Our Story

Our Journey

From humble beginnings to nationwide impact

1997

Foundation

NCWA was established in Dallas, Texas, with just a handful of teams (roughly 13–20 member programs in the inaugural season). This small start marked the beginning of a new era for college wrestling, giving hope to wrestlers at institutions without NCAA teams.

1998

First Championships

The NCWA held its first competitions and national championship tournament, bringing together club teams and emerging programs that previously had no postseason. The inaugural NCWA Nationals crowned the first NCWA collegiate champions and All-Americans, laying the foundation for the organization's competitive structure.

2007

Women's Wrestling Launches

The NCWA launched the first-ever collegiate women's wrestling division in the United States, providing female wrestlers with competitive opportunities years before women's wrestling was widely adopted by other college associations.

2008

Women's National Championship

The NCWA hosted the first women's collegiate national championship, an historic milestone that showcased the untapped talent and passion among female student-athletes.

2010s

Explosive Growth

Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, the NCWA expanded rapidly. What began as a two-dozen-team organization grew to include over 150 colleges and universities across the U.S. and beyond. The NCWA even welcomed programs from Canada and Puerto Rico as membership climbed to nearly 175 teams by 2023.

2015

Alumni Association Forms

Former NCWA wrestlers create the Alumni Association to maintain connections and support current athletes.

2023

Record-Setting Nationals

The NCWA's National Championships in San Juan, Puerto Rico, was a landmark tournament that brought together hundreds of athletes and expanded the association's reach internationally.

2024

Partners with Wrestling Hall of Fame

The NCWA and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame's State Chapter program formed a strategic partnership to honor individuals who have significantly contributed to collegiate wrestling. It aims to enhance the recognition of coaches, officials, and contributors within the wrestling community.

2025

More Record-Setting

NCWA National Championships becomes the largest ever collegiate championship of any kind; 13,000 attendees bringing int 2 million dollars to the Shreveport-Bossier area

Launching Programs

Creating pathways to varsity wrestling

A proud achievement of the NCWA is how many programs it has helped elevate to other collegiate associations. Since its founding, the NCWA has been an incubator for more highly funded programs – assisting 34 colleges and universities to create or transition to NCAA or NJCAA wrestling teams.

Schools like California Baptist University and Grand Valley State got their start competing in the NCWA and later moved up to NCAA divisions. Even Bucknell University, which had dropped its Division I wrestling program, kept the sport alive by reorganizing under the NCWA before eventually restoring its NCAA team. These success stories highlight the NCWA's role as a launching pad for wrestling programs.

Our Impact

Revitalizing collegiate wrestling nationwide

Member Teams

Alumni

NCAA Transitions

Years of Growth

The NCWA's impact on the collegiate wrestling landscape has been profound and far-reaching. At a time when college wrestling was in decline – with many schools cutting varsity teams – the NCWA emerged as a lifeline for the sport. By allowing any accredited college (from major universities to junior colleges and trade schools) to start a wrestling program under its umbrella, the NCWA kept wrestling alive on dozens of campuses where it otherwise would not exist.

Many teams in the NCWA were formerly NCAA programs that had been dropped due to gender-equity regulations or budget constraints. The NCWA gave those displaced programs a second chance and a structured league in which to continue competing.

Crucially, the NCWA also serves as a bridge back to varsity status for developing programs. Teams that eventually regain or attain NCAA affiliation often do so after building themselves in the NCWA. This means the NCWA not only expands wrestling at the club level, but actively contributes to the resurgence of varsity wrestling nationwide.

Success Stories & Notable Alumni

Celebrating achievements on and off the mat

The true measure of the NCWA's impact can be seen in the success stories of its alumni. Since 1997, the NCWA has produced over 35,000 alumni athletes and coaches – many of whom have gone on to remarkable achievements in athletics and in life. A few inspiring examples include:

Tom Lawlor (University of Central Florida): A three-time NCWA national champion at heavyweight who became a professional mixed martial artist. Lawlor launched an MMA career after college and spent years as a popular UFC fighter. In 2010, he was inducted into the NCWA Hall of Fame, symbolizing his journey from club wrestling standout to international sports figure.
Tony Ferguson (Grand Valley State University): An NCWA national champion (165 lbs in 2006) who later skyrocketed to fame by winning The Ultimate Fighter reality show and becoming a top contender in the UFC. Ferguson's path exemplifies how NCWA competition can cultivate elite talent capable of succeeding at the highest levels of combat sports.
Asnage Castelly (Springfield Technical CC): A former NCWA wrestler who achieved the Olympic dream. Castelly competed in the NCWA before going on to represent Haiti as a freestyle wrestler in the 2016 Olympic Games. His story highlights the NCWA's international reach and the opportunity it provides athletes to continue developing toward world-class competition.
Jeff Allen (Liberty University): The first-ever four-time NCWA national champion, achieving titles across multiple seasons (2019–2020, 2022–2023). Allen's dominance in NCWA competition showcased the high caliber of wrestling talent flourishing outside the NCAA system and set a record in the association's history.
Program Revival – Bucknell University: In addition to individual success, NCWA has catalyzed program success stories. Bucknell University, for instance, had dropped its Division I wrestling team but kept the sport alive by competing in the NCWA during the interim. The continued student and alumni support, along with NCWA competition to keep athletes engaged, eventually helped Bucknell restore wrestling as an NCAA varsity sport. This comeback illustrates how NCWA involvement can keep the flame burning until a full resurgence is possible.

Impact on Student-Athletes

Empowering the next generation of leaders

For individual student-athletes, the NCWA has opened doors that were once closed. Thousands of young wrestlers who graduate high school each year dream of competing in college, but not all can find roster spots on NCAA teams. The NCWA provides an avenue for these students to continue pursuing the sport they love without sacrificing their academic choices.

In decades past, a talented wrestler who chose to attend a top academic university with no NCAA team would have had to hang up his shoes. Today, because of the NCWA, that same student can start or join a wrestling club and compete for a national title while earning a degree. This opportunity to "have it all" – education and athletics – is at the heart of the NCWA's purpose.

Beyond just competition, NCWA participation helps student-athletes develop leadership and life skills. NCWA teams are often student-run or coach-led club programs, which means athletes take on responsibilities in organization, fundraising, and event management. Through these experiences, and with guidance from the NCWA's volunteer network, students learn teamwork, perseverance, and management in ways that varsity athletes might not.

Inspiring Growth and Ongoing Legacy

Building a lasting impact

What began in 1997 as a small group of teams has blossomed into a nationwide movement. The NCWA's story is one of perseverance, passion, and progress. It's the story of volunteers working tirelessly to give young athletes a chance, of students rallying to start teams from scratch, and of a sport refusing to fade away.

Over the years, the NCWA has cultivated a vibrant collegiate wrestling community where none existed before – proving that with the right vision, "if you build it, they will come." The NCWA's accomplishments – from resurrecting wrestling programs, to pioneering women's collegiate wrestling, to producing champions on and off the mat – continue to inspire everyone who loves sports.

With continued support and an unwavering commitment to its mission, the NCWA is poised to keep growing and enriching lives. In the spirit of its motto – "expanding athletic opportunity to tomorrow's leaders" – the NCWA welcomes everyone (athletes, coaches, fans, and supporters alike) to join in this mission.

NCWA Legacy