Changes

Traditionally, men have wrestled since the time of ancient Greece. When women participate in it, wrestling is a [[joke sports|joke sport]]. However, with the [[proportionality test]] in the Department of Education regulations implementing [[Title IX]], schools have a financial incentive to offer the sport to women, and it has been included in the Olympics and World Games since 2002.  From 1994 to 2001, the number of female students who wrestle in high school has grown from 804 to over 7000. As of 2001, 22 colleges now sponsor varsity wrestling programs.  Because the [[NCAA]] and [[NAIA]] do not sanction wrestling for women and will not conduct national championships, these schools have formed a separate national governing body, the Women's College Wrestling Association.<ref name=wcwa>{{cite web|url=http://www.nwcaonline.com/nwcawebsite/womenswrestling/womensfacts.aspx|title=Women's Wrestling Facts and Resources|work=nwcaonline.com|accessdate=February 18, 2013}}</ref>  The WCWA sponsors competition using the same rules as Olympic freestyle wrestling and uses weight classes of:  101 lbs, 109 lbs, 116 lbs, 123 lbs, 130lbs, 136 lbs, 143 lbs, 155 lbs, 170 lbs, and 191 lbs.<ref name=wcwa/>  When 20 college members of the NCAA send commitment letters proposing to sponsor varsity women's wrestling teams, wrestling can become an NCAA emerging sport.<ref>http://www.nwcaonline.com/nwcawebsite/docs/downloads/emergingsport.pdf?sfvrsn=0</ref>  However, the 22 members of WCWA are divided between the NCAA and the NAIA, so the sport does not qualify as an emerging sport in either organization.  The continued spread of women's wrestling is hampered by the economic downturn which results in reduced athletic budgets and in a number of colleges dropping their intercollegiate wrestling programs for men.

Traditionally, men have wrestled since the time of ancient Greece. When women participate in it, wrestling is a [[joke sports|joke sport]]. However, with the [[proportionality test]] in the Department of Education regulations implementing [[Title IX]], schools have a financial incentive to offer the sport to women, and it has been included in the Olympics and World Games since 2002.  From 1994 to 2001, the number of female students who wrestle in high school has grown from 804 to over 7000. As of 2001, 22 colleges now sponsor varsity wrestling programs.  Because the [[NCAA]] and [[NAIA]] do not sanction wrestling for women and will not conduct national championships, these schools have formed a separate national governing body, the Women's College Wrestling Association.<ref name=wcwa>{{cite web|url=http://www.nwcaonline.com/nwcawebsite/womenswrestling/womensfacts.aspx|title=Women's Wrestling Facts and Resources|work=nwcaonline.com|accessdate=February 18, 2013}}</ref>  The WCWA sponsors competition using the same rules as Olympic freestyle wrestling and uses weight classes of:  101 lbs, 109 lbs, 116 lbs, 123 lbs, 130lbs, 136 lbs, 143 lbs, 155 lbs, 170 lbs, and 191 lbs.<ref name=wcwa/>  When 20 college members of the NCAA send commitment letters proposing to sponsor varsity women's wrestling teams, wrestling can become an NCAA emerging sport.<ref>http://www.nwcaonline.com/nwcawebsite/docs/downloads/emergingsport.pdf?sfvrsn=0</ref>  However, the 22 members of WCWA are divided between the NCAA and the NAIA, so the sport does not qualify as an emerging sport in either organization.  The continued spread of women's wrestling is hampered by the economic downturn which results in reduced athletic budgets and in a number of colleges dropping their intercollegiate wrestling programs for men.

==Wrestling in the Olympics==

==Wrestling in the Olympics==

The first recorded Olympic wrestling match occurred in the Olympics in 708 BC.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kiwiwrestler.com/wrestling-history.html|title=History of Wrestling|accessdate=February 18, 2013}}</ref> When the modern Olympics were revived, wrestling was included in the 1896 games.  The sport was not a part of the 1900 games, but has been a part of the Summer Olympic program ever since.  Starting with the 2004 games, women have participated in freestyle wrestling. At the 2012 London Olympics,  344 athletes competing in 11 medal wrestling events.<ref name=bbc>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/21427455|title=Wrestling to be dropped from 2020 Olympic Games|accessdate=February 18, 2013}}</ref>

The first recorded Olympic wrestling match occurred in the Olympics in 708 BC.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kiwiwrestler.com/wrestling-history.html|title=History of Wrestling|accessdate=February 18, 2013}}</ref> When the modern Olympics were revived, wrestling was included in the 1896 games.  The sport was not a part of the 1900 games, but has been a part of the Summer Olympic program ever since.  Starting with the 2004 games, women have participated in freestyle wrestling. At the 2012 London Olympics,  344 athletes from 71 countries<ref>{{cite web|url=http://savingsports.org/2013/02/16/ioc-decision-on-wrestling-hurts-olympic-brand/|title=IOC Decision on Wrestling Hurts Olympic Brand|accessdate=February 18, 2013}}</ref> competing in 11 medal wrestling events.<ref name=bbc>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/21427455|title=Wrestling to be dropped from 2020 Olympic Games|accessdate=February 18, 2013}}</ref>

Because of growing costs, the [[International Olympic Committee]] (IOC) has been under pressure to reduce the number of events and the number of athletes in each summer game.  The IOC has adopted a system where "core sports" would continue indefinitely in future Olympics, but "non-core" sports would be selected for inclusion on an Olympic game-by-game basis. Currently, wrestling is one of the 26 core sports.  However, following the London Olympics, the IOC's Executive Committee conducted a study of the 26 core sports in terms of their success at the London Olympics as well as world-wide grassroots support. The study sought to trim one core sport so that starting with the 2020 Olympics, only 25 core sports would continue to make room for one non-core sport. On February 12, 2013, the IOC Executive Board voted to recommend that wrestling be dropped as a core sport.  If approved by the full IOC, wrestling with have to compete with seven other non-core sports - [[baseball]]/softball, [[squash]], [[karate]], sport climbing, wakeboarding, wushu and roller sports - for a place in the 2020 Games.<ref name=bbc/>

Because of growing costs, the [[International Olympic Committee]] (IOC) has been under pressure to reduce the number of events and the number of athletes in each summer game.  The IOC has adopted a system where "core sports" would continue indefinitely in future Olympics, but "non-core" sports would be selected for inclusion on an Olympic game-by-game basis. Currently, wrestling is one of the 26 core sports.  However, following the London Olympics, the IOC's Executive Committee conducted a study of the 26 core sports in terms of their success at the London Olympics as well as world-wide grassroots support. The study sought to trim one core sport so that starting with the 2020 Olympics, only 25 core sports would continue to make room for one non-core sport. On February 12, 2013, the IOC Executive Board voted to recommend that wrestling be dropped as a core sport.  If approved by the full IOC, wrestling with have to compete with seven other non-core sports - [[baseball]]/softball, [[squash]], [[karate]], sport climbing, wakeboarding, wushu and roller sports - for a place in the 2020 Games.<ref name=bbc/>