# National Collegiate Wrestling Association

The National Collegiate Wrestling Association (NCWA) is a nonprofit association of 162 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organize the wrestling programs of many colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. It is led by founder and executive director Jim Giunta headquartered in Dallas, Texas and built to help the promotion of collegiate wrestling.
Many teams were formerly NCAA programs displaced by Title IX legislation and/or are preparing to join the NCAA, NAIA, or NJCAA. Teams in transition to a higher division not eligible for the NCAA postseason also compete in the NCWA. Notable wrestling programs to have started or competed in the NCWA and are now in other associations include: Bellarmine, California Baptist, Lindenwood - St. Charles, McKendree, Notre Dame College, Queens, and Southern Illinois Edwardsville.

## History

A post-secondary athletic association built to help the promotion of collegiate wrestling, the NCWA was founded in 1997 as a 501c3 non-profit by the current executive director, Jim Giunta, after resigning as executive director of the Texas Interscholastic Wrestling Association (TIWA). At its founding the association had 13 member teams, but today the NCWA is composed of over 150 wrestling teams and clubs from across the United States and Canada. Many of these programs were formerly NCAA scholarship programs which were affected by Title IX legislation, which has resulted in many colleges being forced to give up their wrestling programs in the name of gender equality. The variety of institutions competing in the NCWA is wide and unrestricted as junior colleges, trade schools and post-secondary prep institutions compete in the same national championship as four-year colleges and universities.

### NCWA Growth

Source:
| Season | # of Men's Teams |
| 1997-1998 | 26 |
| 1998-1999 | 35 |
| 1999-2000 | 44 |
| 2000-2001 | 56 |
| 2001-2002 | 68 |
| 2002-2003 | 80 |
| 2003-2004 | 95 |
| 2004-2005 | 109 |
| 2005-2006 | 122 |
| 2006-2007 | 134 |
| 2007-2008 | 142 |
| 2008-2009 | 154 |
| 2009-2010 | 163 |
| 2010-2011 | 170 |
| 2011-2012 | 156 |
| 2012-2013 | |
| 2013-2014 | |
| 2014-2015 | |
| 2015-2016 | |
| 2016-2017 | 170 |
| 2017-2020 | |
| 2018-2020 | |
| 2019-2020 | 154 |
| 2020-2021 | No season (COVID-19) |
| 2021-2022 | 151 |
| 2022-2023 | 155 |
| 2023-2024 | 116 |
| Season | # of Women's Teams |
| 2007-2008 | 7 |
| 2008-2009 | |
| 2009-2010 | |
| 2010-2011 | 16 |
| 2011-2012 | 18 |
| 2012-2013 | 15 |
| 2013-2014 | 10 |
| 2014-2015 | 15 |
| 2015-2016 | 22 |
| 2016-2017 | 24 |
| 2017-2018 | 35 |
| 2018-2019 | |
| 2019-2020 | 54 |
| 2020-2021 | No season (COVID-19) |
| 2021-2022 | 68 |
| 2022-2023 | 60 |
| 2023-2024 | 62 |
| Season | # of GoGreco Teams |
| 2017 | 8 |
| 2018 | 8 |
| 2019 | 10 |
| 2020 | No season (COVID-19) |
| 2021 | No season (COVID-19) |

### Notable current teams

While the NCWA currently has over 100 schools in competition, a few programs have distinguished themselves as top-tier programs.

#### Men's folkstyle

| Institution | Year Entered NCWA | Conference | All-Americans and National Champions | Team Championships | Notes |
| Apprentice | 2000 | Mid-Atlantic | 131 All-Americans 13 National Champions | 3x Northeast Conference champions (1999, 2002, 2003) 8x Mid-Atlantic Conference champions (2004 - 2011) 12 top-8 finishes at National Dual Meet Championship 24 top-10 finishes at Division I National Championships 2009 National Champions | |
| Auburn | 1997 | Southeast | 26 All-Americans 1 National Champion | 6 top-10 finishes at Division I National Championships 15th at 2013 National Dual Meet Championship | One of the original NCWA teams |
| UCF | 2003 | Southeast | 127 All-Americans 14 National Champions | 15x Southeast Conference champions (2003 - 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010 - 2013, 2015, 2019, 2020, 2022 - 2024) 3x National Championships titles (2004, 2005, 2010) 10 top-5 finishes at National Dual Meet Championship 2016 National Dual Meet Champions 21 top-10 finishes at Division I National Championships 2016 Collegiate Cup champions | Train out of Southeast Olympic Regional Training Center |
| Grand Valley State | 2000 | Great Lakes | 160 All-Americans 23 National Champions Most individual All-Americans in NCWA history | 2x Northern Conference champions (2001, 2002) 8x North Central Conference champions (2003 - 2009, 2011) 2010 North Central Conference Co-Champions 7x Great Lakes Conference champions (2013 - 2018, 2022 - 2023) 11 top-6 finishes at National Dual Meet Championship 2009 National Dual Meet Champions 17 top-5 finishes at National Championships 5x National Championships titles (2001, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2008) | Wrestling program had competed in NCAA D-I, D-II, D-III, and NAIA until 1992 Added men's and women's wrestling at NCAA Division II level in 2023 NCWA program is Division II as of 2023-2024 season |
| Grays Harbor | 2015 | Northwest | 26 All-Americans 2 National Champions | 2023 Northwest Conference champions 6 top-10 finishes at Division I National Championships 2020 Division I National Championship runner-ups | |
| Liberty | 2011 | Mid-Atlantic | 108 All-Americans 30 National Champions Most individual champions in NCWA history | 12x Mid-Atlantic Conference champions (2012 - 2020, 2022 - 2024) 10 top-3 finishes at National Dual Meet Championship 6x National Dual Meet Champions (2012, 2015, 2018 - 2020, 2022) 12 top-4 finishes at Division I National Championships 5x Division I National Champions (2015, 2018 - 2020, 2022) 5x Collegiate Cup champions (2015, 2018 - 2020, 2022) | Competed as an NCAA D-I program prior to joining the NCWA in 2011 |
| Lindenwood | 2011-2013, 2023 | Southwest | 21 All-Americans 3 National Champions | 2 top-2 finishes at Great Plains Conference Championships 2012 Great Plains Conference champions 2024 Southwest Conference champions 2 top-2 finishes at National Dual Meet Championship 2013 National Dual Meet Champions 3 top-5 finishes at Division I National Championships 2013 Division I National Championships Runner-up | Previously competed in NCWA from 2011 to 2013 when transitioning from NAIA to NCAA Division II Started transition from NCAA Division II to Division I in 2022-2023 school year, full membership expected in 2026 School discontinued NCAA Division I program in 2023 |
| Lyon | 2023 | Southwest | | 3rd at 2024 Southwest Conference Championships 17th at 2024 Division I National Championships | Started transition from NAIA to NCAA Division III in 2022-2023 school year, full membership expected in 2026 |
| Menlo | 2024 | West Coast | | | Started transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II in 2023-2024 school year, full membership expected in 2026 |
| Middle Tennessee State | 1999 | Mid-Atlantic | 28 All-Americans | 5 top-8 National Dual Meet Championship finishes 2015 Division I National Championships Runner-up 4 top-10 National Championship finishes | Coached by Steven Smith |
| Puerto Rico - Mayagüez | 2022 | Puerto Rico | | 2x Puerto Rico Conference champions (2023-2024) | |
| Queens | 2022 | Puerto Rico | 5 All-Americans 2 National Champions | 3rd at 2018 Mid-Atlantic Conference championships 5th at 2018 Division I National Championships 3rd at 2023 NWCA National Dual Meet Championship - NCWA Division | Transitioning from NCAA Division II to Division I, completing transition in 2026 Was previously in NCWA for 2017-2018 season due to adding wrestling program School discontinued NCAA Division I program in 2024 |
| Thomas More | 2023 | Great Lakes | 6 All-Americans 2 National Champions | 2nd at 2024 Great Lakes Conference championships 2nd at 2024 NWCA National Dual Meet Championship - NCWA Division | Started transition from NAIA to NCAA Division III in 2022-2023 school year, full membership expected in 2026 |
| Vanguard | 2024 | West Coast | | | Started transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II in 2023-2024 school year, full membership expected in 2026 |
| Yale | 1997 | Northeast | 20 All-Americans 3 National Champions | 1998 National Champions 5 top-20 finishes at National Championships | Won the inaugural NCWA National Championships |

#### Women's folkstyle

| Institution | Year Entered NCWA | Conference | All-Americans and National Champions | Team Championships | Notes |
| Utah Tech | 2019 | West Coast | 6 All-Americans 2 National Champions Outstanding Wrestler of National Tournament 2024 | 4th Place Team 2024 3rd Place Collegiate Cup 2024 4th Place National Duals 2024 | Head Coach Corey Anderson Formerly Dixie State University |
| Big Bend | 2022 | Northwest | 6 All-Americans 2 National Champions | 2022 National Champions | Also compete in NJCAA |
| Florida State | 2010 | Southeast | 6 All-Americans | 3 top-10 finishes at National Championships | |
| Grays Harbor | 2018 | Northwest | 16 All-Americans 7 National Champions | 2x National Champions (2019, 2024) 2020 National Championship runner-up | Also compete in NJCAA |
| North Texas | 2014 | Southwest | 9 All-Americans 2 National Champions | 5 top-10 finishes at National Championships | |
| Ottawa - Arizona | 2018 | West Coast | 3 All-Americans 1 National Champions | Won 2022 NCWA Women's National Dual Meet Championship | |
| Springfield Tech | 2014 | Northeast | 11 All-Americans 6 National Champions | 5 top-10 finishes at National Championships | |

### Notable former teams

While the NCWA currently has over 100 schools in competition, it has also been home to many programs that transitioned from one association to another or that originated as an NCWA program and later changed associations.

