College Wrestling

College Wrestling

College wrestling is the level of wrestling practiced at the university level and differentiates between the various styles practiced around the world. A college wrestling match takes place between two wrestlers of the same weight class, and consists of three periods. In college wrestling, the first period is three minutes, and the second two are two minutes each. Overtime rounds may be played out if the match is tied. Though it is similar to freestyle wrestling, which is practiced internationally, college wrestling has had a wide variety of influences here that make it unique to America. Differences in point awarding are one example of these differences. While in most styles of wrestling, rapid domination of the opponent is desirable, college wrestling actually awards more points for the slow control over the opponent. Similar to other commonly practiced styles of wrestling, college wrestling matches begin the first period with the opponents facing one another on their feet in a “neutral position,” the position from which a “takedown” is scored. A “takedown” is when a wrestler forces his opponent down in a losing position; in college wrestling, the wrestler in the takedown hold remains down until he escapes it, a period ends, or a penalty occurs. This is worth two points. Other important moves in college wrestling (and wrestling in general) include the escape (one point) the reversal (two points) and a near fall (two, three or four points, depending). Penalty points are also given, as are time advantages, both worth one point each. The second period begins with a referee flipping a coin to determine which wrestler chooses the starting position. One may choose the neutral position or one may choose the “referee’s position,” which is where both wrestlers begin on the mat, one (usually the winner of the coin toss) in the offensive position on top and the other defensively on the bottom. The wrestler that did not choose the starting position in the second period chooses it for the third period.

College Wrestling Rankings

USA Today and the National Wrestling Coaches Association (N.W.C.A) rank collegiate wrestling teams each season, based on how the team finishes overall. The most recent statistics available were from the end of March, 2007 (end of the college wrestling season). Available at USAtoday.com/sports/other/socw.htm, these schools rank, in order:
1. Minnesota
2. Iowa State
3. Missouri
4. Oklahoma State
5. Northwestern
6. Iowa
7. Cornell
8. Wisconsin
9. Hofstra
10. Central Michigan
11. Penn State
12. Edinboro
13. Oklahoma
14. UT-Chattanooga
15. Michigan
16. Indiana
17. Illinois
18. Penn
19. Oregon State
20. Ohio State
21. Navy
22. Nebraska and Lehigh
24. Michigan State
25. UC Davis

College Wrestling Videos
Several online websites offer access to live coverage of college wrestling as well as college wrestling videos of matches of the past. Besides just coverage of matches, college wrestling videos available online include interviews with teams, wrestlers, and coaches as well. Other variations of college wrestling videos are highlight reels of several matches combined into one.