St. Ambrose University’s Fighting Bees will have another team to cheer on next school year when the Davenport-based university launches a new varsity women’s wrestling program.
In a Monday, Aug. 4 news release, St. Ambrose announced that the additional program provides a new opportunity for student athletes while building on SAU’s legacy of athletic excellence.
The women grapplers will officially begin competing in the 2026-27 academic year with plans for recruiting an initial class of about 10 student-athletes. The university’s goal is to have about 20 wrestlers within four years.
St. Ambrose said it will be hiring an inaugural head coach this academic year. That person will lead recruiting, scheduling, and program development.
SAU Athletics Director Mikes Holmes said the university has been exploring a women’s wrestling program after seeing “the tremendous momentum behind girls’ wrestling at the high school level, especially in Iowa and Illinois” as early as four years ago.
“We’ve had our eye on this opportunity ever since, and we’re excited to bring that vision to life for our Ambrosian student-athletes,” he added.
In fact, when the St. Ambrose men’s wrestling program was launched in 2021, the university’s strategic facilities plan included plans for expansion. The current wrestling facility was constructed with dedicated space for a women’s team, including locker rooms and office space.
“We designed our wrestling facility with this expansion in mind,” Mr. Holmes said. “We’re now in a strong position to recruit and support talented women who want to continue their wrestling careers at the collegiate level right here at St. Ambrose.”
The university is applying for the women’s wrestling team to compete in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC). It’s the conference its men’s wrestling team competes in as an affiliate.
Expanding opportunities
“This is about more than just adding a sport,” St. Ambrose President Amy Novak said in the release. “It’s about reflecting our Catholic values of inclusion, opportunity, and investing in the whole student. These students who are also athletes will be an important part of our community, and we look forward to cheering them on.”
In addition to creating new opportunities for student-athletes, the new women’s team also allows the university to further engage in conference-level competition and contribute to the rapid national and regional growth of the sport.
According to the release, the program will offer competitive athletic opportunities paired with St. Ambrose’s supportive academic environment.
The search for a coach to lead the program’s launch is expected to begin soon, with recruitment of student-athletes to follow soon after, SAU said. Students interested in joining the inaugural women’s wrestling team are encouraged to complete the Fighting Bee Recruitment Form, and visit sau.edu for more information on athletics, academic programs and campus life.