#### Men's folkstyle

| Institution | Year Entered NCWA | Previous Association | Year Left NCWA | Next Association | Current Association | Notes |
| Air Force Prep | 2003 | Started in NCWA | 2017 | No association | No association | #16 at 2003 National Championships #15 at 2005 National Championships #7 at 2009 National Championships #12 at 2011 Division I National Championships #13 at 2013 Division I National Championships 2014 Great Plains Conference champions #9 at 2014 Division I National Championships #3 at 2015 Great Plains Conference champions #8 at 2015 Division I National Championships #7 at 2016 Division I National Championships #2 at 2015 Great Plains Conference champions #5 at 2017 Division I National Championships 34 All-Americans 9 National Champions Vast majority of student-athletes transfer to United States Air Force Academy |
| Alfred State | 2013 | NJCAA | 2018 | NCAA Division III | NCAA Division III | #12 at 2014 Division I National Championships #18 at 2015 Division I National Championships #10 at 2016 Division I National Championships #6 at 2017 National Dual Meet Championship #2 at 2017 Northeast Conference championships #12 at 2017 Division I National Championships #2 at 2018 Northeast Conference championships #11 at 2018 Division I National Championships 8 All-Americans 1 National Champion |
| Allen | 2021 | NAIA | 2024 | NCAA Division II | NCAA Division II | #3 at 2022 Mid-Atlantic Conference championships #18 at 2022 Division I National Championships #3 at 2023 Mid-Atlantic Conference championships #10 at 2023 Division I National Championships #3 at 2024 Mid-Atlantic Conference championships #9 at 2024 Division I National Championships 6 All-Americans |
| Army Prep | 2008 | Started in NCWA | 2014 | No association | No association | #7 at 2008 National Championships #6 at 2009 National Championships #11 at 2010 National Championships #10 at 2011 Division I National Championships #15 at 2013 Division I National Championships #10 at 2014 Division I National Championships 16 All-Americans 2 National Champions Vast majority of student-athletes transfer to United States Military Academy (Army) |
| Bellarmine | 2022 | NCAA Division II | 2024 | NCAA Division I | NCAA Division I | 2023 NWCA National Dual Meet Champions - NCWA Division #2 at 2023 Great Lakes Conference championships 2023 Division I National Champions 2023 Collegiate Cup champions 2024 NWCA National Dual Meet Champions - NCWA Division 2024 Great Lakes Conference champions 2024 Division I National Champions 17 All-Americans 10 National Champions |
| Belmont Abbey | 1998 | Started in NCWA | 2006 | NCAA Division II | NCAA Division II | #22 at 1999 National Championships #23 at 2000 National Championships #7 at 2001 National Championships #21 at 2002 National Championships #10 at 2003 National Championships #12 at 2004 National Championships 7 All-Americans |
| California Baptist | 2010 | NAIA | 2013 | NCAA Division II | NCAA Division I | 2011 National Dual Meet Champions 2011 West Coast Conference champions 2011 Division I National Champions 2012 West Coast Conference champions #2 at 2012 Division I National Championships 2013 West Coast Conference champions 2013 Division I National Champions 24 All-Americans 6 National Champions 1st team to win both the National Duals and National Championships in the same season |
| Clarks Summit | 1999 | NCCAA | 2003 | Dropped program | Dropped program | #13 at 2000 National Championships #18 at 2001 National Championships #7 at 2002 National Championships #8 at 2003 National Championships 8 All-Americans 2 National Champions Was Baptist Bible while in NCWA (name changed in 2016) |
| Colorado State – Pueblo | 2002 | Program restarted in the NCWA | 2008 | NCAA Division II | NCAA Division II | #4 at 2002 National Championships #11 at 2003 National Championships 7 All-Americans 2 National Champions Was Southern Colorado while in NCWA (name changed in 2003) |
| Darton State | 2006 | Started in NCWA | 2008 | NJCAA | Program dropped | #50 at 2006 National Championships #7 at 2007 National Championships #16 at 2008 National Championships 5 All-Americans |
| Davenport | 2014 | Started in NCWA | 2015 | NAIA | NCAA Division II | #13 at 2015 Division I National Championships 2 All-Americans 2 National Champions |
| Douglas | 2001 | Started in NCWA | 2014 | Dropped program | Dropped program | #14 at 2001 National Championships #12 at 2002 National Championships #6 at 2003 National Championships #5 at 2004 National Championships #9 at 2005 National Championships #16 at 2006 National Championships #19 at 2009 National Championships #27 at 2010 National Championships #14 at 2011 Division I National Championships #62 at 2012 Division I National Championships #21 at 2013 Division I National Championships #19 at 2014 Division I National Championships 23 All-Americans 7 National Champions |
| Emmanuel | 2015 | Started in NCWA | 2018 | NCAA Division II | NCAA Division II | #5 at 2016 National Dual Meet Championships 3x Southeast Conference champions (2016-2018) 2x Division I National Championships (2016-2017) 2017 National Dual Meet Champions 2017 Collegiate Cup champions #2 at 2018 National Dual Meet Championships #7 at 2018 Division I National Championships 22 All-Americans 8 National Champions |
| Emory and Henry | 2021 | NCAA Division III | 2024 | NCAA Division II | NCAA Division II | #8 at 2022 Mid-Atlantic Conference championships #34 at 2022 Division I National Championships #7 at 2022 NWCA National Dual Meet Championship - NCWA Division #8 at 2023 Mid-Atlantic Conference championships #24 at 2023 Division I National Championships #7 at 2024 Mid-Atlantic Conference championships #30 at 2024 Division I National Championships 1 All-American |
| Fresno State | 2014 | Program restarted in the NCWA | 2017 | NCAA Division I | NCAA Division I | #33 at 2015 Division II National Championships #22 at 2016 Division II National Championships #28 at 2017 Division II National Championships 4 All-American |
| Grand Canyon | 2013 | NCAA Division II | 2014 | NCAA Division I | Program dropped | 2014 National Dual Meet Champions 2014 West Coast Conference champions 2014 Division I National Champions 10 All-Americans 4 National Champions |
| Henry Ford | 2013 | Started in NCWA | 2017 | NJCAA | NJCAA | #31 at 2014 Division II National Championships #27 at 2015 Division II National Championships #19 at 2016 Division II National Championships #20 at 2017 Division I National Championships 2 All-Americans |
| Kansas State | 1999 | Restarted program in NCWA | 2012 | Dropped program | Dropped program | #8 at 1999 National Championships #13 at 2000 National Championships 2001 Southwestern Conference champions #5 at 2001 National Championships 2002 Southwestern Conference champions #9 at 2002 National Championships 2003 Southwest Conference champions #9 at 2003 National Championships #20 at 2004 National Championships 2005 Southwest Conference champions #10 at 2005 National Championships #10 at 2006 National Championships #13 at 2007 National Championships #8 at 2008 National Championships 2009 Southwest Conference champions #9 at 2009 National Championships #28 at 2010 National Championships #28 at 2011 Division II National Championships #29 at 2012 Division II National Championships 28 All-Americans 2 National Champions |
| Lincoln Memorial | 2021 | Started in NCWA | 2022 | NCAA Division II | NCAA Division II | #7 at Mid-Atlantic Conference championships #52 at 2022 NCWA Division I National Championships |
