NAIA Defiance College of Ohio adds women's wrestling for 2026-27

DEFIANCE, Ohio – Defiance College announced the addition of women's wrestling to the Athletic Department's sport offerings beginning with the 2026-27 academic year, the DC Athletic Department announced on Wednesday.

The new women's wrestling team is the fifth new program at Defiance over the last 14 months, joining men's volleyball, women's bowling, powerlifting and women's flag football. Women's wrestling has been a championship sport at the NAIA level since 2023 and held an invitational championship from 2019-22. Among schools belonging to the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference, Defiance College will join Indiana Tech and Lourdes with women's wrestling teams once the program starts to compete.

"The addition of women's wrestling is a significant and exciting step forward for Defiance College athletics," said DC Athletic Director Tiffani Selhorst. "This rapidly growing sport offers tremendous opportunities for female student-athletes, especially here in Northwest Ohio, where interest and talent continue to rise. Launching this program has been part of our vision since I stepped into the role over two years ago, and it's incredibly rewarding to see another piece of our long-term mission come to life."

Defiance College is already engaged in a search for the program's first head coach, which will be announced when the role is filled. \

Prospective women's wrestlers can begin the recruitment process by contacting Athletic Director Tiffani Selhorst at tselhorst@defiance.edu and by applying to Defiance College at Defiance.edu.