Wrestling schools are essential for any budding talent to study their profession in a safe and regulated atmosphere, reducing the chance of injury while developing their talents in the ring and on the microphone. Choosing where to learn is one of the most crucial decisions any new wrestler can make, and we will rate 10 best wrestling colleges in USA that are ideal for budding talents in this post.
Best Wrestling Colleges In USA
1. Penn State College
Penn State College established the wrestling program in 1909. The squad won the national championship in 1921. The squad of athletes was invincible at the time, winning seven consecutive dual meet championships. Charlie Spiedel is widely regarded as the team’s finest coach in its history. He established the Nittany Lions’ wrestling excellence standard. He guided the squad to the 1953 national championship. Cael Sanderson now coaches the team. The Nittany Lions compete in the Big Ten Conference and have one of the best wrestling programs in the country.
Wrestlers from Penn State have had success outside of the NCAA. Wrestlers have achieved Olympic and professional Mixed Martial Arts success (MMA). The Lorenzo Wrestling Complex, widely regarded as one of the greatest in the country, provides Penn State players with world-class training facilities. The practice room, weight room, locker room, and academic support area are all part of the 24,000-square-foot complex. Home dual meets are conducted at the Rec Hall main gym and, on occasion, at the Bryce Jordan Center.
2. Oklahoma State University
The Oklahoma State Cowboys and Cowgirls are college sporting teams that represent Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Oklahoma State’s wrestling team is the most successful NCAA Division I program in any sport in history. Oklahoma State wrestling has 34 team national titles, 143 individual NCAA championships, and 483 All-Americans as of 2021-2022.
The Oklahoma State Athletic Marketing Internship is intended to provide students with invaluable insight into the field of athletic marketing. Oklahoma State Athletics has a number of roles available for OSU students to work with the Athletic Department. Each semester, the department wants energetic, sports-minded students to volunteer their time and assist with game day operations for our varsity sports.
The OSU State Department of Intercollegiate Athletics provides outstanding opportunities for student-athletes to compete and win at the highest levels of college athletics, as well as to prepare student-athletes for lifelong contributions to society.
3. University of Iowa
The University of Iowa men’s wrestling team is one of the most successful in NCAA Division I, and the Hawkeyes are members of the Big Ten Conference. The school is recognized among the best wrestling schools in USA. Iowa is second in NCAA history with 24 National Championships and six National Runner-Up finishes since 1975.
Under the direction of a former wrestler, Dan Gable, the Iowa Hawkeyes broke the record and became the first team in all sports history to win nine consecutive NCAA Team Championships in 1976. The squad now has 23 national championships and 6 national runners-up.
4. Cornell University
Cornell University’s Big Red wrestling squad is based in Ithaca, New York. Mike Grey, a two-time NCAA All-American and former Big Red wrestler, took over as head coach in 2021 after Rob Koll departed for Stanford after 28 years as head coach. In the NCAA Division I wrestling tournament, Koll led the team to eight top-five performances, including second-place results in 2010 and 2011.
The squad is on an 83-match winning run in Ivy League dual meets. Cornell has won the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association championship 25 times, including 11 straight from 2007 to 2017. These are the longest streaks in wrestling history for their respective categories.
Cornell Wrestling is housed in the Friedman Center. The Friedman Center, the nation’s first wrestling arena, opened on Campus Road in January 2003. The 15,000-square-foot structure, named after alumni Stephen Friedman and trustee Barbara Benioff Friedman, features state-of-the-art training and weight facilities with custom-designed weight machines. It has a 1,000-seat arena, a student lounge, and dressing facilities.
Cornell wrestling has had five alumni compete in the Olympic Games, all of whom represented the United States in their respective years. Charles Ackerly ’20 won gold in freestyle featherweight wrestling at the 1920 Summer Olympics, and Kyle Dake ’13 earned bronze in 74kg wrestling at the 2020 Summer Olympics. Milton McWilliam ’24, Walter Wright ’24, and Dave Auble ’60 participated in 1924 and 1964, respectively.
5. University of Minnesota
The Golden Gophers of Minnesota is a Division I collegiate wrestling team headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They are a Big Ten Conference and NCAA member. Wrestling at the University of Minnesota began in 1910, but the first formal dual match did not take place until 1921 when coach Frank Gilman led the team to a victory over Wisconsin. Minnesota has won the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships three times, in 2001, 2002, and 2007.
