How to Get Recruited by a College Wrestling Team

Going to college on a wrestling scholarship is the goal of many high school wrestlers. But making that goal a reality can be a difficult considering there are only 123 schools offering wrestling scholarships, and only 9 scholarships on each team.

Instructions

1. Compile a list of all the schools with wrestling and academic programs that fit your needs. Remember that the conferences in wrestling are different than in most sports because there are so few programs.

2. Ask your parents or coaches to compose a highlight video of all your best decisions, pins and moves. Coaches study these videos to see whether your style of wrestling fits their team and could be effective against the competition it faces.

3. Write a brief letter about what you could bring to a specific program and how you would like to be considered for a scholarship. Then, create a sports resume. List the teams you wrestle for and any accolades and awards you have received.

4. Wrestle for a club team that participates in showcase tournaments around the country so you're guaranteed to have maximum exposure to wrestling recruiters.

5. Attend national and collegiate team camps to meet coaches and get tips on what will make you a more attractive recruit.

6. Fill out your paperwork for the NCAA Eligibility Clearinghouse. You need to be cleared by this agency before you can accept your scholarship.

7. Visit the campuses of the schools you like either on official or unofficial visits. This will give you a better idea of whether you would want to spend 4 or 5 years on that campus.

Tips & Warnings

• Familiarize yourself with NCAA recruiting guidelines. Knowing these could prevent you from making a recruiting mistake that could make you ineligible.

• A lot of smaller schools tend to have good wrestling programs. Don't discount a school because it isn't a flashy name. The most important thing is where you think you'll have a chance to compete and be an asset to the team.

• You can commit to a school at any time, but you are not required to attend that school until you sign your National Letter of Intent.

• Out of the 250,000 participants in high school wrestling, just under 6,000 end up going to an NCAA school on a wrestling scholarship.