Wrestling continues to be a popular sport in college athletics, and now more women are pursuing the sport, which in turn has pushed it closer to becoming an official NCAA sport.
That movement has just gained even more support as HBCU institution Delaware St. (DSU) announced that it would launch a women’s wrestling program, making it the first D1 HBCU women’s wrestling program in history.
It’s a historic decision made possible by a $1.25 million gift from HBCU Wrestling.
“The partnership with HBCU Wrestling gives our women student-athletes a platform to compete, grow, and inspire others. We are excited for this new chapter and the impact it will have for years to come,” said Dr. Alecia Shields-Gadson, Director of Athletics.
DSU is no stranger to the sport as it was the last HBCU to offer wrestling in 2009. In 2021, that changed when Morgan State announced it was starting a program and hired Kenny Monday, the first Black wrestler to win Olympic gold for Team USA, as its head coach a year later. That made the Bears the sole DI HBCU to host a wrestling program.
Now Delaware St. is joining them on the mat in the 2025-26 season, only this time it’s for women.
“This announcement is not only about wrestling; it’s about expanding access to life-changing opportunities,” said Jahi Jones, Executive Director of HBCU Wrestling. “At HBCU Wrestling, we’ve built a foundation that now allows young women to succeed, thrive, and lead while still being in an environment where they feel seen, valued, and loved. This program aligns with the incredible growth of women’s wrestling nationwide, and I look forward to a strong, lasting partnership with Delaware State University that will inspire and empower future generations.”
The Hornets are not the first HBCU to offer women’s wrestling.
In 2022, DII HBCU Bluefield State of the CIAA launched a women’s wrestling program. Last November, the program won its first-ever dual meet by beating Southwest Virginia CC, a great accomplishment for a program in its infancy.
Wrestling is one of the fastest-growing sports among high school girls, and coupled with the fact that the NCAA has scheduled a vote for January on adding a women’s wrestling championship, the timing by Delaware St. couldn’t be more timely.
The school is hoping to continue the success of athletes like Sarah Hildebrandt and Amit Elor, who won Olympic gold for Team USA this past summer in Paris, Tamyra Mensah-Stock, who, at the 2020 Games, became the first Black woman to win an Olympic gold medal for Team USA and Toccara Montgomery, who was the first Black woman to win a World Championship medal for Team USA and to represent the U.S. in Olympic wrestling.
The next step is to hire a coach and then begin the recruiting process.
This is another great sign for HBCU athletics, which has added sports like gymnastics, wrestling, and acrobatics and tumbling in recent years at schools such as Fisk University and Morgan State, respectively.
