How to Wrestle in College
Knowing how to wrestle in college actually entails a number of different things, as it is usually not as simple as showing up to the gym before wrestling season starts. All sports in college are regulated by the NCAA and wrestling is a surprisingly competitive collegiate sport at many Universities, like Iowa State University, which had a wrestler who never lost a match the four years he was wrestling for the school. Because of this competition level, there are certain things young, aspiring wrestlers need to do to have the opportunity to wrestle in college for their school team. Check out some of these things young wrestlers should try to do by the end of high school, so they are prepared for the competitive nature, stronger opponents and tougher stage of college wrestling.
To Wrestle at NCAA Division One Level
NCAA Division one wrestling is the top of the collegiate wrestling ranks. All of the big state schools and Ivy League schools are part of this Division. This is where the best wrestlers want to end up and will be, if they do everything necessary to get there. First, you will need to have the grades, meaning your high school GPA will need to be at least a 2.8 with an acceptable ACT, though unless you are a spectacular wrestler, 3.0 is usually the unspoken minimum. You will need to have won multiple state titles as an individual or a team, or have at least placed at your high school state tournament three to four years in a row. You will also have to have competed in national wrestling events, like High School Junior or Senior Nationals held in Las Vegas, and done well in the event itself. All of these things together will be enough to get you admitted to one of these wrestling programs through these schools. The maximum scholarship will be eighty percent, though fifty percent is more likely, with the chance of a full scholarship being awarded if you achieve All-American status at the NCAA wrestling tournament in March of each year. Of course, Ivy League schools don't give out any of these scholarships.
To Wrestle at NCAA Division Two Level
NCAA Division two schools are much smaller and less known then the Division One schools, but many are excellent academically and get more attention from the student populous and local community in regards to their wrestling program. So in a way, some Division Two schools will be better for a great wrestler to be at, as a big fish in a small pond would, then a wrestler at a Division One school better known for its football and basketball squad. Academic requirements for these schools are much less, with a minimum 2.0 GPA. You also only need to have placed in individual or team high school tournaments one or two years out of your high school career and have medaled in one national competition during high school, rather than a number of national competitions. While Division Two Schools will pay scholarships of fifty to eighty percent to most incoming freshman, once a wrestler has moved on to All-American status, they are awarded a full scholarship. People can also walk-on to the wrestling team at Division Two schools, allowing anyone to wrestle who has the natural talent. In this case, you can just show up to the gym before wrestling season starts.
