic Programs: 107

Total # of Wrestling: 41

D1 - 11 of 14

D2 - 8 of 20

D3 - 18 of 60

NAIA - 0 of 3

NJCAA - 4 of 10

More wrestling programs in Pennsylvania than in any other state.  Yet still 66 programs without wrestling.  Make of that what you will

RHODE ISLAND 

Total # of Athletic Programs: 9

Total # of Wrestling: 4

D1 - 1 of 4

D3 - 3 of 4

NJCAA - 0 of 1

I think where we're at is where we'll be.

SOUTH CAROLINA 

Total # of Athletic Programs: 37

Total # of Wrestling: 7

D1 - 2 of 12

D2 - 3 of 13

NAIA - 1 of 6

NJCAA - 1 of 6

With Presbyterian reinstating recently, it is proof that perhaps we ought to be more optimistic than what we often are.  I think that's a good sign.  Growth at DI has seemed nearly as impossible as it is impractical, yet here we are.  South Carolina State at one time was pretty good, winning an assortment of conference titles.  Maybe we could see wrestling there again?

SOUTH DAKOTA

 Total # of Athletic Programs: 11

Total # of Wrestling: 4

D1 - 1 of 2

D2 - 2 of 5

NAIA - 1 of 4

I think eventually all of the NAIA schools here will have wrestling.

TENNESSEE 

Total # of Athletic Programs: 43

Total # of Wrestling: 3

D1 - 1 of 12

D2 - 1 of 10

D3 - 0 of 3

NAIA - 1 of 8

NJCAA - 0 of 10

If you study wrestling in the state of Tennessee over the past nearly 50 years, one thing remains stagnant. Chattanooga.  It doesn't matter what is going on in the state or why, you know that wrestling will always remain a varsity sport at Chattanooga.  It's a testimony to what can happen when a school & a community rally around a sport.  It's inspiring and encouraging.  Wrestling was dropping like flies everywhere in the south.  Succumbed to excuses, every program seemed to fold.  Everyone but Chattanooga. There's a lesson to be learned here.

TEXAS 

Total # of Athletic Programs: 109

Total Wrestling: 2

D1 - 0 of 23

D2 - 0 of 14

D3 - 0 of 16

NAIA - 2 of 11

NJCAA - 0 of 45

The sky is the limit in the lone star state if you ask me. Any of the 23 DI programs adding wrestling? I doubt it but I think there's potential for growth everywhere else.  I've heard rumor of Rochester going from NCWA to NJCAA, and that'd be huge!  If that could happen and even 1/4 of the other 45 NJCAA programs adding wrestling would be outstanding.  We've went from 1 to 2 NAIA programs in the last 4 years.  I say more growth to come.

UTAH 

Total # of Programs: 11

Total # of Wrestling: 1

D1: 1 of 6

D2 - 0 of 2

NJCAA - 0 of 3

Don't get me wrong, I'm still hot about Utah, Utah state, Southern Utah, Weber State & BYU dropping their programs but nevertheless I feel fortunate to have Utah Valley.  I don't know if we'll ever see more collegiate wrestling in Utah or not.  I'd like to but it doesn't look promising.

VERMONT

 Total # of Athletic Programs: 7

Total # of Wrestling: 2

D1 0 of 1

D2 0 of 1

D3 2 of 5

I can see wrestling growing at the D3 level here. 

VIRGINIA 

Total # of Athletic Programs: 40

Total # of Wrestling: 11

D1 - 5 of 14

D2 - 0 of 3

D3 - 5 of 20

NAIA - 1 of 1

NJCAA - 0 of 2

Plenty of room for growth at D3 level.  I'm not trying to make this sound like it's easy, cause I know it's not.  It takes a tremendous amount of hard work, dedication, ect.  I simply like to take a look at see what at least seems doable.

WASHINGTON 

Total # of Athletic Programs: 40

Total # of Wrestling: 3

D1 - 0 of 5

D2 - 0 of 4

D3 - 0 of 4

NAIA - 0 of 3

NJCAA - 3 of 24

It breaks my heart to see collegiate wrestling in the state of Washington dwindled to practically nothing.  Like Oregon, Washington does not officially participate in the NJCAA.  They are a part of the NWAC.  24 teams compared to Oregon's 11 teams makes for 35 teams.  If at least 16 of them could sponsor wrestling, that's enough for a competitive tournament.

