The Open Mat

ncaamat2025

NCAA approves five-year eligibility model

The NCAA Division I Cabinet unanimously approved a sweeping eligibility overhaul Tuesday, granting all D-I athletes five years of competition while eliminating redshirt seasons and injury waivers under the new framework.

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Bellevue University signs NJCAA national champs Phillips and Rubio

Bellevue University's inaugural women's wrestling recruiting class is taking shape. The Bruins have signed a pair of NJCAA national champions in Keyahna Phillips and Rosalia Rubio.
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NCAA champ McEnelly takes on UFC fighter, PSU great Nickal at RAF 12

2026 NCAA champion Max McEnelly will face Bo Nickal in a light heavyweight freestyle bout at Real American Freestyle Wrestling's RAF 12 on Aug. 22 in Cleveland, Ohio.
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Workinger named head women's wrestling coach at Big Bend

Big Bend Community College has named Shannon Workinger as head coach of its women's wrestling program. Workinger is an NAIA national finalist and three-time All-American, competing for Menlo and Evergreen State.

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ncaamat2025

NCAA approves five-year eligibility model

The NCAA Division I Cabinet unanimously approved a sweeping eligibility overhaul Tuesday, granting all D-I athletes five years of competition while eliminating redshirt seasons and injury waivers under the new framework.
phillipsfeature

Bellevue University signs NJCAA national champs Phillips and Rubio

Bellevue University's inaugural women's wrestling recruiting class is taking shape. The Bruins have signed a pair of NJCAA national champions in Keyahna Phillips and Rosalia Rubio.
mcenelly1200

NCAA champ McEnelly takes on UFC fighter, PSU great Nickal at RAF 12

2026 NCAA champion Max McEnelly will face Bo Nickal in a light heavyweight freestyle bout at Real American Freestyle Wrestling's RAF 12 on Aug. 22 in Cleveland, Ohio.
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Workinger named head women's wrestling coach at Big Bend

Big Bend Community College has named Shannon Workinger as head coach of its women's wrestling program. Workinger is an NAIA national finalist and three-time All-American, competing for Menlo and Evergreen State.
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Mission College names Kirk head coach for inaugural wrestling season

Mission College has named Dustin Kirk as head coach of its inaugural wrestling program, the school announced. Kirk will lead both the men's and women's programs when they begin competing in the 2026-27 season.
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Iowa State secures commitment from U17 world medalist Poalillo

Iowa State women's wrestling has secured a commitment from one of the nation's top high school wrestlers, landing New Jersey standout Ella Poalillo. Poalillo, a U17 world medalist, enters her senior season as one of the premier recruits in the Class of 2027.
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Two-time NAIA national champ Adekoye transfers to Iowa State

Iowa State women's wrestling has added another proven collegiate champion, securing a commitment from two-time NAIA national champion Jumoke Adekoye of Dickinson State.
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Prescott resigns as Central Methodist head women's wrestling coach

Tim Prescott has resigned as head women's wrestling coach at Central Methodist University after two seasons leading the Eagles program, he announced Monday.
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Wisconsin announces coaching staff changes

Wisconsin wrestling head coach Chris Bono has announced staffing changes within the program, promoting Tony Cassioppi to associate head coach, elevating Garrett Model to assistant coach and adding recent graduate Joe Zargo as a coaching assistant.
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Iowa State lands Olympian, two-time NAIA national champ Kolawole

The Iowa State women's wrestling program added another major piece to its rapidly growing roster, securing a commitment from Olympian and two-time NAIA national champion Esther Kolawole. Kolawole transfers to Iowa State from William Penn, where she established herself as one of the most accomplished wrestlers in NAIA women's wrestling.
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Iowa State adds McKendree transfer Persaeus Gomez

Iowa State women's wrestling has added its second McKendree transfer, securing a commitment from Persaeus Gomez, head coach Alli St. John announced. She was ranked as a top-20 recruit in the Class of 2024.
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TCNJ's Mays vacates 174-pound NCAA Division III national title

Hunter Mays' 174-pound championship at the 2026 NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships has been erased from the record books. TCNJ Athletics confirmed Tuesday that the NCAA has declared Mays ineligible due to a violation of NCAA policy, resulting in the vacation of his individual championship.
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Gabriella Gomez transfers to Iowa State after one season at McKendree

Iowa State women's wrestling continues to build one of the most impressive inaugural rosters in the sport. Gabriella Gomez, a three-time Illinois state champion and 2022 U17 world silver medalist, has transferred from national champion McKendree to join head coach Alli St. John's program as it builds toward its first NCAA season in 2027-28.
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Columbia adds women's wrestling as varsity sport

Columbia University will add women's wrestling as its 32nd varsity sport beginning with the 2027-28 academic year, the school announced Wednesday. The Lions will become the first Ivy League institution to sponsor the sport at the varsity level.
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Life University adds NCAA All-American Garcia

Life University women's wrestling has added NCAA All-American Janida Garcia to its roster. Garcia placed sixth at 131 pounds at the inaugural NCAA Women's Wrestling Championships in March at the Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa, competing for Emmanuel University.
P S A C

PSAC adds women's wrestling as 24th championship sport

The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference has announced that women's wrestling will become its 24th championship sport beginning in the 2026-27 academic year. The PSAC Board of Directors approved the addition during its annual meeting in May.
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Iowa State signs four-time undefeated state champ Allen

Iowa State women's wrestling has landed one of the most decorated young wrestlers in the country. Molly Allen, a highly ranked recruit from the Class of 2025, has signed with the Cyclones. Allen spent the 2025-26 season competing with the Oklahoma State Cowgirls Wrestling Club.
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Northland names Booe head men's wrestling coach

Northland Community & Technical College has named Storm Booe as head men's wrestling coach. Booe brings a diverse coaching background to the Pioneers program.
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Blades ends Iowa career to focus on RAF, Olympic gold pursuit

Olympic silver medalist Kennedy Blades announced Friday that she is ending her college wrestling career at Iowa and will join Real American Freestyle (RAF) full-time, shifting her focus toward pursuing Olympic gold.
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Lindsey Wilson adds NAIA All-American Phillips

Lindsey Wilson women's wrestling has added 2025 NAIA All-American Allie Phillips to its roster. Phillips spent the past three seasons at Lourdes University, an Ohio-based Catholic institution that recently announced it will permanently close following the 2026 summer session. Phillips redshirted this past season before committing to the Blue Raiders.
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Bushnell names Costello first head wrestling coach

Bushnell University has named Dylan Costello as its first Director of Wrestling and head men's wrestling coach, athletic director Corey Anderson announced. Men's and women's wrestling will become the 18th and 19th intercollegiate sports at the Oregon school.
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U20 world fifth-place finisher Nugent transferring to Iowa State

Iowa State women's wrestling has landed one of the most accomplished young wrestlers in the country. Daniella Nugent, a 2025 U20 world team member, announced that she is transferring to Iowa State from Oklahoma State. Nugent placed fifth at the U20 World Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria.
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Hinneh commits to Grand View after back-to-back NJCAA titles

Martha Hinneh, a two-time NJCAA national champion at 207 pounds, has committed to Grand View. Hinneh compiled a 78-6 record during her two seasons at Southeast Community College.