5 Things You Should Know About College Wrestling (Women’s Edition)

Things You Should Know About College Wrestling (Women’s Edition)

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1. College Wrestling = Freestyle Only

In college, women's wrestling only competes in freestyle, not folkstyle. If you wait until your freshman year of college to start learning freestyle, it of course can be done but you’re already playing catch-up.

Start now. Invest in your freestyle career in high school.

Some athletes worry that learning freestyle will hurt their folkstyle performance. That’s just not true. Look at the best in the game, your favorite NCAA champs. Many of them also win World and Olympic medals in freestyle and Greco.

They didn’t wait until college to start.They wrestled folkstyle during the school season and competed in freestyle (and sometimes Greco) at U16 and U20 Worlds and Pan Ams while still in high school.

Freestyle sharpens your game. It's faster-paced. You learn to make decisions quickly. You get rewarded (or punished) when someone steps out of bounds, so you learn to control the center. Back exposure is worth points, so your awareness and positioning improve big time.

And Greco?Greco teaches you hand fighting like no other style I would go as far to say that Greco participation is a. master class in hand fighting. You’ll learn to use throws without fear of being penalized, The rules favor the offensive athlete, and you’ll build offense beyond leg attacks like front headlocks, body locks, and controlling the center. The out of bounds point exists in Greco as well

More mat time = more growth.Every match is experience. Every style builds your skills.

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2. Good Grades = More Opportunities

Let’s talk money.

Most college programs don’t have unlimited athletic scholarships. Coaches have to stretch that money to support the whole team.

But if you’ve got solid grades?Now you’re giving them options.

Academic scholarships can help fill the gap and open doors. You’re not just relying on the wrestling budget,you’re bringing value to the table in multiple ways.

Good grades = more choices, more money, more power to pick the school that’s right for YOU.

3. College Wrestling Is Tough—But So Are You

College wrestling is a different level. The first year or two can be hard.

You might lose more than you're used to. You might doubt yourself.

But don’t give up.

Stay focused. Stay positive. Keep showing up.

If you keep believing in yourself, specially when it’s hard you’ll find your way.

And when you cross that finish line?You’ll know that you’ve got what it takes to chase something big and finish. That mindset will carry you through life, long after your last match.

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4. Learn to Manage Your Time

As a student-athlete, your schedule will be packed.

Between classes, practice, lifts, homework, and recovery,you’ve got to stay on top of your time. And now, you’ve also got to handle life stuff on your own: laundry, meals (shoutout to the cafeteria), waking up on time, studying, and still making time for friends.

Pro tip: Use a planner. Set a routine. Own your time before it owns you.

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5. You Can Do This

Here’s the #1 thing you need to know about college wrestling:

You can do this.

You can thrive.You can grow.You will succeed,on the mat and beyond.

Wrestling in college will teach you who you are.You’ll learn resilience. Discipline. Courage.

And every lesson, every challenge, every win and loss.will shape the strong, unstoppable woman you’re becoming.