WEST VIRGINIA 

Total # of Athletic Programs: 19

Total # of Wrestling: 6

D1 - 1 of 2

D2 - 4 of 14

D3 - 0 of 1

NAIA - 1 of 1

NJCAA - 0 of 1

10 teams in Division II without wrestling, yet like DI, DII can be very difficult to grow. 

WYOMING 

Total # of Athletic Programs: 9

Total # of Wrestling: 3

D1 - 1 of 1

NJCAA - 2 of 8

I'd like to think that if any state has potential to be 100%, it's Wyoming.   Granted their are only 9 schools in the state with athletic programs and eight of them are NJCAA. Yet, I think the vision of all 8 fielding wrestling programs is very doable. I really do.

WISCONSIN 

Total # of Athletic Programs: 51

Total # of Wrestling: 12

D1 - 1 of 4

D2 - 1 of 1

D3 - 10 of 25

NAIA - o of 3

NJCAA - 0 of 18

Two major thoughts on Wisconsin.  First and foremost, way too many D3 schools dropped wrestling over the years.  It makes no sense.  Nearly all of them had success on at least some level. Many of them on a NCAA level, and if not at least at the conference level.  No reason any of them should've ever dropped.  All should reinstate.

Wisconsin does participate in the NJCAA, but they also have what they call the WJCAA (Wisconsin Junior College Athletic Association).  I think the Badger State produces enough to where if this 18 team association sponsored wrestling, it could be rather huge in the state.

WASHINGTON D.C.

 Total # of Athletic Programs: 8

Total Wrestling: 1

D1 - 1 of 4

D2 - 0 of 1

D3 - 0 of 3

My strongest thought here is, is how much wrestling is needed at Howard.  It of course isn't the only historically black college to have dropped wrestling over the years, but it is one that most certainly needs it back. Easier said than done, but that's my opinion.

So now, who are the teams that we have?

I'm going to post State by State all of our current varsity teams at the NCAA DI, NCAA DII, NCAA DIII, NAIA, NJCAA and CCCAA level.   Teams that have since been added since I last did this in 2016 will be in red cause I think that looks pretty.   I will also include teams that we have lost since 2016 and then post whether we've improved, deteriorated or stayed the same.

Let's take a look

ALABAMA (1)

Huntingdon (DIII)

Status: The Same

ALASKA (0) 

Status: The Same

ARIZONA (3) 

Arizona State (DI)

Embry Riddle (NAIA)

Arizona Christian (NAIA) 

Status: We lost Grand Canyon but we gained Arizona Christian

ARKANSAS (7)

Little Rock (D1)

Ouachita Baptist (DII)

Ozarks (DIII)

Williams Baptist (NAIA)

Lyon (NAIA)

Central Baptist (NAIA)

Arkansas Baptist (NJCAA)

Status: We're growing and at the DI level! I don't know if I have better news than that!

CALIFORNIA (30)

Shasta (CCC)

Sacramento (CCC)

Santa Ana (CCC)

Skyline (CCC)

San Joaquin Delta (CCC)

Rio Honda (CCC)

West Hills Lemoore (CCC)

Mount San Antonio (CC)

Cuesta (CCC)

Santa Rosa (CCC)

Palomar (CCC)

East Los Angeles (CCC)

Chabot (CCC)

Cerritos (CCC)

Fresno City (CCC)

Sierra (CCC)

Bakersfield College (CCC)

Victor Valley (CCC)

Modesto (CCC)

Lassen (CCC)

Modesto (CCC)
Life Pacfic (NAIA)
Vanguard (NAIA)
Simpson (NAIA ) 

Menlo (NAIA)

San Francisco State (DII)

CSU-Bakersfield (DI)

Fresno State (DI)

Cal Poly (DI)

Stanford (D1)

Status: Everyone is so damn pessimistic when it comes to California collegiate wrestling.  I get that.  We've lost UC Davis & CSU-Fullerton in recent years, but we've also grown by five programs.  There's reason to be positive too.

COLORADO (8) 

Adams State (DII)

Colorado Mesa (DII)

Colorado School of Mines (DII)

Colorado State-Pueblo (DII)

Western State (DII)

Northern Colorado (DI)

Air Force (DI)

Otero (NJCAA)
Northeastern CC (NJCAA) 

Status: We've grown! Only two programs, but it's still two programs to the +

CONNECTICUT (4)

Trinity (DIII)

Wesleyan (DIII)

Coast Guard (DIII)

Sacred Heart (DI)

Status: The same

DELAWARE (0)

Status: The same

FLORIDA (3)

Southeastern (NAIA)

Keiser (NAIA)
St Thomas (NAIA) 

Status: We've grown by two! In Florida that's huge.

