Iowa Girls Wrestling Boom Leads to ISU Varsity Program

New Division I women's wrestling team opens doors for young athletes in the state.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 3:10am

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting featuring sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in shades of red, gold, and blue, representing the action and intensity of a girls wrestling match.The geometric, multi-angled depiction of a girls wrestling match captures the dynamic energy and growing popularity of the sport in Iowa.Waukee Today

Girls wrestling is rapidly growing in Iowa, with over 3,400 high school wrestlers last year, about half the number of boys. This surge has led Iowa State University to announce the addition of a Division I women's wrestling program starting in the 2027-28 school year, providing new opportunities for young female athletes to continue competing at the collegiate level and be part of beloved state traditions like the Cy-Hawk showdown.

Why it matters

The expansion of girls wrestling in Iowa and the new ISU varsity program will help fuel the growth of the sport, providing more visibility, resources, and pathways for young female athletes to pursue wrestling beyond high school. This aligns with the broader push for gender equity in sports and gives girls in Iowa the chance to compete at the highest collegiate level in a sport that is rapidly gaining popularity.

The details

Iowa is home to over 200 high school girls wrestling programs, with participation growing from just a few years ago when the sport was first sanctioned by the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union. Wrestlers like Cassidy McCallister have seen the sport transform, going from trying it for the first time in 2023 to becoming a state champion in less than four years. The new ISU varsity program will provide these athletes the opportunity to continue competing at the Division I level, exposing the sport to larger audiences and inspiring more young girls to get involved.

  • Girls wrestling was first sanctioned by the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union in 2022.
  • Iowa had over 3,400 high school girls wrestlers in 2025, about half the number of boys.
  • Iowa State University announced the addition of a Division I women's wrestling program in April 2026.
  • The ISU women's wrestling team will debut in the 2027-28 school year.

The players

Cassidy McCallister

A high school wrestler who became a state champion just four years after first trying the sport, which was newly sanctioned in Iowa at the time.

James Biscoglia

Head coach of the Raccoon River Wrestling co-op program, which offers girls wrestling from kindergarten through high school.

Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union

The governing body that sanctioned girls wrestling in Iowa, leading to rapid growth in participation across the state.

Iowa State University

The Division I university that announced the addition of a women's wrestling program, providing new collegiate opportunities for young female athletes in Iowa.

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What they’re saying

“It's taught me a lot about discipline. And these girls, they're not just teammates. We're friends outside of this, so we go through everything together. We cry together. We grow together, and we have fun together.”

— Cassidy McCallister, High school wrestler

“I think last year was over 3200, 3400 wrestlers, which is about half of what the boys have. So, that's pretty incredible in and of itself, considering that the sport's only four years old.”

— James Biscoglia, Head coach, Raccoon River Wrestling

“You see the Cy-Hawk duals hyped up for boys and everyone wants to go watch that, and now that we have a chance to wrestle as girls, that's really awesome.”

— Cassidy McCallister, High school wrestler

What’s next

The Iowa State University women's wrestling team will begin competing at the Division I level in the 2027-28 academic year.

The takeaway

The rapid growth of girls wrestling in Iowa, coupled with Iowa State's decision to add a varsity women's wrestling program, represents a significant milestone for gender equity in sports. This expansion will inspire more young female athletes to pursue wrestling, provide them with new collegiate opportunities, and elevate the visibility of the sport across the state.