UW-Oshkosh starts its first-ever women’s wrestling program as sport grows across Wisconsin

The fastest growing high school sport in the country is spreading in Wisconsin, and colleges in the state are stepping up to meet the demand.

The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh started its first-ever women’s wrestling program this fall, becoming the fourth school in the state to add the sport along with UW-Stevens Point, Lakeland University, and Carthage College. 

Over 150 high schools in Wisconsin now offer girl’s wrestling. The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association has a girls’ division at its boy’s state tournament, and it plans to host a separate state girls’ wrestling team tournament beginning in 2026.

“Before, it was really intimidating for girls,” UW-Oshkosh head coach Jared Costa told WPR’s “Wisconsin Today.” “They had to wrestle boys. They were probably one of two or three (girls) in the program.”

Costa sees the success of girls in wrestling attracting more participants to the sport.

That includes one of his team captains, Paige Haaf, a freshman who graduated from Saint Croix Falls High School.

She started wrestling three years ago when her coach, Joe Raygor, started a girls’ program at the high school and youth levels.

“We gave it a try. And our first season, we had four girls,” Haaf told “Wisconsin Today.” “Then my senior year, we eventually had eight girls. So, we doubled in size.”

Haaf said the youth teams have grown to include almost half boys and half girls.

The infrastructure at the lower levels is helping prepare athletes like Haaf to make the jump to the college level.

Costa is starting a UW-Oshkosh program that faces stiff competition from surrounding schools. UW-Stevens Point ranked in the top 20 of the National Wrestling Coaches Association preseason coaches poll. A few hours south, North Central College in Naperville, Illinois ranked third.

My 1st Captains!
Can’t wait to lead the team with these two steering the ship!!! pic.twitter.com/vt9SkJdN47

— Jared Costa (@CoachCostah) October 17, 2024

“The Midwest is kind of the mecca for wrestling, for both men’s and women’s,” Costa said. “This year on our schedule we have six dual meets, and four of them are in the top 15. So for us, we’re going to get to wrestle the best in the country.”

That’s a big part of Costa’s pitch to recruits. He says wrestlers at UW-Oshkosh find out right away just how good they actually are.

He also sees an advantage in starting a new program fresh. He isn’t inheriting a previous coach’s roster or team culture. He and this initial class of wrestlers are setting the tone for the Titans.

“How much cooler could it be when you’re the reason why UW-Oshkosh is a household name, and you’re the reason why some little girl in Texas, Florida or California hears UW-Oshkosh and wants to wrestle there?” Costa said. “Being a difference-maker, being the person to put us on the map, it’s really enticing to these girls.”

For the sport itself, Haaf said the draw to girls’ wrestling is about building confidence and pushing yourself to rise to the competition.

She hopes to see more girls fall in love with the sport the way she has.

“Push past the fact that you might get looked at funny for it, or discouraged by other people,” Haaf said. “It’s another winter sport that not many people think about. But past basketball, there wasn’t really anything to do, so I would say, give it a try.”