The University’s Wrestling Club offers members of any wrestling skill level/knowledge the ability to learn new and improve existing wrestling techniques. In addition, they teach University students correct wrestling techniques, regulations, safety, and culture. They also train students to coach wrestling at the University of Minnesota, either during or after their enrollment.
6. University of Wisconsin
Next on our list of the best wrestling schools in USA is the University of Wisconsin. The University of Wisconsin wrestling team has won 15 WIAC conference championships, 18 individual NCAA titles, 68 Big Ten individual titles, 65 All-Americans, and 5 academic All-Americans since its inception in 1911.
The Wisconsin Fieldhouse hosts home dual meetings and tournaments. Barry Davis served as the program’s head coach for 25 years before retiring in 2018. South Dakota State University’s Chris Bono then took over.
The Office of Academic Services will provide exceptional academic assistance and advice to student-athletes in order for them to succeed. Its purpose is to provide student-athletes with the best chance for academic success by providing a stimulating atmosphere. To deliver the finest collegiate experience possible, the staff will collaborate with coaches, instructors, and administration to empower student-athletes.
7. University of Illinois
The Fighting Illini wrestling program has been an example of stability in college wrestling from its first season in 1910 until Isaiah Martinez’s back-to-back NCAA titles. While competing in the nation’s toughest conference, the Illini have won the second-most Big Ten team titles (17) and the fourth-most Big Ten individual titles (77) in its 108-year existence.
Heffernan has led the team to two top-10 performances at the NCAA Championships, eight individual Big Ten titles, 17 All-American awards, and four individual NCAA titles since taking over as head coach in 2009. The Sports Medicine team and physicians are dedicated to delivering healthcare in a professional, service-oriented atmosphere where student-welfare athletes are of primary concern.
8. Central Michigan University
Chippewa Matmen has been a part of CMU since 1955. The Central Michigan Chippewa wrestling team, coached by head coach Tom Borrelli, is among the best wrestling schools in USA, competing in NCAA Division I. Borrelli, who is in his 22nd season with CMU wrestling, has 13 Mid-American Conference titles, seven top-15 national finishes in the last nine years, led the first MAC program in history to qualify all ten wrestlers for the NCAA Championships, and was named 2008 National Coach of the Year by two publications.
Chippewa Wrestling has produced two Academic All-Americans, Mark DiSalvo (2006) and Wynn Michalak (2008), as well as 53 NCAA All-Americans and two individual NCAA Champions, Casey Cunningham (157) in 1999 and John Rollins (137) in 1959 and 1961, with 11 top-20 team finishes at the NCAA Wrestling Championships.
During the 2010-11 season, the wrestling practice facility at the CMU Events Center debuted. The practice space has three full-size mats and a workout equipment section adjacent to the mats. The facility steps away from the competition floor at McGuirk Arena and serves as an excellent warm-up space for the Chippewas during dual home matches.
Phil Baroni, a former Chippewa wrestler, and Jarod Trice, a three-time All-American, are both current Mixed Martial Artists. Baroni has fought in the UFC, Pride Fighting Championship, and Bellator. Trice is a Bellator fighter who is presently unbeaten.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is There A WWE School?
Yes, they do. The WWE Performance Center is an American professional wrestling organization. The organization presently runs two Performance Centers, which serve as training facilities for WWE wrestlers and sports science and medical services.
What Age Can You Start Wrestling School?
You may have opinions about the optimal age for children to begin wrestling. However, specialists believe that children as young as four or five can start wrestling.
Can Anyone Be A Wrestler?
Wrestling is one of the only sports which everyone may play regardless of height, weight, gender, socioeconomic background, or most impairments.
How Hard Is It To Become A Wrestler?
It might be difficult to break into professional wrestling, but you can get your foot in the door by working hard and networking. You’ll need to enroll in a wrestling school to learn how to wrestle effectively. While learning the ropes, work on your strength and cardio at the gym. You’re going to need them in the ring!
References
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Michigan_Chippewas
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Michigan_University
- https://www.lowkickmma.com/5-most-famous-college-wrestling-teams/
- https://www.helptostudy.com/best-wrestling-colleges/