GEORGIA (6) 

Albany Tech (NJCAA)

Life (NAIA)

Truett McConnell (NAIA)

Brewton Parker (NAIA)

Reinhardt (NAIA)
Emmanuel (DII) 

Status: Well we lost Shorter and that sucks.  That really sucks but what's really cool is that we've gained Reinhardt and Emmanuel.

HAWAII (0)

Status: The same

IDAHO (1) 

North Idaho (NJCAA)

Status: One of the only areas where pessimism is justified.  The loss of Boise State was really tough.

ILLINOIS (18) 

Harper (NJCAA)

Joliet (NJCAA)
Lincoln (NAIA)

Waubonsee (NJCAA)

Triton (NJCAA)

Lindenwood Belleville (NAIA) 

Augustana (DIII)

MacMurray (DIII)
Millikin (DIII) 

North Central (DIII)

Chicago (DIII)

Elmhurst (DIII)

Wheaton (DIII)

McKendree (DII)

Illinois (DI)

Northern Illinois (DI)

Northwestern (DI)

SIUE (DI)

Status: Well we lost Knox and that was heartbreaking. For me even on a personal level cause one of there assistant coaches was a kid that I grew up wrestling with. Before he even had a chance to see what he could do as a coach, the program was axed.  BUT....We've also added four teams.  That's huge.  Love, love, LOVE seeing wrestling back at Joliet.   Many moons ago, when Texas-El Paso had a Division I team, Joliet was their feeder program.  All NCAA DI qualifiers of Texas-El Paso had wrestled for Joliet first.

INDIANA (9)

Purdue (D1)

Indiana (D1)

Indianapolis (D2)

Wabash (D3)

Trine (D3)

Manchester (D3)
Marian (DIII) 

Calumet (NAIA)

Indiana Tech (NAIA)

Ancilla (NJCAA) 

Status: Again growth!  May not seem like much, but we gotta start somewhere.

IOWA (27) 

Ellsworth (NJCAA)

Iowa Central (NJCAA)

Iowa Lakes (NJCAA)

NIAC (NJCAA)

Indian Hills (NJCAA)
Graceland (NAIA) 

Briar Cliff (NAIA)

Grand View (NAIA)

Morningside (NAIA)

Northwestern (NAIA)

Waldorf (NAIA)

William Penn (NAIA)

Iowa Wesleyan (DIII)

Buena Vista (DIII)

Central (DIII)

Coe (DIII)

Cornell (DIII)

Dubuque (DIII)

Loras (DIII)

Luther (DIII)

Simpson (DIII)

Wartburg (DIII)

Upper Iowa (DII)

Iowa (DI)

Iowa State (DI)

Northern Iowa (DI)

Status: The Hawkeye state has grown by three.  I think it'll grow even more within the next five years.

KANSAS (16) 

Barton (NJCAA)
Cowley (NJCAA)

Colby (NJCAA)

Labette (NJCAA)

Neosho County (NJCAA)

Northwest Kansas Tech (NJCAA)

Pratt (NJCAA)

Baker (NAIA)

Benedictine (NAIA)

Bethany (NAIA)

Ottawa (NAIA)

Central Christian (NAIA)
St. Mary (NAIA) 

Fort Hays State (DII)

Newman (DII)

Status: Some major growth in the state of Kansas in the last four years.  Four new teams.  Unfortunately lost Kansas Wesleyan


KENTUCKY (6) 

Campbellsville (NAIA)

Cumberlands (NAIA)

Lindsey Wilson (NAIA)

Thomas More (NAIA)
Kentucky Wesleyan (DII)
Bellarmine (DII transitioning to DI) 

Status: It was heartbreaking to see St. Catharine close its doors in 2016, especially after they had just gotten a wrestling program. That wasn't fun, but the addition of Bellarmine, especially now that they're moving up to DI is huge, as are the additions of Thomas More and Kentucky Wesleyan.  I don't know how much effect it'll have, but the University of Kentucky at one time was very competitive.  Coached by Fletcher Carr, he put the Wildcats in the top 10 more than once.  If Bellarmine can be successful, this may lead to other huge happenings in the state.

