Delaware State announced Thursday that it will become the first historically black institution to offer Division I women’s wrestling.

Jahi Jones, executive director of the HBCU Wrestling Initiative, said his organization contributed $1.25 million to help launch the program.

The decision is timely for two reasons. The plan is to begin competition in the 2025-26 school year – which coincides with the first season of women’s wrestling which is expected to transition from an emerging sport to an NCAA championship sport. Add the fact that Girls wrestling is the fastest growing high school sport in the United States.and Jones is delighted.

“I don’t think the timing could have been better than what it is right now, having a full year to be able to put a coach in place, recruit girls and be able to get into running – the time is now. perfect,” Jones said. “And then just being able to be a part of this inaugural championship, it’s huge, I can’t even put into words the magnitude of it.

Delaware State athletic director Alecia Shields-Gadson said her school, which dropped men’s wrestling in 2009, appreciates the opportunities provided by adding women’s wrestling to the athletic program.

“Partnering with HBCU Wrestling gives our student-athletes a platform to compete, grow and inspire others,” she said. “We are excited about this new chapter and the impact it will have for years to come.”

Morgan State added men’s wrestling in 2023-24, becoming the only HBCU to offer the sport at the Division I level. The HBCU Wrestling Initiative also played a key role in launching this program, contributing a donation of $2.7 million.

Jones hopes the steps taken at Morgan State and Delaware State will lead to more HBCUs adding the sport. He said he had been in contact with others about starting programs for both men and women, but he declined to specify which ones.

The NCAA Women’s Athletics Committee recommended in February that Divisions I, II and III sponsor legislation to add a women’s wrestling championship, a key step in a potential advancement from emerging sport status to a sport of official NCAA championship. The vote is scheduled for January.

Delaware State’s decision is another step in American women’s wrestling booming to the top. At the Paris Summer Olympics, Sarah Hildebrandt and Amit Elor won goldmaking it the first time a nation other than Japan has won more than two gold medals in women’s wrestling since its addition to the Games in 2004. Kennedy Blades won silver and Helen Maroulis won bronze, which means the American team medaled in four of the six weight classes. .

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