| Lindenwood - Belleville | 2011 | Started in NCWA | 2013 | NAIA | Program dropped | #5 at 2012 National Dual Meet Championship #10 at 2012 Division I National Championships #7 at 2013 National Dual Meet Championship #7 at 2013 Division I National Championships 8 All-Americans 2 National Champions |
| Linfield | 2021 | Started in NCWA | 2022 | NCAA Division II | NCAA Division II | #7 at 2022 NCWA Northwest Conference championships #57 at 2022 NCWA Division I National Championship |
| Maine Maritime | 2018 | Started in NCWA | 2024 | NCAA Division III | NCAA Division III | #13 at 2019 Northwest Conference championships #6 at 2020 Northwest Conference championships #6 at 2022 Northwest Conference championships #4 at 2023 Northwest Conference championships #5 at 2024 Northwest Conference championships #33 at 2024 Division I National Championships 1 All-American |
| Maranatha Baptist | 1998 | NCCAA | 1999 | Program dropped | Program dropped | #4 at 1999 National Championships 3 All-Americans 3 National Champions |
| Marion Military | 2003 | Started in NCWA | 2016 | Program dropped | Program dropped | #19 at 2003 National Championships #8 at 2004 National Championships #5 at 2007 National Championships #5 at 2008 National Championships #9 at 2009 National Dual Meet Championships 2009 Southeast Conference champions #4 at 2009 National Championships 2010 National Dual Meet Champions #8 at 2010 National Championships #5 at 2011 National Dual Meet Championship #5 at 2011 Division I National Championships 2009 Southeast Conference champions #15 at 2012 Division I National Championships #6 at 2013 National Dual Meet Championship #11 at 2013 Division I National Championships #15 at 2014 Division I National Championships #5 at 2015 National Dual Meet Championship #5 at 2015 Division I National Championships #14 at 2016 National Dual Meet Championship #12 at 2016 Division I National Championships 40 All-Americans 4 National Champions Coached by Olympians David Hazewinkel and Jim Hazewinkel from 2006 to 2016. |
| McKendree | 2011 | NAIA | 2013 | NCAA Division II | NCAA Division II | #9 at 2012 Division I National Championships #2 at 2013 Division I National Championships 10 All-Americans 2 National Champions |
| Miami (Ohio) | 2000 | NCAA Division I | 2009 | Dropped program | Dropped program | #3 at 2000 National Championships #14 at 2003 National Championships #14 at 2005 National Championships #7 at 2006 National Championships #14 at 2007 National Championships #20 at 2008 National Championships 16 All-Americans 2 National Champions |
| Minot State | 2011 | NAIA | 2012 | NCAA Division II | NCAA Division II | #30 at 2012 Division I National Championships |
| Mott | 2003 | Started in NCWA | 2020 | Dropped program | Dropped program | 6 top-12 National Championship finishes 7th at 2014 National Dual Meet Championship 2019 Regional Dual Champions 30 All-Americans 5 National Champions |
| Navy Prep | 2008 | Started in NCWA | 2015 | No association | No association | 2008 Northeast Conference champions #4 at 2008 National Championships 2009 Northeast Conference champions #3 at 2009 National Championships 2010 Northeast Conference champions #5 at 2010 National Championships #7 at 2011 National Dual Meet Championship 2011 Northeast Conference champions #8 at 2011 Division I National Championships #6 at 2012 Division I National Championships #6 at 2013 Division I National Championships #6 at 2014 Division I National Championships #6 at 2015 Division I National Championships 42 All-Americans 10 National Champions Vast majority of student-athletes transfer to United States Naval Academy (Navy) 3x NCAA Division I National Qualifier Jadaen Bernstein was the 2014 174 lb National Champion for Naval Academy Preparatory School 2016 NCAA Division I National Qualifier Nicholas Gil was the 2015 149 lb National Champion for Naval Academy Preparatory School |
| Nevada | 2001 | Program restarted in the NCWA | 2003 | Program dropped | Program dropped | #2 at 2002 National Championships 2003 National Champions 17 All-Americans 3 National Champions |
| Newman | 2007 | NAIA | 2008 | NCAA Division II | NCAA Division II | #17 at 2007 National Championships 2009 Southwest Conference champions #2 at 2008 National Championships 11 All-Americans 1 National Champion |
| Northampton | 2004 | Started in NCWA | 2010 | Program dropped | NCAA Division II | #9 at 2004 National Championships #13 at 2005 National Championships #5 at 2006 National Championships 2007 Northeast Conference champions #4 at 2007 National Championships #10 at 2008 National Championships #9 at 2009 National Championships #14 at 2010 National Championships 21 All-Americans 3 National Champions |
| Notre Dame College | 2012 | NAIA | 2013 | NCAA Division II | NCAA Division II | 2012 Great Lakes Conference champions 2012 Division I National Champions 12 All-Americans 3 National Champions |
| Penn College | 2010 | Started in NCWA | 2014 | NCAA Division III | NCAA Division III | #26 at 2011 Division I National Championships #17 at 2012 Division I National Championships #20 at 2013 Division I National Championships #24 at 2014 Division I National Championships 3 All-Americans |
| Pensacola Christian | 1998 | NCCAA | 2006 | Program dropped | Program dropped | 1999 Southeast Conference champions 1999 National Champions 2000 Southeast Conference champions 2000 National Champions 2001 Southeast Conference champions #3 at 2001 National Championships 2002 Southeast Conference champions #5 at 2002 National Championships #5 at 2003 National Championships #8 at 2005 National Championships 2006 Southeast Conference champions #3 at 2006 National Championships 39 All-Americans 9 National Champions Coached by Olympians David Hazewinkel and Jim Hazewinkel from 1998 to 2006. |
| Rochester | 2014 | NJCAA | 2015 | NJCAA | NAIA | 2015 NCWA Great Plains Conference champions #3 at 2015 Division I National Championships 8 All-Americans |
| St. Andrews | 2011 | NCAA Division II | 2012 | NAIA | NAIA | #24 at 2012 Division I National Championships 2 All-Americans |
| Schreiner | 2018 | Started in NCWA | 2021 | NCAA Division III | NCAA Division III | 2x Southwest Conference champions (2019, 2020) #12 at 2019 Division I National Championships 5th at 2020 National Dual Meet Championship #6 at 2020 Division I National Championships 2 All-Americans 1 National Champions |
| Shorter | 2013 | NAIA | 2014 | NCAA Division II | Program dropped | #2 at 2014 National Dual Meet Championship 2014 Southeast Conference champions #3 at 2014 National Championships 6 All-Americans 2 National Champions |
| Simon Fraser | 2011 | NAIA | 2012 | NCAA Division II | NCAA Division II | #5 at 2012 Division I National Championships 6 All-Americans |
| Southern Illinois Edwardsville | 2009 | NCAA Division II | 2012 | NCAA Division I | NCAA Division I | #20 at 2009 National Championships 2010 North Central Conference Co-Champions #3 at 2010 National Championships #4 at 2011 Division I National Championships #7 at 2012 Division I National Championships 18 All-Americans 3 National Champions |
| Southern Virginia | 2000 | Started in the NCWA | 2014 | NCAA Division III | NCAA Division III | 16 All-Americans 4 National Champions |
| Valley Forge Military | 1998 | Started in NCWA | 2009 | NJCAA | Program dropped | #10 at 1998 National Championships #13 at 1999 National Championships #24 at 2000 National Championships #17 at 2001 National Championships #35 at 2005 National Championships #54 at 2006 National Championships #19 at 2007 National Championships #57 at 2008 National Championships 8 All-American 3 National Champions |

