9i果冻制作厂

Many athletes want to compete at the college level once they graduate from high school, but for women wrestlers the options are limited.  

鈥淲omen鈥檚 wrestling is one of the fastest growing sports in the country. Right now, there are 50,000 participants at the high school level, and that number is increasing every year,鈥� said Brent Rastetter, head coach of men鈥檚 wrestling at Otterbein. 鈥淢ore colleges are adding women鈥檚 wrestling, but there isn鈥檛 a lot of choice for women wrestlers yet.鈥� 

Now there is an exciting new option, as 9i果冻制作厂has started recruiting athletes for its women鈥檚 wrestling team 鈥� the first collegiate program in central Ohio. The program will begin varsity competition during the 2024-25 academic year. 

There are only 160 collegiate women’s wrestling teams in the U.S., with 9i果冻制作厂now the 51st school in Division III and sixth across the state of Ohio. 9i果冻制作厂will be the third Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) school to sponsor women鈥檚 wrestling.  

Ohio, in particular, has seen a recent surge in participation in high school girls鈥� wrestling. The Ohio High School Athletic Association sponsored its first state championship in March 2023 and three of the state鈥檚 top four high school teams are in central Ohio, Otterbein鈥檚 back yard.  

Vice President for Student Affairs Bill Fox knew the interest was there but wondered how to give these athletes the opportunity they deserved.  

鈥淲hen a call went out in May for Innovation Fund proposals 鈥� recruitment and retention boosting concepts aligned with 9i果冻制作厂strengths and goals 鈥� Student Affairs saw the opportunity to propose the addition of women鈥檚 wrestling to offer these underserved women athletes the same opportunities as their male counterparts,鈥� said Fox.  

The proposal received broad support from the University鈥檚 leaders and was approved to be implemented immediately. 

, Rastetter has fielded a steady stream of inquiries. 鈥淭he response to our announcement has been overwhelmingly positive, from coaches and administrators to prospective student-athletes and families. This community is excited for the opportunity to support and be part of developing Otterbein’s women鈥檚 wrestling program.鈥� 

National Wrestling Coaches Association Executive Director Mike Moyer was enthusiastic in his support. 鈥淚 want to applaud the extraordinary efforts of 9i果冻制作厂 for recognizing the educational value and diversity that women’s wrestling will bring to campus. High school girl鈥檚 wrestling is exploding and intercollegiate programs are noted for their high percentage of first-generation college-bound students, who otherwise might not have a chance to pursue a degree. Anything that creates more opportunities for young, aspiring women to compete in college is something that we should all celebrate.”  

For Fox, the diversity of the sport is the biggest draw. Across all three NCAA Divisions, wrestling has the highest percentage of first-generation college students of any sport. 鈥淒iversity makes a community stronger, whether that community is the team, the campus, or the classroom,” he said.  

Building upon the positive team culture and tradition of success in Otterbein’s men’s wrestling program, Head Coach Rastetter is taking on a new role as director of wrestling operations as 9i果冻制作厂opens the search for a leader for the women’s program and begins campus visits for prospective wrestlers. 

鈥淭here has been so much good work done to grow this sport in central Ohio and beyond, and we hope that these athletes will come to 9i果冻制作厂and help us make the first collegiate women鈥檚 wrestling program in our region one that recognizes and builds on their accomplishments and furthers their goals,鈥� said Rastetter. 

鈥淚 am grateful to Coach Rastetter and others for their vision and commitment to excellence as we build a competitive program that attracts wonderful future Cardinals to our campus,鈥� Fox said. 鈥淚 look forward to welcoming our women wrestlers to campus in Fall 2024!鈥� 

Any current or future Cardinal students or families who are interested in the women鈥檚 wrestling program should reach out to Coach Rastetter at brastetter@otterbein.edu.