LOUISIANA (0)

Status: The same

MAINE (1) 

Southern Maine (DIII)

Status: The Same

MARYLAND (4) 

John Hopkins (DIII)

McDaniel (DIII)

Maryland (DI)

Navy (DI)

Status: The Same

MASSACHUSETTS (7) 

Springfield (DIII)

Western New England (DIII)

Williams (DIII)

Worcester (DIII)

Bridgewater State (DIII)

American International (DII)

Harvard (DI)

Status: Springfield Tech dropped their varsity status of NJCAA and are now at the NCWA level.

MICHIGAN (10) 

St. Clair (NJCAA)

Muskegon (NJCAA)

Cleary (NAIA) 

Adrian (DIII)

Alma (DIII)

Olivet (DIII)

Davenport (DII) 

Michigan (DI)

Michigan State (DI)

Central Michigan (DI)

Status: Scott R Wetherbee can suck an egg.  I hate that Eastern Michigan dropped their wrestling program.  I really think David Bolyard if given more time could have made EMU into a MAC powerhouse. I really do.  Neverthless we're still at more teams than we were in 2016, with three new additions.

MINNESOTA (14) 

Rochester Tech (NJCAA)
Worthington(NJCAA)

Itasca (NJCAA)

Ridge Water (NJCAA)

Minnesota West tech (NJCAA)

Northland Tech (NJCAA)

Concordia (DIII)

Augsburg (DIII)

St. Johns (DIII)

St. Cloud State (DII)

Minnesota State Mankato (DII)

Minnesota State Moorhead (DII)

Southwest Minnesota (DII)

Minnesota (DI)

Status: We recently lost St. Olaf and that does not sit well with me at all.  I hope for those of you that read my writing, you understand that a lot of what should be our disgust for crappy athletic directors is often placed on Title IX.  I can just imagine 20 years from now sitting around at a bar during an NCAA tournament and someone bringing up St. Olaf and trying to remember why it was dropped.  I know someone will say "Title IX."   No sir, not here, not this time.  Remember the name Ryan Bowles.  He's why it's gone. 

MISSISSIPPI (0) 

Status: The same.  If you really want to pull a fast one on me this April, I suggest using photoshop to make it look like one of the schools in Mississippi is adding wrestling. You might even get Mike Moyer to tweet it to me for effect.

MISSOURI (9)

Hannibal- LaGrange (NAIA)

Missouri Valley (NAIA)

Missouri Baptist (NAIA)
Central Methodist (NAIA)
Fontbonne (DIII)

Westminster (DIII)

Drury (DII)

Central Missouri (DII)

Lindenwood (DII)

Maryville (DII)

Missouri (DII)

Status: The closing of Wentworth Military Academy thus eliminating the only NJCAA wrestling in the status was a tough pill to swallow.  What's going on at Truman State is making me sick.   Yet Westminster , Central Methodist and Fontbonne and Drury adding has been very positive.  Drury is all in. Very enthusiastic team, that wants to be known for wrestling.

MONTANA (2) 

Great Falls (NAIA)

Montana State Northern (NAIA)

Status: The Same

NEBRASKA (9) 

York (NAIA)

Midland (NAIA)

Hastings (NAIA)

Concordia (NAIA)

Doane (NAIA)

Nebraska Wesleyan (DIII)

Chadron State (DII)

Nebraska-Kearney (DII)

Nebraska (DI)

Status: Speaking of crappy athletic directors Trev Alberts about tops the list.  Maybe he takes a silver to Dick Rosenthal's gold, but he's in the running.  I don't know if I'll ever get over UNO dropping.   BUT...on the sunny side of things, collegiate wrestling in the past four years has actually grown.  Rather exciting to see DIII representation in the state now.

NEVADA (0)

Status: The same

NEW HAMPSHIRE (2)

New England (DIII)

Plymouth State (DIII)

Status: It was weird in the case of Daniel Webster.  They seemed to drop wrestling as soon as they added it.  Went to all that work to add a wrestling team, just to turn around and eliminate it.  Made no sense.  On the bright side, we gained New England.

NEW JERSEY (10)

Camden County (NJCAA)

Middlesex County (NJCAA)

Bergen County (NJCAA) 

Glousester (NJCAA)
Stevens Institute of Tech (DIII)
College of New Jersey (DIII)
Centenary (DIII)
Rider (DI)
Princeton (DI)
Rutgers (DI)

Status: Grown by one at the NJCAA level.

