Iowa Wesleyan to add men’s and women’s wrestling
Iowa Wesleyan University in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, announced plans to begin men’s and women’s wrestling earlier this week. The school of just over 600 students has been rapidly adding sports. The wrestling teams will be the 5th and 6th teams added in a three year period. The women’s team will be the first at a Division III school in Iowa. Iowa Wesleyan competes in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Fontbonne, MacMurray, and Westminster are the other schools in the conference with men’s wrestling teams.
Iowa Wesleyan to Add Men’s and Women’s Wrestling
Mount Pleasant, Iowa – May 8, 2019 – Iowa Wesleyan University Athletic Director Derek Zander is pleased to announce that men’s and women’s wrestling will be added to the slate of athletic programs offered at Iowa Wesleyan University during the 2020-21 academic year. The search for a head coach will begin immediately.
Within the Tiger Athletics strategic plan, “Committing to Excellence,” a significant focus is the growth and expansion of the athletic department. The athletic department has expanded from 10 NCAA Division III intercollegiate programs to 14 over the past two years – with men’s and women’s wrestling being the 5th and 6th programs added in three years. IW will be the first NCAA Division III University in the State of Iowa to sponsor women’s wrestling.
“This is a historic development for IW intercollegiate athletics department during a significant time in the life of the University,” said IW President Steve Titus. “IW is relentless in its pursuit to create the best and most dynamic student experience possible. The addition of women’s and men’s wrestling provides exceptional opportunities for students and responds to a growing demand. IW is committed to leading the movement to provide female student-athletes the opportunity to compete in wrestling at the collegiate level.”
“We are excited to announce the addition of men’s and women’s wrestling at Iowa Wesleyan,” said Athletic Director Derek Zander. “Men’s wrestling is very popular in our region, and it could not be a better time to add women’s wrestling as it is one of the fastest growing high school programs across the country. In the winter of 2019, the State of Iowa hosted its first women’s high school state championship. The addition of these programs is a continuation of IW’s commitment to providing diverse co-curricular opportunities for our students and our dedication to the student experience at Iowa Wesleyan.”
“This is an important time for Tiger Athletics. We are thrilled about offering two programs that the State of Iowa and Midwest region are passionate about,” stated Zander. “We look forward to filling Ruble Arena with fans and supporters with a new and exciting experience.”