OKC RTC looking to change the game in women’s wrestling

In such a short amount of time, Matt Stevens, head coach of Oklahoma City University’s women’s wrestling program, is starting to make his mark, in the name of wrestling.

Stevens just wrapped up his first year as head coach of the Stars, who he coached to a seventh-place finish at the national tournament and seven All-America honors, highlighted by a third-place performance by Monica Mason.

During his time as an assistant coach at OCU, he helped six athletes to national championships and 26 wrestlers to All-American status.

In addition to the success he has produced on the mat, Stevens has been working diligently behind the scenes to rally support and resources for the Oklahoma City Regional Training Center (OKC RTC), which he plans to have fully staffed with a full room of wrestlers by 2020.

“We’ve been an RTC for a while, but we didn’t really try to publicize and bring Senior-level athletes into Oklahoma City,” Stevens said. “Now our goal is to get athletes involved in our RTC that want to grow as wrestlers in their chase for the Olympic dream. It would be good for them and good for OCU and Aries Wrestling Club. The more talent we can bring in, the better off we’ll be.”

OCU’s women’s wrestling team is already rich with history. The Stars have won four WCWA national championships, paired with five other top-three finishes as well as five NWCA National Duals titles.

Since 2008, OCU has produced 28 individual national champions and 125 All-Americans.

OCU’s athletes have proven to be successful on the Senior-level as well, with three U.S. World Team members and nine other National Team honors.

Among some of OCU’s former athletes are Kristie Davis, one of the most decorated women’s wrestlers in U.S. history, 2017 World Team member Becka Leathers and 2017 National Team member Jennifer Page.

The Stars’ room now features three-time Junior World Team member Rachel Watters, who finished fifth in the world in 2015.

The OKC RTC already stands out in the crowd as it is one of few RTCs dedicated exclusively to female wrestlers.

“It’s great seeing a lot more RTCs opening their doors to female athletes,” Stevens said. “New York City is doing it, and I know there are a few who train with Hawkeye Wrestling Club in Iowa City. It’s good that we are seeing that more and more. At OKC RTC, we want to set the bar high for women’s wrestling in Oklahoma City."

Stevens said he plans to have a full-time RTC and club coach hired as early as this fall. In addition to a coaching staff dedicated completely to the RTC and a brand new wrestling facility, Stevens hopes to bring in wrestlers from all over, not just OCU athletes.

“We want to open up our RTC to anyone that needs a home and place to train, whether it’s only a few weeks at a time or full-time,” he said. “Our doors are always open. We want to help as many as we possibly can.”

Stevens hopes to see other RTCs follow in OCU’s footsteps, allowing more women the ability to grow as wrestlers as well as giving them a chance to travel the country and work with some of the best coaches and athletes in the U.S.

Of the utmost importance to Stevens is being able to help the women’s wrestling community grow in numbers and support in order to provide as many opportunities as possible for female wrestlers.

 “These girls deserve the same amount of attention that the guys are getting,” Stevens said. “They work out the same and put the same amount of dedication into their wrestling. They have just as much determination as every other Olympic hopeful or World Team member to get the best training they can get. I feel like the OKC RTC can deliver what they’re looking for.”

Anyone interested in the OKC RTC can contact Matt Stevens at mrstevens1@okcu.edu.