#### Men's GoGreco

| Institution | Year Entered NCWA | Conference | All-Americans and National Champions | Team Championships | Notes |
| North Texas | 2017 | Southwest | 25 All-Americans 7 National Champions | 3x GoGreco National Champions (2017-2019) Most individual National Champions Most All-Americans | Inaugural GoGreco National Champions. Coached by Andre Metzger |
| Richland | 2017 | Southwest | 14 All-Americans 2 National Champions | 3x GoGreco National Runner-ups (2017-2019) | Hosted inaugural GoGreco National Championships in 2017. Coached by Bill Neal |
| USC | 2017 | West Coast | 4 All-Americans 2 National Champions | | |
| Texas State | 2017 | Southwest | 3 All-Americans 3 National Champions | | |

#### Women's folkstyle

| Institution | Year Entered NCWWA | Previous Association | Year Left NCWWA | Next Association | Current Association | Notes |
| Lindenwood - Belleville | 2011 | Started in NCWA | 2013 | WCWA | NCAA | #3 at 2012 National Championships #2 at 2013 National Championships 6 All-Americans 4 National Champions |
| Maine | 2014 | Started in NCWA | 2019 | Program dropped | Program dropped | 4 top-10 finishes at National Championships #3 at 2018 National Championships 6 All-Americans 4 National Champions Samantha Frank only 4x National Champion and Most Outstanding Wrestler in NCWA/NCWWA history |
| UMass | 2012 | Started in NCWA | 2018 | Active - No Athletes Currently Competing | Active - No Athletes Currently Competing | 5 All-Americans 1 National Champion |
| Michigan – Dearborn | 2015 | Started in NCWA | 2019 | Program dropped | Program dropped | 4 All-Americans 4 National Champions 3 top-10 finishes at National Championships Marina Goocher the second 4x National Champion in NCWA/NCWWA history |
| Midland | 2015 | WCWA | 2016 | WCWA | WCWA | #10 at 2016 National Championships |
| Ottawa | 2014 | Started in NCWA | 2017 | WCWA | WCWA | #2 at 2015 National Championships #2 at 2016 National Championships #2 at 2017 National Championships 22 All-Americans 3 National Champions |
| Pacific | 2007 | Started in NCWA | 2012 | WCWA | NCAA | No team score recorded at 2008 National Championships, but accumulated individual points would have made them the runner-up #2 at 2009 National Championships #3 at 2010 National Championships #2 at 2012 National Championships 11 All-Americans 2 National Champions |
| San Jose State | 2010 | Started in NCWA | 2013 | Program dropped | Program dropped | #7 at 2011 National Championships #6 at 2012 National Championships #3 at 2013 National Championships 5 All-Americans 1 National Champion Coached by Robert Redman |
| Schreiner | 2018 | Started in NCWA | 2021 | NCAA Division III | NCAA Division III | #2 at 2019 National Championships 2020 National Dual Meet Champions 2020 National Champions 16 All-Americans 4 National Champions |
| Simon Fraser | 2007 | WCWA (competed in both) | 2009 | WCWA | WCWA | No team score recorded at 2008 National Championships, but accumulated individual points would have made them the winner #3 at 2009 National Championships 8 All-Americans 7 National Champions |
| South Florida | 2010 | Started in NCWA | 2016 | Program dropped | Program dropped | Five top-10 finishes at National Championships Jasmine Grant first 4x NCWWA All-American 7 All-Americans 1 National Champion1 |
| Southwestern Oregon | 2010 | Started in NCWA | 2018 | WCWA | NJCAA | #2 at 2011 National Championships #1 at 2012 National Championships #1 at 2013 National Championships #1 at 2014 National Championships #1 at 2015 National Championships #1 at 2016 National Championships #1 at 2017 National Championships #1 at 2018 National Championships 64 All-Americans 30 National Champions |
| Yakima Valley | 2008 | Started in NCWA | 2011 | WCWA | WCWA | #1 at 2009 National Championships #1 at 2010 National Championships #1 at 2011 National Championships 9 All-Americans 5 National Champions |

## Advantages of the NCWA

* The organization and its members encourage wrestlers to compete no matter what the experience level.
* A good format for the average wrestlers who still have the passion to compete in the sport they love.
* Several NCWA members have gone on to become scholarship athletes at NCAA and NAIA institutions.
* Several NCWA All-Americans have gone on to be NCAA All-Americans.
* Several NCWA coaches have gone on to be NCAA, NAIA, NJCAA coaches.
* Gives smaller colleges and universities the opportunity to begin a collegiate-level program.
* Programs can be established and developed quickly without the traditional limitations of an NCAA team.
* Funding of teams is open to many sources not allowable under NCAA rule.
* Programs currently transitioning from one association to another (NCAA, NAIA, NJCAA, USCAA, NCCAA) have a place to compete in the post-season during their transitional period.
* The NCWA is always looking to implement new rules and functions of collegiate, such as instant replay for officials and the Collegiate Cup.
* The student-athletes are and have to be extremely hands-on in all of the team's operations and decision-making; this type of leadership training can prepare the student-athlete for their future careers whether in wrestling or not.
* The NCWA is a governing body of wrestling and can make their own decisions as far as rules, procedures, and competition. This is evident with advances such as the GoGreco Program, instant replay and challenges in matches, and the Collegiate Cup championship format.
* Talented high school student-athletes who were passed over by NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA schools have a chance to compete at an NCWA program.
* Talented high school student-athletes who transferred out of an NCAA/NAIA/NJCAA school have a second chance to wrestle in college.
* Some U.S. states do not have NCAA, NAIA, and/or NJCAA teams with wrestling, but do have at least one NCWA wrestling program, which can make it easier for high school athletes to decide where they want to wrestle in college in terms of financial costs.
* The NCWA allows student-athletes four total seasons of eligibility with no time frame to complete them unlike the NCAA, who requires student-athletes to complete four seasons of eligibility in five years of enrollment starting from the student's first year at the school, and the NJCAA, requires student-athletes to complete two seasons of eligibility in three years of enrollment starting from the student's first year at the school.

### Similarities with NCAA, NAIA, NJCAA, CCCAA, and WCWA

* Collegiate weight classes are used (125, 133, 141, 149, 157, 165, 174, 184, 197, 285 lbs).
* All meets and tournaments use NCAA rules and procedures.
* All conferences host a Conference championships tournament with a specific allotment of automatic qualifiers based on placement finish in the Conference championships.
* Like the NAIA, a school can enter two wrestlers in the same weight class at the Conference and National Championships (if they both qualify for the latter); one is deemed the scorer and the other the non-scorer (no advancement, match, or placement points are awarded to this wrestler).
* Like the NAIA, the NCWA allows a student-athlete four total seasons of eligibility regardless of time frame. The NCAA require students to complete their four seasons of eligibility in five years starting from the student's first year of competition (barring a sixth-year grant for hardship). Athletes previously competing for an NCAA, NJCAA, or CCCAA program that transfer to the NCWA will still have the remaining number of eligible seasons without the previous time frame.
* Like the WCWA, schools traditionally competing in the NCAA, NAIA, NJCAA, or CCCAA can all compete against one another.

### Differences with NCAA, NAIA, NJCAA, CCCAA, and WCWA

As mentioned before, the NCWA allows many types of funding to its wrestling programs that might not be allowed by the NCAA. This can allow the wrestling team to grow at its own rate.

#### 235 lb weight class

The NCWA is the only association with collegiate wrestling to offer an 11th weight class: 235 lbs. There are a number of benefits from this:
* This weight class bridges the weight gap between the 197 lb and 285 lb weight classes, the biggest weight disparity among any two weight classes.
* College wrestlers who wrestled in the 195 or 220 lb weight classes in high school might find this easier to compete in than having to wrestle at 197 lbs or 285 lbs.
* Schools who have two or more prominent athletes in the 197 and/or 285 lb weight classes can now give their athletes another chance to succeed individually and earn team points.
* Another weight class leads to higher team scores at tournaments.
* The 11th weight class can often be used as a tiebreaker as the first criterion of "Number of Matches Won" in dual meet settings.

#### Collegiate Cup championship Series

Starting in the 2013–2014 season, the National Championships in March and the Collegiate Cup Duals (previously known as the National Dual Meet Championship) directly related to each other in a team's point total. A team's finish at the Collegiate Cup Duals transferred to additional points being awarded at the National Championships.
The National Wrestling Coaches Association (or "NWCA") have a National Duals tournament for NCAA Division I, Division II, Division III, NAIA, NJCAA, and NCWA teams, but all do not tie into their respective National Championships point totals. Penn State University (NCAA D-I) won four straight National Championships from 2011 to 2014 – without ever competing in the NCAA D-I entry of the National Duals. The NCWA's National Championship Series is the first of any of the college divisions to have a true champion that is indicative of both its team's as well as its individuals' success.

#### GoGreco Program

Starting in 2016, the NCWA launched the GoGreco Program with USA Wrestling. While USA Wrestling's Freestyle and Greco-Roman season and procedures are separate from the wrestling teams and individuals that participate in them, the NCWA owns and operates the GoGreco Program within their domain and directly controls and promotes another wrestling opportunity. This is the first collegiate-level Greco-Roman wrestling national championship. The inaugural championships will take place on June 3, 2017, in Dallas, Texas on the campus of Richland College.
The first tournament, the Texas GoGreco Championships, took place on Saturday, May 6, 2017, at Richland College. The University of North Texas won the tournament with six of seven wrestlers winning in the finals. Richland College and University of Houston–Downtown finished second and third, respectively.

#### Women's Folkstyle Wrestling

Whereas the WCWA has athletes compete in freestyle, the NCWA has its women's division compete in collegiate folkstyle wrestling. There are a number of teams that compete in both the WCWA and NCWA to give their athletes more competitive opportunity.

