Malissa Sherwood, Trailblazer in Women’s Wrestling, Passes Away at 50

Malissa Sherwood, 50, who was a pioneer in the growth of women’s wrestling and mixed martial arts, recently passed away following her battle with cancer.

Wrestling from 1995-2004, Sherwood won gold at the 2000 Pan American Championships in Cali, Colombia. Sherwood was an eight-time U.S. Senior National and World Team runner-up.

As a member of the Dave Schultz Wrestling Club, Sherwood won the 2000 and 2002 Dave Schultz Memorial International and finished third at the event in 2004. During the 2000 edition of the tournament, Sherwood was named Outstanding Wrestler.

Sherwood was a trailblazer in the wrestling community after becoming the first female to receive a full scholarship to wrestle at Missouri Valley College. She competed on the Missouri Valley’s 2001 national championship team, which was inducted into the Missouri Valley College Athletics Hall of Fame.

Sherwood also spent time in Colorado Springs training at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center.

Following her wrestling career, Sherwood competed in mixed martial arts, then returned to the wrestling world. Sherwood coached at the Nor Cal Spartans Youth Wrestling Club and was actively involved in supporting California USA Wrestling.

Sherwood will be inducted into the California Wrestling Hall of Fame on May 2.

A celebration of life will be held before Sherwood’s Hall of Fame induction on May 2 at The DoubleTree by Hilton Sacramento, starting at 1 p.m.

A GoFundMe page has been started to help with funeral costs for Malissa’s family.