I found this study done by the NCAA on sports sponsorship and participation rates:
https://ncaaorg.s3.amazonaws.com/re...SportsSponsorshipParticipationRatesReport.pdf
When viewed across all levels, D1 thru D3, wrestling has bounced back from its nadir.
All Levels Are Not Equal, Though
D2 is a Different Story
D3 is Another Success Story
Putting the Three Together
Where Do We Rank?
Kind of in the middle.
https://ncaaorg.s3.amazonaws.com/re...SportsSponsorshipParticipationRatesReport.pdf
When viewed across all levels, D1 thru D3, wrestling has bounced back from its nadir.
- The number of teams bottomed out at 217 in 2010.
- At 275 as of 2024 the total number of teams is 27% higher than 2010.
- Meanwhile, the average roster size has ballooned from almost 22 in 1982 to over 32 in 2024.
All Levels Are Not Equal, Though
- Total D1 teams has leveled off just below 80.
- While roster size has grown from 29 just before the worst times, to 35 in 2024.
D2 is a Different Story
- Both the number of schools sponsoring wrestling and average roster size has grown significantly.
- In fact, at 73 schools sponsoring, 2024 was the highest total in the range.
- Similarly, average roster size was at an all time high.
D3 is Another Success Story
- There has been a steady increase in sponsorship since 2012.
- And while not at 1982 D3 levels, there are more D3 schools sponsoring wrestling than either D1 or D2.
- That has not prevented average roster sizes from growing to all time highs either.
Putting the Three Together
- Thanks to the strength of D2 and D3, overall participation is at its peak in the time period.
- D3 participation passed D1 in 2013 and has not looked back.
- D3 now has 35% more participants than D1.
- And D2 is poised to pass D1 in the next few years. At current rates that should happen in five to six years.
Where Do We Rank?
Kind of in the middle.
- Of the 29 sports listed, wrestling had the 11th most schools participating in 1982 and the 12th most now.
- Wrestling also had the 8th most participants, and has the 10th most now.
- That's right. Swimming just passed wrestling. Sorry guys. (Let us not speak of Diving).
- Tennis used to be the bomb, but has stood still and gotten passed by a lot of other sports.
- At least we are not gymnastics. Oof.
