How to Get Involved in Collegiate Wrestling

Getting involved in college wrestling is the goal for most young wrestlers as they progress through school and club wrestling. College wrestling is usually reserved for the best of the best and requires skill, commitment and perseverance. If you are a young wrestler serious about pursuing the sport in college, follow these steps to help you get there.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

1. Identify the colleges that you would like to attend that have wrestling programs. Most athletes start this process when they are juniors in high school.
2. Contact the wrestling coaches of the colleges you're interested in through mail, email or phone correspondence. Tell them about your interest and ask for information about the school and the wrestling program.
3. Ask your high school coach or a family member to videotape your high school matches so you can create a highlight tape to send to potential coaches. Put together a list of your awards and achievements to compliment the video.
4. Invite coaches to come to your high school or club matches. Also ask them about opportunities for campus visits and camps.
5. Apply to the NCAA Eligibility Clearinghouse to make yourself eligible for recruitment.
6. Set up and take official visits to colleges that offer you a scholarship. You can take unofficial visits at any time.
7. Accept a scholarship offer from the school of your choice. If you don't receive an offer, ask the coach if you can walk on to the program and earn a scholarship for the following year. Make sure to apply for financial aid to help your parents put you through college if you don't get the scholarship.

Tips & Warnings

• When narrowing your college choices, choose schools that offer fields of study you're interested in. Location is important, too; it can be a long four or five years away from home.
• Keep up your grades, both in high school as you're preparing to be recruited, and in college once you're on the team.
• Verse yourself in recruiting rules to avoid violations that might void your scholarship.