Iowa State Launches Women's Wrestling Program

New coach Alli St. John outlines vision for growing the sport at the collegiate level.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 10:49pm

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A cubist-style painting featuring sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in shades of red and gold, conceptually representing the dynamic action and energy of a women's wrestling match.The launch of Iowa State's new women's wrestling program signals a bold step forward in expanding opportunities for female athletes in the sport.Ames Today

Iowa State University is making a major investment in women's wrestling, adding the sport to its athletics program. Head coach Alli St. John discussed her vision for building the new program and providing more opportunities for female wrestlers across the country to compete at the highest collegiate level.

Why it matters

Women's wrestling has seen rapid growth at the high school level, but collegiate opportunities have lagged behind. Iowa State's decision to add a varsity women's wrestling team signals a shift in the sport's expansion and could inspire other top wrestling programs to follow suit, further expanding access and visibility for female athletes.

The details

Iowa State's new women's wrestling program will be led by head coach Alli St. John, an experienced wrestling coach who has worked to grow the sport among young women. St. John plans to recruit nationally and build a competitive program that can contend for conference and national titles.

  • Iowa State announced the addition of women's wrestling in April 2026.
  • The program will begin competing in the 2026-27 academic year.

The players

Alli St. John

The head coach of Iowa State's new women's wrestling program, with a track record of growing the sport among female athletes.

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What they’re saying

“Iowa State enjoys a rich wrestling tradition, and we believe the addition of women's wrestling will afford tremendous opportunities for young women not only in Iowa, but around the country, to compete at the highest level in the sport.”

— Alli St. John, Head Coach, Iowa State Women's Wrestling

What’s next

Iowa State will begin recruiting for its inaugural women's wrestling team, with the program set to begin competing in the 2026-27 academic year.

The takeaway

Iowa State's decision to add women's wrestling is a significant step forward for the sport, providing more collegiate opportunities for female athletes and signaling a broader trend of growth and expansion at the highest levels of the sport.