Dickinson State Athletics adds Women's Wrestling for 2023 season

DICKINSON, N.D. – Dickinson State University (DSU) has announced the addition of women's wrestling for the 2023 season, announced by Pete Stanton, DSU's intercollegiate athletic director. The program will become the 15th varsity sport for the Blue Hawks.

"We are thrilled to bring women's wrestling to Dickinson State University," stated Stanton. "Our goal is to begin recruiting high school and collegiate athletes for the 2023-24 school year. With high school wrestling growing as a sport, both nationally and in our regional recruiting area, we will be able to offer this opportunity to many deserving student-athletes."

At the collegiate level, women's wrestling is recognized by roughly 100 institutions and is a national championship sport sponsored by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The NAIA added women's wrestling as an invitational sport beginning in the 2018-19 academic year. In addition, the University of Jamestown is the host school for the NAIA Women's Wrestling National Championship.

Steve Easton, Dickinson State University President, is passionate about this new endeavor for Blue Hawk athletics. "We are proud to add women's wrestling to the list of DSU's strong athletic programs. There is a lot of excitement surrounding this sport and we are eager to get this program running for young women to represent Dickinson State. We look forward to welcoming these female student-wrestlers to our campus next fall and for years to come."

Dickinson State marks the second North Star member to add the sport. Waldorf University is the only other North Star member to add the varsity program and currently competes in the Heart of America Conference – the same conference in which the DSU men's program competes in.

"Women's wrestling is the fastest growing sport in the country," stated Brenner Flaten, DSU alumnus and Glasgow High School athletic director. "It has exploded in Montana and the Dakotas. It's awesome that our young women will now have increased scholarship opportunities closer to home and I am especially excited that my alma mater is one of the institutions leading this charge."

"With our strong tradition of wrestling support in place, it will be exciting to watch women's wrestling grow and be an integral part of our campus," continued Stanton.

With the addition of women's wrestling, Dickinson State now offers 15 varsity level sports and two club sports. For those interested in being a part of the Blue Hawk women's wrestling program, please click here.

A national search for a coach is set to begin immediately.