Women’s wrestling officially added to American Rivers Conference
CEDAR RAPIDS – With six of the nine American Rivers Conference institutions already sponsoring the sport, the American Rivers Conference has added women’s wrestling as the league’s 24th sport.
Central, along with Buena Vista University, University of Dubuque, Loras College, Simpson College and Wartburg College will compete for the first conference title during the 2024-25 season. That first conference title will be awarded at the league championship meet on Saturday, January 25 at Buena Vista.
The American Rivers Conference becomes the second NCAA Division III conference to formally sponsor women’s wrestling. Women’s wrestling was selected for the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program on August 1, 2020.
“I am thrilled that the American Rivers Conference will now sponsor women’s wrestling at the championship level,” said A-R-C Commissioner Marie Stroman. “The sport supports the conference’s purpose by maximizing the number and variety of athletic opportunities, and furthers the equal emphasis for men’s and women’s sports. With the high interest and growth in women’s and girl’s wrestling in Iowa and Nebraska, the A-R-C will no doubt continue to provide a stage for the best wrestling in the country.”
Central was 1-1 in duals and competed in six tournaments during its first season in 2023-24 under coach Paige Baynes.