## National Events

The NCWA sponsors nine types national events:
* The Champions Challenge
* The NCWA National Duals
* Regional Duals Championship
* Conference championships
* Recruit Me High School Wrestling Combine
* National Collegiate Wrestling Championships
* The Women's Collegiate Wrestling Championships
* GoGreco National Championships Archived 2017-07-26 at the Wayback Machine
* The Vision Forum

### Champions Challenge

From 2010 to 2011, the Champions Challenge was formed by the NAIA and NCWA to bring more highlight matches to the wrestling community by pitting NAIA All-Stars against NCWA All-Stars at each weight class in a dual meet (except for 235 lbs since the NAIA does not recognize that weight class in competition). The All-Stars were usually the highest returning All-American at each weight class barring injury; the coaching staffs were one or two coaches for each school represented in the dual. The NCAA Division II is slated to join in the next event.
Champions Challenge series history :
| Year | Host city (Host location) | Dual Meet | Dual Meet | Dual Meet | Dual Meet | Series Record (Streak) |
| Year | Host city (Host location) | Winner | Points | Runner-up | Points | Series Record (Streak) |
| 2010 | Orlando, Florida (University of Central Florida) | NAIA$^{(1/2)}$ | 39 | NCWA | 3 | NAIA 1-0 (1-0) |
| 2011 | Orlando, Florida (University of Central Florida) | NAIA$^{(2/2)}$ | 23 | NCWA | 15 | NAIA 2-0 (2-0) |

### National Dual Meet Championship

In 2008, the NCWA approved the National Dual Meet Championship where the top teams in the country would compete against one another to crown a true team champion starting in 2009. No other association had an official dual-based team champion at the time and that is still the case except in the NCWA. The current structure has 24 teams competing in a bracketed format down to 24 places.
In its thirteenth season, the NCWA hosted its first National Dual Meet Championship. Whereas the National Championships focuses more on individual success and teams can depend on one or a few exceptional wrestlers, the National Duals highlights teams with solid line-ups and good wrestlers at each weight class. It is common for teams that win or place highly in the National Duals to do so at the National Championships later. The National Duals usually take place in late January before the National Championships.
Starting in the 2013–2014 season, two changes took place: 1) the National Dual Meet Championship was now renamed as the Collegiate Cup Duals and 2) a team's finish at the Collegiate Cup Duals would earn it a certain number of team points at the National Championships and aid them in winning it. Two major reasons for this change were to 1) encourage more teams to want to wrestle in the Collegiate Cup Duals and, 2) while still recognizing up to two different champions at the two different tournaments, one team could be determined as the best true overall team and individual wrestling champion that year.
During the 2017 Vision Forum, the NCWA ruled that the National Dual Meet Championship will be held on the eastern side of the United States during even-numbered years and on the western side of the United States during odd-numbered years.
Starting with the 2019-2020 season, the NCWA would have a women's division of the National Dual Meet Championship. Previously, the National Dual Meet Championship would host some individual matches, dual meets, and/or an "All Star" event for women's wrestlers and teams invited, but this would be the first formal women's division to take place.
NCWA National Dual Meet Championships series history :
| Year | Host city (Host location) | Finals match | Finals match | Finals match | Finals match | Notes |
| Year | Host city (Host location) | Winner | Points | Runner-up | Points | Notes |
| 2009 | Murfreesboro, Tennessee (Middle Tennessee State University) | Grand Valley$^{(1/1)}$ | 33 | Central Florida | 18 | Inaugural event. |
| 2010 | Shelbyville, Tennessee (Middle Tennessee State University and University of Georgia) | Marion Military$^{(1/1)}$ | 27 | Apprentice | 15 | |
| 2011 | Dalton, Georgia (Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center) | California Baptist $^{(1/1)}$ | 42 | Central Florida | 4 | First team to win event while in transition to another association. |
| 2012 | Dalton, Georgia (Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center) | Liberty $^{(1/6)}$ | 25 | Lindenwood | 15 | |
| 2013 | Dalton, Georgia (Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center) | Lindenwood $^{(1/1)}$ | 30 | Liberty | 19 | First time the event was a rematch of the previous year's finals. |
| 2014 | Dalton, Georgia (Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center) | Grand Canyon$^{(1/1)}$ | 23 | Shorter | 19 | First time the event became the Collegiate Cup Duals and team points were a factor for the overall Collegiate Cup championship. |
| 2015 | Dalton, Georgia (Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center) | Liberty $^{(2/6)}$ | 37 | Apprentice | 9 | First team to win event more than once. |
| 2016 | Dalton, Georgia (Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center) | Central Florida $^{(1/1)}$ | 32 | Grand Valley State | 18 | |
| 2017 | Lynchburg, Virginia (Liberty University) | Emmanuel $^{(1/1)}$ | 33 | Liberty | 13 | |
| 2018 | Lynchburg, Virginia (Liberty University) | Liberty $^{(3/6)}$ | 30 | Emmanuel | 15 | |
| 2019 | Mesquite, Nevada (CasaBlanca Resort Event Center) | Liberty $^{(4/6)}$ | 28 | Apprentice | 18 | First school to win back-to-back titles. |
| 2020 | Lynchburg, Virginia (Liberty University) | Men's: Liberty $^{(5/6)}$ | 43 | Men's: Apprentice | 13 | |
| 2020 | Lynchburg, Virginia (Liberty University) | Women's: Schreiner $^{(1/1)}$ | 48 | Women's: Liberty | 6 | First ever Women's National Dual Meet Championship. |
| 2021 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | No 2021 season took place due to the Coronavirus pandemic in the United States. |
| 2022 | Lynchburg, Virginia (Liberty University) | Men's: Liberty $^{(6/6)}$ | 39 | Men's: Apprentice | 7 | |
| 2022 | Lynchburg, Virginia (Liberty University) | Women's: Ottawa - Arizona $^{(1/1)}$ | 57 | Women's: Grand Canyon | 0 | |
| 2023 | Louisville, Kentucky (Kentucky Exposition Center) | Men's: Bellarmine $^{(1/2)}$ | 29 | Men's: Liberty | 21 | NWCA National Dual Meet Championship - NCWA Division |
| 2024 | Cedar Falls, Iowa (University of Northern Iowa) | Men's: Bellarmine $^{(1/2)}$ | 44 | Men's: Liberty | 12 | NWCA National Dual Meet Championship - NCWA Division |
| 2024 | Hoquiam, Washington (Hoquiam High School) | Women's: Grays Harbor $^{(1/1)}$ | 36 | Women's: Ottawa - Arizona | 29 |

#### 6:12 Project

The 6:12 Project is a community outreach program created by the NCWA for its wrestlers, coaches, officials, volunteers, and staff to help the city hosting the NCWA National Duals. NCWA wrestling programs serve food to those in need and hold canned and non-perishable food drives. They later donate those goods, as well as clothes (especially jackets), to one of the city's organizations.
The name "6:12 Project" comes from the Biblical quote Ephesians chapter 6, verse 12 from the New Testament:
    "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against power, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."
The first 6:12 Project took place at the 2012 National Duals in Dalton, Georgia and repeated for the 2013 and 2014 events which were also held in Dalton. It is scheduled to continue at the 2015 Collegiate Cup Duals in Dalton again.

### NCWA Regional Duals Championship

Initially created as the Western Regional Duals, this event was created in order to give teams in the western and central part of North America the opportunity to compete in a national dual meet event like the National Dual Meet Championship.
Historically, the National Dual Meet Championship has been hosted on the eastern side of the United States in Georgia, Tennessee, or Virginia. When the Collegiate Cup was passed in 2013, questions and concerns were raised as to whether teams closer to the physical location of the National Dual Meet Championship would have an unfair competitive advantage in terms of championship points calculated for the Collegiate Cup series.
At the 2017 Vision Forum, the NCWA passed a resolution stating that in even-numbered years the National Duals would take place on the eastern side and the Regional Duals on the western side; in odd-numbered years, the National Duals would take place at a western location and the Regional Duals an eastern location.
Starting in the 2022-2023 season with the NCWA accepting the NWCA's offer to compete in the NCWA division of the NWCA Duals, the NCWA would host up to two Regional Duals Championship events - one designated in the East and/or one in the West.
Regional Duals Championship series history :
| Year | Host city (Host location) | Finals match | Finals match | Finals match | Finals match | Notes |
| Year | Host city (Host location) | Winner | Points | Runner-up | Points | Notes |
| 2017 | St. George, Utah (Dixie State University) | Grays Harbor $^{(1/1)}$ | 33 | BYU | 23 | Inaugural event. |
| 2018 | Las Vegas, Nevada (Western High School) | Brigham Young$^{(1/1)}$ | 38 | Colorado State | 10 | First time a team appeared in consecutive finals matches. |
| 2019 | Akron, Ohio (Springfield High School) | Mott$^{(1/1)}$ | 38 | East Carolina | 18James Madison University | First Regional Dual Championship to take place in the East. |
| 2020 | Surprise, Arizona (Ottawa University Surprise) | UNLV$^{(1/1)}$ | 39 | Wayne State | 24 | Round-robin format was used. |
| 2021 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | No 2021 season took place due to the Coronavirus pandemic in the United States. |
| 2022 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| 2023 | Surprise, Arizona (Ottawa University) | Washington State$^{(1/1)}$ | 39 | Grays Harbor | 18 | Western Regional Duals. Round-robin format was used. |
| 2023 | Harrisonburg, Virginia (James Madison University) | Springfield Tech$^{(1/1)}$ | 40 | Virginia Tech (NCWA) | 6 | Eastern Regional Duals. Round-robin format was used. |
| 2024 | Hoquiam, Washington (Hoquiam High School) | Menlo College (NCWA)$^{(1/1)}$ | 53 | Colorado State | 9 | Western Regional Duals. Round-robin format was used. |

### Conference championships

Following the inaugural season, the NCWA approved a five-conference format where wrestlers would compete for advancement into the National Championships as well as seeding if they qualified. The number of conferences has fluctuated throughout the years including reaching a record high of 9 and currently set at 8. Additionally, some conferences have been renamed over the years. These conferences are geographically-based and are similar to the National Championships tournament where Division I and II programs wrestle in one bracket, but differ in that team scores are kept as one tournament (unlike the National Championships having a Division I team score and Division II team score).

