A realistic & common sense approach to the collegiate selection process

Information for you, the student-athlete:
You are starting your search for a school that will be the “Right Fit” for you. You are at our site because you would like to continue with your wrestling career. You need to understand that unless you are that one in a thousand High School wrestler that college coaches are already aware of, you have your work cut out for you. However, the beauty of wrestling is that you have options you may not have even thought of. Coaches in every Division from D1 to Junior College, NAIA and NCWA are looking for students that are interested in continuing both their education and their wrestling career.

On this page we will give you information that will help you start, or in many cases continue your process.

It is universally agreed among collegiate coaches and athletes that there are THREE factors required of you:

Academics
Do you have the grades necessary to meet the requirements of the college or university you may be asked to visit or wish to attend?

Skill
Do you have the wrestling technique and motivation to make coaches take a second look at you?

Visibility
You have the grades and you feel you have the skill but how are the coaches and the schools going to see you?

Let the coaches and the wrestlers at TheWrestlingSite address these vital factors with you.

Academics
We have placed links on this page with each of the collegiate governing organizations.  Please review the requirements for both scholarship and non-scholarship student athletes. Work closely with your parents and your school guidance counselor to assure that you are hitting the mark. Remember that in many cases, the requirements of a particular school may be different than that of the national governing organization.

Skill
Coaches begin their search generally, but not always, with your weight. If a school is loaded in your weight class, you may never be on the radar. They will investigate your record and wrestling progress. Coaches want to know how “complete” your technique is. They watch your positioning. They watch your eyes and head, your hips and feet; how you maintain your balance and use leverage to take or maintain control. They want to see you fight. They want to see how you react when your opponent has the advantage. Most importantly, they want to see how you finish!  Coaches want to know that you are aggressive.

Visibility

Your academics measure up. You have been assured that you have the skill to compete at the next level. Now what?  How are you going to make yourself known to the institutions? There is no easy answer to this question. Take a look at the comments that our coaches from various divisions have included. Although coaches prefer watching you in person, that is not always possible. Video action of yourself is good, but most coaches don’t have time to sit and watch every video they are sent. Should you choose to utilize video, include action that shows how you react in adverse situations. If you are fortunate enough to have a coach view your action, they want to see a variety of your skills and technique. Currently, the best advice is to determine your skill level, make sure your academics are where they should be and work very closely with your coach, your family and your school counselor to zero in on your choices.

Tournaments, Tournaments, Tournaments!!! This cannot be stressed enough. If you want to participate at the next level, and are hoping for financial assistance, you MUST get out there and be seen. Challenge yourself with a variety of competition. Coaches, scouts and alumni will be watching.

Camps. Your coach and your fellow wrestlers will tell you that success starts with preparation. There are a number of terrific camps out there that offer a variety of styles and disciplines. The opportunity to work with an experienced mat instructor can prove to be one of the best decisions and experiences of your wrestling career.

Recruiting Organizations.  Please do your homework if you intend to sign on with a professional recruiter. There are many organizations that have your best interests in mind. However, our coaches have shared stories of families that have invested a lot of time and money with big promises and no results. Remember, if you are a solid performer with proven skills, you should be in a position to attract the attention of coaches in the collegiate level you are interested in. If you have not yet attained the necessary skills, you will find that there are many opportunities to compete at the next level without risking a significant family investment. Once again, your coach and guidance counselor are there to assist you.

NCAA Eligibility	NAIA Eligibility	NJCAA Eligibility	NCWA Eligibility