Leveraging men’s wrestling’s national reputation, Centenary will field its first competitive women’s team in the 2023-24 school year.
Hacketttown, N.J., Oct. 6, 2022 — Centenary College today announced the addition of women’s wrestling as an intercollegiate sport. This team brings the total number of NCAA DIII sports offered by the university to 14, including seven women’s teams.
“Women’s wrestling is one of the fastest growing sports in the United States.” Centenary’s new women’s wrestling team will provide academic and extra-curricular opportunities to enrich the experience for a more diverse student group. It is consistent with our strategic plan objective of growing the university.”
Dr. Robert L. Miller, Vice President of Admissions, explained that the new team will expand the recruiting pool of prospective students at Centenary. “We are thrilled to add women’s wrestling to our roster of DIII sports,” said Dr. Miller. “We expect strong interest from high school students in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and other parts of the country.”
An Olympic sport for nearly two decades, women’s wrestling has experienced explosive growth. The National Wrestling Coaches Association estimates that in 2021 she will wrestle more than 28,000 high school girls. That’s more than a 3,300% increase from just 804 in 1994. Women’s wrestling was recognized as an emerging sport in all three of her college divisions by the NCAA in 2020 and is sanctioned for high school competition in her 36 states, including New Jersey. Centenary’s program will be one of her two NCAA college programs in the state, though several other colleges and universities offer the sport at the club level or allow women to compete on men’s teams. I allow it.
Recruitment is underway for the centenary women’s team coaches and the first roster to debut in the 2023-2024 season. Associate Athletic Director Rose Haller said the university will use the success of its nationally recognized men’s wrestling program to build a new women’s team that will share training facilities with the boys.
“Centenary has a long and proud reputation in men’s wrestling, producing many national qualifiers and all-Americans,” Haller said. “We expect the university’s new women’s program to continue that proud tradition.”
About Centenary College
Founded in 1867 by the Newark Conference of the United Methodist Church, Centenary College’s academic programs combine a strong liberal arts foundation with strong career aspirations. This combination provides an educational experience that prepares students for success in an increasingly globalized and interdependent world. The university’s main campus is in Hackettstown, New Jersey, and there is an equestrian facility in Washington Township.