#### 1998

| Year | Conferences |
| 1998 | No conferences |

#### 1999-2001

| Year | Northeastern | Northern | Southeastern | Southwestern | Western |
| 1999 | Apprentice | No tournament | Pensacola Christian | Texas A&M | No tournament |
| 2000 | Williamson | Williamson | Pensacola Christian | Kansas | No tournament |
| 2001 | Delaware | Grand Valley State | Pensacola Christian | Kansas State | No tournament |

#### 2002

| Year | Northeast | Northern | Northwestern | Southeastern | Southwestern |
| 2002 | Apprentice | Grand Valley State | Nevada | Pensacola Christian | Kansas State |

#### 2003

| Year | North Central | Northeast | Northwest | Southeast | Southwest | West |
| 2003 | Grand Valley State | Apprentice | No tournament | Central Florida | Kansas State | Nevada |

#### 2004-2005

| Year | Mid-Atlantic | North Central | Northeast | Northwest | Southeast | Southwest | West |
| 2004 | Apprentice | Grand Valley State | New Hampshire | No tournament | Central Florida | Texas Tech | Cal - Davis |
| 2005 | Apprentice | Grand Valley State | New Hampshire | No tournament | Central Florida | Kansas State | San Jose State |

#### 2006-2009

| Year | Mid-Atlantic | North Central | Northeast | Northwest | Southeast | Southwest | West Coast |
| 2006 | Apprentice | Grand Valley State | New Hampshire | No tournament | Pensacola Christian | Colorado State | No tournament |
| 2007 | Apprentice | Grand Valley State | New Hampshire | No tournament | Central Florida | Colorado State | San Jose State |
| 2008 | Apprentice | Grand Valley State | Northampton | No tournament | Central Florida | Newman | San Jose State |
| 2009 | Apprentice | Grand Valley State | Navy Prep | No tournament | Marion Military | Kansas State | San Jose State |

#### 2010-2012

| Year | Mid-Atlantic | Mid-East | North Central | Northeast | Southeast | Southwest | West Coast |
| 2010 | Apprentice | West Chester | Southern Illinois - Edwardsville | Navy Prep | Central Florida | Colorado State | San Jose State |
| 2011 | Apprentice | West Chester | Southern Illinois - Edwardsville | Navy Prep | Central Florida | Northwest Missouri State | Cal Baptist |
| 2012 | Liberty | West Chester | Notre Dame | New Hampshire | Marion Military | Northwest Missouri State | Cal Baptist |

#### 2013-2018

| Year | Great Lakes | Great Plains | Mid-Atlantic | Mid-East | Northeast | Northwest | Southeast | Southwest | West Coast |
| 2013 | McKendree | | Liberty | | | | | | Cal Baptist |
| 2014 | Grand Valley State | Air Force Prep | Liberty | Maryland - Baltimore County | Alfred State | | Shorter | | Grand Canyon |
| 2015 | Grand Valley State | Rochester | Liberty | Penn State - DuBois | | | Central Florida | Texas - Arlington | Glendale |
| 2016 | Grand Valley State | Wayne State | Liberty | Penn State - DuBois | Alfred State | | Emmanuel | | Arizona |
| 2017 | Grand Valley State | Iowa State (NCWA) | Liberty | Penn State (NCWA) | Springfield Tech | Grays Harbor | Emmanuel | Texas A&M | Brigham Young |
| 2018 | Grand Valley State | Colorado State | Liberty | Maryland - Baltimore County | Springfield Tech | Grays Harbor | Emmanuel | Richland | Brigham Young |

#### 2019-2022

| Year | Great Lakes | Mid-Atlantic | Mid-East | Northeast | Northwest | Southeast | Southwest | West Coast |
| 2019 | Mott | Liberty | West Chester | Springfield Tech | Grays Harbor | Central Florida | Schreiner | Nevada - Las Vegas |
| 2020 | Akron | Liberty | Penn State - Mont Alto | Springfield Tech | Grays Harbor | Central Florida | Schreiner | Nevada - Las Vegas |
| 2021 | No 2021 season took place due to the Coronavirus pandemic in the United States. | No 2021 season took place due to the Coronavirus pandemic in the United States. | No 2021 season took place due to the Coronavirus pandemic in the United States. | No 2021 season took place due to the Coronavirus pandemic in the United States. | No 2021 season took place due to the Coronavirus pandemic in the United States. | No 2021 season took place due to the Coronavirus pandemic in the United States. | No 2021 season took place due to the Coronavirus pandemic in the United States. | No 2021 season took place due to the Coronavirus pandemic in the United States. |
| 2022 | Grand Valley State | Liberty | Penn State (NCWA) | Springfield Tech | Grays Harbor | Central Florida | Texas A&M | Ottawa - Arizona |

#### 2023-present

| Year | Great Lakes | Mid-Atlantic | Mid-East | Northeast | Northwest | Puerto Rico | Southeast | Southwest | West Coast |
| 2023 | Grand Valley State | Liberty | Rowan | Springfield Tech | Grays Harbor | Puerto Rico - Mayagüez | Central Florida | Texas A&M | Ottawa - Arizona |
| 2024 | Bellarmine | Liberty | Rutgers (NCWA) | Springfield Tech | Washington State | Puerto Rico - Mayagüez | Central Florida | Lindenwood | UNLV |

### "Recruit Me" High School Wrestling Combine

The day before competition starts at the National Championships, the NCWA hosts a wrestling combine for athletes to showcase their talents to observing college coaches. Most athletes are high school student-athletes which is the primary focus, however students at a post-secondary institution without a wrestling program may also attend. The event also allows students to ask questions about collegiate competition to college coaches.