NEW MEXICO (1) 

New Mexico Highlands (NAIA)

Status: The Same

NEW YORK (23)

Army (DI)

Columbia (DI)

Hofstra (DI)

Cornell (DI)

Buffalo (DI)

Binghamton (DI)

Long Island (DI)

Mount St. Vincent (DIII)

Rochester Institute of Tech (DIII)

New York U (DIII)

SUNY Oneonta (DIII)

Hunter (DIII)

USMMA (DIII)

Ithaca (DIII)

SUNY Cortland (DIII)

SUNY Brockport (DIII)

SUNY Oswego (DIII)

Suny Alfred (DIII)

Sullivan Community (NJCAA)

Nassau (NJCAA)

Niagara County (NJCAA)

Jamestown Community (NJCAA)

SUNY Ulster (NJCAA) 

Status: It was an insulting, degrading and heartbreaking blow when they told Neil Ellmen after 45 years of coaching that his team would be discontinued at Yeshiva.  Yet we gained Ulster.

NORTH CAROLINA (12)

St Andrews (NAIA)

Greensboro (DIII)

Belmont Abbey (DII)

UNC Pembroke (DII)

Queens of Charlotte (DII) Appalachian State (DI)

Campbell (DI)

Davidson (DI)

Duke (DI)

Gardner-Webb (DI)

North Carolina State (DI)

North Carolina (DI)

Status: Grown by two in the past four years, with another in DII and representation in DIII.

NORTH DAKOTA (5) 

Dickinson State (NAIA)

Jamestown (NAIA)

Mary (DII)

Minot State (DII)

North Dakota State (DI)

Status: The Same

OHIO (20)

Lourdes (NAIA) 

Heidlberg (DIII)

John Carroll (DIII)

Mount St Joseph (DIII)

Baldwin Wallace (DIII)

Case Western Reserve (DIII)

Mount Union (DIII)

Muskingum (DIII)

Ohio Northern (DIII)

Otterbein (DIII) 

Notre Dame (DII)

Findlay (DII)

Lake Erie (DII)

Tiffin (DII)

Ashland (DII)

Urbana (DII) 

Cleveland State (DI)

Ohio (DI)

Ohio State (DI)

Kent State (DI)

Status: Collegiate wrestling as it should, has grown in the Buckeye State.  Three teams since I last did this.

OKLAHOMA (5)

Northeast Oklahoma A&M (NJCAA)

Oklahoma City (NAIA)

Central Oklahoma (DII)

Oklahoma State (DI)

Oklahoma (DI)

Status: As I said earlier, Oklahoma is a state I have difficulty making sense out of.  This history of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, as well as Central Oklahoma.  High school wrestling in Oklahoma is fairly solid.  This isn't a state that should be losing wrestling programs, it's one that should be gaining them.  Losing Bacone was asinine.   I realize thtat there was a lot to it, but still.

OREGON (8)

Clackamas (NJCAA)

Southwest Oregon (NJCAA)

Umpqua (NJCAA)

Southern Oregon (NAIA)

Warner Pacific (NAIA)

Eastern Oregon (NAIA)
Corbon (NAIA)

Pacific (DIII)

Oregon State (DI)

Status: I was ecstatic when I found out that Eastern Oregon was reinstating their wrestling program. It always pleases me when I'm doing my research of dropped programs and find out that I get to erase one off of my list.  I have a lot of history on Eastern Oregon wrestling as I have them listed as one of my dropped teams.  I need to go back and put an asterisk that reads REINSTATED!   Also added Umpqua at the NJCAA level and Corbon an NAIA team.


PENNSYLVANIA (41)

Thaddeus Stevens (NJCAA)

Mercyhurst (NJCAA)

Lackawanna (NJCAA)

Messiah (DIII)

Elizabethtown (DIII)

Scranton (DIII)

Waynesburg (DIII)

Wilkes (DIII)

Lycoming (DIII)

Thiel (DIII)

Delaware Valley (DIII)

Ursinus (DIII)

Gettysburg (DIII)

Kings (DIII)

Muhlenberg (DIII)

Delaware Valley (DIII)

Washington and Jefferson (DIII)

Penn College (DIII)
Alvernia (DIII)
PSU-Behrends (DIII)
York (DIII)
Keystone (DIII) 

Pittsburgh-Johnstown (DII)

Mercyhurst (DII)

Seton Hill (DII)

Gannon (DII)

East Stroudsburg (DII)

Millersville (DII)

Shippensburg (DII)

Kutztown (DII)

Franklin and Marshall (DI)

Edinboro (DI)

Bloomsburg (DI)

Lock Haven (DI)

Clarion (DI)

Drexel (DI)

Lehigh (DI)

Bucknell (DI)

Pennsylvania (DI)

Penn State (DI)

Pittsburgh (DI)

Status:  Wrestling has grown in Pennsylvania as it should. The best high school wrestling stat in the country ought to provide as many collegiate opportunities for their kids as possible. I expect another six new teams or more by 2024.

