SCCC to add women’s wrestling

Sussex County Community College (SCCC) in Newton will be the first community college in New Jersey to offer women’s wrestling.

Starting the fall 2024 season, SCCC plans to offer the sport. Practices will begin Oct. 1, with the first match set for early November.

“Women’s wrestling is one of the fastest-growing sports in New Jersey at the high school level,” said Todd Poltersdorf, SCCC’s athletic director. “We felt that this would be the best time to start one. We will be the first community college in New Jersey to have one.”

A few schools in the region are looking to add women’s wrestling, he said.

“At the national level, they hold a competition and the women will wrestle at the Division I level in the NJCAA.”

Like the men’s program, the women’s team would compete in about 10 to 12 invitationals and quad meets and compete in 10 weight classes: 101, 109, 116, 123, 130, 136, 143, 155, 170 and 190.

The next step is to hire a coach and start recruiting players.

“We plan on having a coach in place as soon as possible,” Poltersdorf said. “We have started the hiring process.”

Scouting for players also will begin as the high school wrestling season hits the mat, giving the college plenty of time to start recruiting players.

“We are lucky women’s wrestling in Sussex County is so big and has great numbers, but we will also be able to recruit from other counties that border us,” he said. “Adding women’s wrestling at SCCC is a win-win!”

“Anytime we can add a sport that allows student-athletes to continue to compete is awesome and continues to support our enrollment,” he addrf. “This is an awesome opportunity for the college to grow our athletic program. Our county is a hot bed for wrestling, both for the men and women.”

Other sports for women at SCCC include basketball, soccer, softball, volleyball and Esports.