### Men's Collegiate Wrestling Championships

The first major event the NCWA hosted took place in 1998 was the inaugural National Championships with 26 teams in one division in the 10 then-standard weight classes. Since then, the event has grown to include approximately 340 qualifiers among 150+ teams within the 11 NCWA weight classes where two champions are crowned (Division I and Division II).
Here, individuals are recognized for their outstanding individual achievement. They can earn team points (unless they are the non-scorer on their team) by advancing through the tournament, scoring bonus points in matches, and placing in the top 8. Teams accumulate points from all of their scoring wrestlers. The National Championships have traditionally been held in the middle of March. Division I and Division II teams compete in one bracketed tournament where the overall team points are separated at the end between the two.
In 1998, the NCWA approved an eleventh weight class, the 235 lb weight class.
In 2007, the NCWA approved All-American status for wrestlers placing in top 8. Previously, only the top 6 wrestlers in each weight class were named All-Americans.
In 2010, the NCWA approved a two-division classification system - the Division I level composed of established teams meeting specific criteria and the Division II tier where up-start teams as well as teams aiming to join Division I would compete.
Since the 2013–2014 season when the Collegiate Cup championship series was passed, teams' National Championships points are added with their National Dual Meet Championship finish points to determine the overall team champion.
In 2020, multiple teams and individual wrestlers withdrew from the tournament before or during the tournament due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
National championships series history :
| Year | Host city (Host location) | Team championship | Team championship | Team championship | Team championship | Most Outstanding Wrestler (Team) |
| Year | Host city (Host location) | Winner | Points | Runner-up | Points | Most Outstanding Wrestler (Team) |
| 1998 | Dallas, Texas (Richland College) | Yale$^{(1/1)}$ | 114.0 | Georgia | 99.0 | Alex Tucker (Georgia) |
| 1999 | Dallas, Texas (Richland College) | Pensacola Christian$^{(1/2)}$ | 196.0 | Apprentice | 167.5 | Justin Bellman (Valley Forge Military) |
| 2000 | Dallas, Texas (Richland College) | Pensacola Christian$^{(2/2)}$ | 110.0 | Apprentice | 97.5 | Mike Collins (Delaware) |
| 2001 | Dallas, Texas (Richland College) | Grand Valley State$^{(1/5)}$ | 196.0 | Delaware | 112.5 | Nate Thoreson (Pensacola Christian) |
| 2002 | Easton, Pennsylvania (Lafayette College) | Grand Valley State$^{(2/5)}$ | 199.5 | Nevada | 165.0 | Travis Cross (Douglas) |
| 2003 | Easton, Pennsylvania (Lafayette College) | Nevada$^{(1/1)}$ | 154.5 | Apprentice | 138.0 | Jason Meister (Baptist Bible) |
| 2004 | Dallas, Texas (University of Texas at Dallas) | Central Florida$^{(1/3)}$ | 166.0 | Grand Valley State | 163.5 | Willie Hosch (Catawba) |
| 2005 | Dallas, Texas (University of Texas at Dallas) | Central Florida $^{(2/3)}$ | 171.0 | Grand Valley State | 159.0 | Steve McGettrick (Pensacola Christian) |
| 2006 | Grand Rapids, Michigan (Grand Valley State University) | Grand Valley State$^{(3/5)}$ | 188.0 | Apprentice | 114.5 | |
| 2007 | Dallas, Texas (Garland Events Center) | Grand Valley State$^{(4/5)}$ | 184.5 | Central Florida | 139.5 | Cee-Jay Hamilton (Marion Military) |
| 2008 | Lakeland, Florida (Lakeland Center) | Grand Valley State$^{(5/5)}$ | 135.5 | Newman | 124.0 | Adam Murray (University of Toledo) |
| 2009 | Hampton, Virginia (Hampton University) | Apprentice$^{(1/1)}$ | 118.5 | Grand Valley State | 109.0 | Cole VonOhlen (Air Force Prep) |
| 2010 | Hampton, Virginia (Hampton University) | Central Florida$^{(3/3)}$ | 128.0 | Apprentice | 111.5 | John Aikens (Grand Valley State) |
| 2011 | Macon, Georgia (Mercer University) | Division I: California Baptist$^{(1/2)}$ Division II: Northwest Missouri State$^{(1/1)}$ | 156.5 45.0 | Division I: Grand Valley State Division II: Cincinnati | 121.0 33.0 | Herman Gillum (Mott) |
| 2012 | Daytona Beach, Florida (Ocean Center) | Division I: Notre Dame College $^{(1/1)}$ Division II: Wichita State$^{(1/1)}$ | 168.0 57.5 | Division I: California Baptist Division II: Northwest Missouri State | 161.0 27.0 | Matthew Miller (Navy Prep) |
| 2013 | Allen, Texas (Allen Event Center) | Division I: California Baptist$^{(2/2)}$ Division II: Massachusetts Institute of Technology$^{(1/1)}$ | 145.5 50.5 | Division I: McKendree Division II: South Carolina | 137.0 41.0 | |
| 2014 | Allen, Texas (Allen Event Center) | Division I: Grand Canyon $^{(1/1)}$ Division II: Florida Gulf Coast$^{(1/1)}$ | 254.5 67.5 | Division I: Liberty Division II: Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 171.5 60.5 | Ryan Diehl (Liberty) |
| 2015 | Allen, Texas (Allen Event Center) | Division I: Liberty $^{(1/4)}$ Division II: Washington State$^{(1/1)}$ | 194.0 66.5 | Division I: Middle Tennessee State Division II: Montana Western | 127.5 59.5 | Ryan Diehl (Liberty) |
| 2016 | Kissimmee, Florida (Silver Spurs Arena) | Division I: Emmanuel$^{(1/2)}$ Division II: Florida$^{(1/1)}$ | 213.0 72.0 | Division I: Central Florida Division II: | 191.0 59.5 | Zachary Cooper (Grand Valley State) |
| 2017 | Allen, Texas (Allen Event Center) | Division I: Emmanuel$^{(2/2)}$ Division II: Maine$^{(1/1)}$ | 233.5 61.5 | Division I: Liberty Division II: Connecticut | 155.5 57.0 | |
| 2018 | Allen, Texas (Allen Event Center) | Division I: Liberty$^{(2/4)}$ Division II: Penn State (NCWA)$^{(1/3)}$ | 157.0 50.0 | Division I: Apprentice Division II: Akron | 156.5 48.0 | George Van Valen (Alfred State) |
| 2019 | Allen, Texas (Allen Event Center) | Division I: Liberty$^{(3/4)}$ Division II: Penn State (NCWA)$^{(2/3)}$ | 201.5 62.0 | Division I: Apprentice Division II: Connecticut | 164.0 61.0 | Ty'Rae Carter (Texas A&M) |
| 2020 | Allen, Texas (Allen Event Center) | Division I: Liberty$^{(4/4)}$ Division II: East Carolina$^{(2/2)}$ | 228.0 96.0 | Division I: Grays Harbor Division II: Penn State (NCWA) | 141.0 71.5 | Ty'Rae Carter (Texas A&M) |
| 2021 | No 2021 season took place due to the Coronavirus pandemic in the United States. | No 2021 season took place due to the Coronavirus pandemic in the United States. | No 2021 season took place due to the Coronavirus pandemic in the United States. | No 2021 season took place due to the Coronavirus pandemic in the United States. | No 2021 season took place due to the Coronavirus pandemic in the United States. | No 2021 season took place due to the Coronavirus pandemic in the United States. |
| 2022 | Allen, Texas (Credit Union of Texas Event Center) | Division I: Liberty$^{(5/5)}$ Division II: Penn State (NCWA)$^{(3/3)}$ | 229.0 106.0 | Division I: Apprentice Division II: Ohio State (NCWA) | 133.5 96.0 | Ty'Rae Carter (Texas A&M) |
| 2023 | San Juan, Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico Convention Center) | Division I: Bellarmine$^{(1/2)}$ Division II: Ohio State State (NCWA)$^{(1/1)}$ | 206.5 94.0 | Division I: Liberty Division II: Rowan | 189.5 63.0 | Devan Hendricks (Bellarmine) |
| 2024 | Shreveport, Louisiana] (Brookshire Grocery Arena) | Division I: Bellarmine$^{(2/2)}$ Division II: West Chester$^{(1/1)}$< | 245.5 57.5 | Division I: Liberty Division II: Ohio State (NCWA) | 182.0 56.0 | |

