NCAA Division 1 Wrestling Schools

When someone mentions wrestling, most people probably think of the theatrical, steel-chair swinging professional wrestlers. However, amateur wrestling actually has a more traditional, more prestigious background. NCAA wrestling has produced many Olympic champions, such as Kurt Angle and Rulon Gardner. Over the course of it's history, the NCAA wrestling championships have been largely dominated by Midwestern schools. All but two of the 81 NCAA championships have been won by a state from either the Great Lakes or Great Plains regions of the United States.

  1. Oklahoma State University

    • Arguably the top wrestling program in the country, Oklahoma State does have the distinction of having the most national championships in the sport, with 34 overall NCAA titles. The Cowboys last won a title in 2006, which was their fourth consecutive title. In fact, OSU has five different title streaks of three or more in their storied history. If that wasn't enough, OSU also has had more NCAA All-Americans than any other Division 1 program.

      Oklahoma State Wrestling
      Athletics Center
      Oklahoma State University
      Stillwater, OK 74078
      405-744-4541
      okstate.com

    Univeristy of Iowa

    • If any school not named Oklahoma State could hold a claim to most prestigious wrestling program, it would be the University of Iowa. The Hawkeyes lay claim to 23 wrestling national championships, and once won nine titles in a row from 1978 to 1986.

      Iowa Wrestling
      223 Carver-Hawkeye Arena
      Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1020
      319-335-9405
      hawkeyesports.com

    Iowa State University

    • Overshadowed by their in-state rivals, the Iowa State University wrestling program is no slouch itself. The Cyclones have won eight NCAA titles all-time, the last coming in 1987.

      Iowa State Wrestling
      Jacobson Athletic Building
      1800 South Fourth Street
      Ames, Iowa 50011-1140
      515-294-3662
      cyclones.com

    Other notable schools

    • While Oklahoma St., Iowa and Iowa St. garner most of the attention in collegiate wrestling, there are some other programs that deserve attention.

      The University of Oklahoma Sooners hold seven all-time NCAA titles, although they haven't won since 1974. The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers are a strong newcomer to championship wrestling, having won three national titles in the 2000s to burst onto the national scene.

      Aside from the five schools mentioned, no other school has won multiple national championships in wrestling. To see what other schools compete in NCAA Division 1 wrestling, see the link below.