RHODE ISLAND (4)

Rhode Island College (DIII)
Johnson and Wales (DIII)
Rogers Williams (DIII)
Brown (DI)

Status: The same

SOUTH CAROLINA (7)

Spartansburg (NJCAA)

Allen (NAIA) 

Limestone (DII)

Newberry (DII)

Coker (DII)

Citadel (DI)
Presbyterian (DI) 

Status: Anderson dropping their program really took me off guard.  Professional wrestler A.J. Styles put the school over as a former member of their wrestling program, giving the school probably the most amount of exposure it ever had, and they respond a short time later by dropping the program.  Stupidity is never short on some.   Yet, three new programs, one of which was the reinstatement of Presbyterian.  A school I never would have ever guessed would reinstate wrestling.  That's awesome.  To have a school put in front of you that you'd think never would reinstate wrestling, yet it does?  I hope to see a lot more of that in my life. 

SOUTH DAKOTA (4) 

Dakota Wesleyan (NAIA)

Augustana (DII)

Northern State (DII)

South Dakota State (DI)

Status: The Same

TENNESSEE (3)

Cumberland (NAIA)

King (DII)

Chattanooga (DI)

Status: The Same

TEXAS (2) 

Wayland Baptist (NAIA) 
Texas Wesleyan (NAIA) 

Status: One more program than there was four years ago and in the state of Texas that is huge.  I always heard that Huston-Tillotson was going to add wrestling, but they haven't yet.   I'm excited to see what happens in Texas within the next five to ten years.  Plenty room for growth.

UTAH (1)

Utah Valley (DI)

Status: The same

VERMONT (2)

Norwich (DIII)
Castleton (DIII)

Status: In a state that only had one wrestling program for the longest time, now having two is a pretty big deal.


VIRGINIA (11) 

Bluefield (NAIA) Southern Virginia (DIII)

Washington and Lee (DIII)

Ferrum (DIII)

Averett (DIII)
Shenendoah (DIII)

George Mason (DI)

Old Dominion (DI)

VMI (DI)

Virginia Tech (DI)

Virginia (DI)

STATUS : Virginia doesn't get a whole heck of a lot of respect in the world of wrestling but maybe it should.  It's lost its fair share of teams over the years, including recently Hampden-Sydney but it also gained three within the past four years.


WASHINGTON (3)

Highline (NJCAA)
Grays Harbor (NJCAA)
Puget Sound (NJCAA) 

Status: After being beat down to damn near oblivion, Washington is finally starting to make its way back into the black. Granted it's only at the NJCAA level but it is still growth in a state with a need for collegiate wrestling.

WEST VIRGINIA (6) 

West Virginia Tech (NAIA)

Ohio Valley (DII)

Alderson-Broaddus (DII)

West Liberty (DII)

West Virginia (DI)

Status:  Wheeling Jesuit I guess is officially a dropped program.  What a crock that deal was.

WYOMING (3) 

Northwest (NJCAA)
Western Wyoming (NJCAA)
Wyoming (DI)

Status: The same.  I'm still hoping that eventually we'll see more NJCAA teams.


WISCONSIN (12)

Milwaukee School of Engineering (DIII)

Whitewater (DIII)

Stevens Point (DIII)

Concordia (DIII)

Eau-Claire (DIII)

Lakeland (DIII)

Oshkosh (DIII)

LaCrosse (DIII)

Platteville (DIII)
Concordia (DIII)
Parkside (DII)

Wisconsin (DI) 

Status: It was sad to see Maranatha Baptist lose their wrestling program. I have such a high respect and admiration for Ben Peterson and see a program that he put so much time and energy into disappear wasn't easy. 

WASHINGTON D.C. (1) 

American (DI)

Status: The Same



Then there's also Simon Fraser in British Columbia.  I'm pretty sure that'll be the only Canadian team we ever see from here on out compete in NCAA or NAIA wrestling.

So there you have it.

Make of this information what you will.   I know I did.