### Women's Collegiate Wrestling Championships

The first NCWA-sponsored Women's Collegiate Wrestling Championships took place at the 2008 National Championships. The NCWA sponsored this event under their new banner organization, the National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Association (NCWWA). The weight classes have been designed to closely resemble most female athletes' natural weight ranges as well as let programs that also compete in women's collegiate freestyle to acclimate to folkstyle competition. Whereas before matches were done using freestyle rules, as was the norm with associations like the WCWA, the NCWWA uses collegiate/folkstyle rules like in the NCWA, NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA.
Team scores were unofficial at the inaugural 2008 tournament, and Simon Fraser University finished with the most team points. Bo Icalia and Josh White are tied for head coaches to have won the most titles; Icalia won the 2010 and 2011 titles as head coach of Yakima Valley Community College and the 2012 and 2013 titles as head coach of Southwestern Oregon Community College. White has won the 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017 titles all with Southwestern Oregon Community College.
The top 3 wrestlers in each weight class are recognized as All-Americans. University of South Florida's Jasmine Grant is the NCWWA's first and only 4x All-American (2011–2014) so far. University of Maine's Samantha Frank has won 3 national titles going into the 2017–2018 season.
The Women's College Wrestling Championships has traditionally been dominated by northern and northwestern teams.
In 2020, multiple teams and individual wrestlers withdrew from the tournament before or after it had started in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Women's Collegiate National Championships series history :
| Year | Host city (Host location) | Team championship | Team championship | Team championship | Team championship | Most Outstanding Wrestler (Team) |
| Year | Host city (Host location) | Winner | Points | Runner-up | Points | Most Outstanding Wrestler (Team) |
| 2008 | Lakeland, Florida (Lakeland Center) | Simon Fraser (unofficial) | | Pacific | 50.0 | |
| 2009 | Hampton, Virginia (Hampton University) | Yakima Valley | 73.0 | Simon Fraser | 58.0 | Ashlee Phy (Yakima Valley) |
| 2010 | Hampton, Virginia (Hampton University) | Yakima Valley | | Mercer | | |
| 2011 | Macon, Georgia (Mercer University) | Yakima Valley | 124.0 | Mercer | 45.0 | |
| 2012 | Daytona Beach, Florida (Ocean Center) | Southwestern Oregon | 83.5 | Pacific | 61.5 | Erica Poe (Southwestern Oregon) |
| 2013 | Allen, Texas (Allen Event Center) | Southwestern Oregon | 100.0 | Lindenwood – Belleville | 53.0 | Sonia Beri (San Jose) |
| 2014 | Allen, Texas (Allen Event Center) | Southwestern Oregon | 77.0 | West Chester | 31.0 | |
| 2015 | Allen, Texas (Allen Event Center) | Southwestern Oregon | 128.0 | Ottawa | 98.0 | Samantha Frank (Maine) |
| 2016 | Kissimmee, Florida (Silver Spurs Arena) | Southwestern Oregon | 127.0 | Ottawa | 83.5 | Samantha Frank (Maine) |
| 2017 | Allen, Texas (Allen Event Center) | Southwestern Oregon | 97.5 | Ottawa | 69.5 | Samantha Frank (Maine) |
| 2018 | Allen, Texas (Allen Event Center) | Southwestern Oregon | 134.0 | Midland | 52.5 | Samantha Frank (Maine) |
| 2019 | Allen, Texas (Allen Event Center) | Grays Harbor | 65.5 | Schreiner | 63.0 | |
| 2020 | Allen, Texas (Allen Event Center) | Schreiner | 170.5 | Umpqua | 119.5 | Cendall Manley (Liberty) |
| 2021 | No 2021 season took place due to the Coronavirus pandemic in the United States. | No 2021 season took place due to the Coronavirus pandemic in the United States. | No 2021 season took place due to the Coronavirus pandemic in the United States. | No 2021 season took place due to the Coronavirus pandemic in the United States. | No 2021 season took place due to the Coronavirus pandemic in the United States. | No 2021 season took place due to the Coronavirus pandemic in the United States. |
| 2022 | Allen, Texas (Credit Union of Texas Event Center) | Big Bend | 115.5 | Ottawa - Arizona | 73.5 |
| 2023 | San Juan, Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico Convention Center) | Ottawa - Arizona | 120.0 | Grays Harbor | 80.0 | Veloria Pannell (MIT) |
| 2024 | Shreveport, Louisiana (Brookshire Grocery Arena) | Grays Harbor | 158.0 | Ottawa - Arizona | 148.0 | |

### GoGreco National Championships

Approved in 2016, the GoGreco Program was launched with USA Wrestling in order to improve the U.S.A.'s performance in Junior- and Senior-level Greco-Roman competition. The GoGreco season starts on the last weekend of March and concludes with the GoGreco Collegiate National Championships on the first weekend of June.
GoGreco Nationals is an open-entry event to any NCWA Member institution. NCAA, NAIA & NJCAA institutions that are not currently a member of the NCWA are encouraged to join the NCWA for the GoGreco Season and to send athletes to the Nationals. Student-athletes must maintain the same academic standards that are required of the NCWA and their member institutions in order to compete.
The inaugural championships took place on June 3, 2017, in Dallas, Texas on the campus of Richland College.
GoGreco National Championships series history :
| Year | Host city (Host team) | Team championship | Team championship | Team championship | Team championship | Notes |
| Year | Host city (Host team) | Winner | Points | Runner-up | Points | Notes |
| 2017 | Dallas, Texas (Richland College) | North Texas$^{(1/3)}$ | 55.0 | Richland | 34.0 | Inaugural championships |
| 2018 | Dallas, Texas (Richland College) | North Texas$^{(2/3)}$ | 49.0 | Richland | 37.0 | Most Outstanding Wrestler: Dominic Vazquez (Toledo) |
| 2019 | Dallas, Texas (Richland College) | North Texas$^{(3/3)}$ | 83.0 | Richland | 42.0 | |
| 2020 | No 2020 season took place due to the Coronavirus pandemic in the United States. | No 2020 season took place due to the Coronavirus pandemic in the United States. | No 2020 season took place due to the Coronavirus pandemic in the United States. | No 2020 season took place due to the Coronavirus pandemic in the United States. | No 2020 season took place due to the Coronavirus pandemic in the United States. | No 2020 season took place due to the Coronavirus pandemic in the United States. |
| 2021 | No 2021 season took place due to the coronavirus pandemic in the United States. | No 2021 season took place due to the coronavirus pandemic in the United States. | No 2021 season took place due to the coronavirus pandemic in the United States. | No 2021 season took place due to the coronavirus pandemic in the United States. | No 2021 season took place due to the coronavirus pandemic in the United States. | No 2021 season took place due to the coronavirus pandemic in the United States. |

### Vision Forum

Every year since 1997, the NCWA's Vision Forum convenes during the wrestling off-season in the summer and is held at about the same location as and set a few days before the National Wrestling Coaches Association Convention. The Vision Forum focuses on the NCWA rule changes, policies, and procedures from the previous season and if any modifications need to be made or new topics need to be discussed. The 2017 Vision Forum will be held from Wednesday, August 2 to Sunday, August 6 in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Some important changes and events that have come from the Vision Forum:
* Introduction of Puerto Rico programs, Puerto Rico Conference, and first national championships held in Puerto Rico; passed in 2022
* NWCA National Dual Meet Championship to feature NCWA Division, NCWA to host both Eastern and Western Regional Dual Meet Championships; passed in 2022
* Women's division for the National Dual Meet Championship; passed in 2019
* National Duals and Regional Duals to switch between eastern- and western-based locations every year; passed in 2017
* Western Regional Duals; passed in 2016
* "Recruit Me" High School Wrestling Combine; passed in 2015
* Go Greco Initiative; passed in 2015
* Collegiate Cup National Championships Series; passed in 2013
* National Collegiate Grappling Association; passed in 2013
* Seven conferences re-aligned into nine conferences; passed in 2012
* Use of mat-side instant replay for officials; passed in 2011
* Two men's divisions - Division I and Division II; passed in 2010
* National Dual Meet Championship; passed in 2008
* Added women's division (National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Association); passed in 2007
* Addition of 7th and 8th-place finishes at National Championships into All-American finishes; passed in 2006
* First National Championships to take place outside of Texas; passed in 2001
* Addition of an 11th weight class, the 235 lb weight class; passed in 1998

## Team Championship History
### Champions by year

NCWA Championships :
| Year | Host city (Host team) | Division | School | Championship format |
| 1998 | Dallas, Texas (Richland College) | Men's | Yale | national championships team score |
| 1999 | Dallas, Texas (Richland College) | Men's | Pensacola Christian | national championships team score |
| 2000 | Dallas, Texas (Richland College) | Men's | Pensacola Christian | national championships team score |
| 2001 | Dallas, Texas (Richland College) | Men's | Grand Valley State | national championships team score |
| 2002 | Easton, Pennsylvania (Lafayette College) | Men's | Grand Valley State | national championships team score |
| 2003 | Easton, Pennsylvania (Lafayette College) | Men's | Nevada | national championships team score |
| 2004 | Dallas, Texas (University of Texas at Dallas) | Men's | Central Florida | national championships team score |
| 2005 | Dallas, Texas (University of Texas at Dallas) | Men's | Central Florida | national championships team score |
| 2006 | Grand Rapids, Michigan (Grand Valley State University) | Men's | Grand Valley State | national championships team score |
| 2007 | Dallas, Texas (Garland Events Center) | Men's | Grand Valley State | national championships team score |
| 2008 | Lakeland, Florida (Lakeland Center) | Men's | Grand Valley State | national championships team score |
| 2008 | Lakeland, Florida (Lakeland Center) | Women's | Simon Fraser (unofficial) | national championships team score |
| 2009 | Hampton, Virginia (Hampton University) | Men's | Apprentice | • Men's division: National Championships team score • Women's division: National Championships team score |
| 2009 | Hampton, Virginia (Hampton University) | Women's | Yakima Valley | • Men's division: National Championships team score • Women's division: National Championships team score |
| 2010 | Hampton, Virginia (Hampton University) | Men's | Central Florida | • Men's division: National Championships team score • Women's division: National Championships team score |
| 2010 | Hampton, Virginia (Hampton University) | Women's | Yakima Valley | • Men's division: National Championships team score • Women's division: National Championships team score |
| 2011 | Macon, Georgia (Mercer University) | Men's Division I | California Baptist | • Men's division I: National Championships team score • Men's division II: National Championships team score • Women's division: National Championships team score |
| 2011 | Macon, Georgia (Mercer University) | Men's Division II | Northwest Missouri State | • Men's division I: National Championships team score • Men's division II: National Championships team score • Women's division: National Championships team score |
| 2011 | Macon, