Understanging Women's College Wrestling

[GV4444]

I'm not clear on how the system works as I haven't been following college wrestling for that long.   To a new casual observer, I find it odd that all the women's programs are smaller schools, despite the newer programs like Iowa and OSU starting up.   What are the economics where all these small schools can have a non-revenue women's program, but the more well funded institutions don't?  I feel bad for a lot of the girl wrestlers because their choices are limited.   It's not that the smaller schools aren't great institutions, but bigger schools can offer a lot of programs that smaller schools can't.  It is just another choice for the athlete.  

Plus, I think a women's Big 10 championship would be pretty cool.

 

[cowcards]

1 hour ago, GV4444 said:

I'm not clear on how the system works as I haven't been following college wrestling for that long.   To a new casual observer, I find it odd that all the women's programs are smaller schools, despite the newer programs like Iowa and OSU starting up.   What are the economics where all these small schools can have a non-revenue women's program, but the more well funded institutions don't?  I feel bad for a lot of the girl wrestlers because their choices are limited.   It's not that the smaller schools aren't great institutions, but bigger schools can offer a lot of programs that smaller schools can't.  It is just another choice for the athlete.  

Plus, I think a women's Big 10 championship would be pretty cool.

 

Smaller schools are enrollment drive. They need programs to get people to enroll. If they already have a men’s team it makes a lot of sense to add because they already have the facilities there. 

[TexRef]

The market is now flooded. There are too many women's programs and a lot of them can't fill the roster. 

 

[cowcards]

1 hour ago, TexRef said:

The market is now flooded. There are too many women's programs and a lot of them can't fill the roster. 

 

That’s more an issue of needing better recruiting than not enough women. 

[TexRef]

1 hour ago, cowcards said:

That’s more an issue of needing better recruiting than not enough women. 

I would have to disagree. There just are not enough girls who want to wrestle in college to support the number of programs. 

[cowcards]

49 minutes ago, TexRef said:

I would have to disagree. There just are not enough girls who want to wrestle in college to support the number of programs. 

What are the numbers behind that belief?

[TexRef]

52 minutes ago, cowcards said:

What are the numbers behind that belief?

I don't have any numbers, that is just based on the results, roster sizes, and etc...

[HarryConnickJr]

8 hours ago, TexRef said:

I would have to disagree. There just are not enough girls who want to wrestle in college to support the number of programs. 

Not enough who want to pay to wrestle in college is what it essentially boils down to, although I do not have data to back that up 

[TexRef]

1 hour ago, HarryConnickJr said:

Not enough who want to pay to wrestle in college is what it essentially boils down to, although I do not have data to back that up 

Like it was mentioned earlier, these small schools are enrollment driven. They are usually private schools that cost anywhere from $40K-$75K a year. So they get a girl with a 3.75 GPA and they offer her a $20K academic scholarship.

They get one coach for both programs, and MAYBE pay the head coach $50K. Usually there is an assistant coach and possibly a GA. It is a rough go for sure.