BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Northampton Community College will add men's and women's intercollegiate wrestling programs, set to begin competition this fall, the school said Monday.
And with the strong wrestling history in the Lehigh Valley and surrounding area, the school said it expects to be quickly successful.
NCC’s Athletic Department said wrestling will become the National Junior College Athletic Association’s third men's program and second women’s program in Pennsylvania.
With the two wrestling programs, the college now will sponsor nine intercollegiate sports, beginning in the 2024-25 academic year. They are men’s soccer, women’s volleyball, men’s volleyball, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, baseball, softball, men’s wrestling and women’s wrestling.
“We are extremely excited to launch men’s and women’s wrestling at NCC,” “I believe it is a natural fit for the college, given the strength of high school wrestling in the Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas. I think we can be competitive on a national level very quickly.”NCC Athletics Director Troy Tucker
“We are extremely excited to launch men’s and women’s wrestling at NCC,” Athletics Director Troy Tucker said. “I believe it is a natural fit for the college, given the strength of high school wrestling in the Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas.
“I think we can be competitive on a national level very quickly.”
The NJCAA currently sponsors 58 men’s wrestling programs and 23 women’s programs. The Spartan men’s team will compete in Region 19 and the NJCAA Gulf Atlantic District along with dual meets and invitational tournaments.
The women’s team will compete with an independent schedule, including dual meets and invitational tournaments. Both squads will have the opportunity to qualify for the NJCAA National Championships in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
In 2023, the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association sanctioned girls wrestling and now has more than 80 teams. The PIAA also sponsors 472 boys' programs, with 42 of those teams in District XI, which includes the NCC service area.
NCC said the search for a head coach will begin immediately, with the goal of having the coach in place by April to begin recruiting for fall.
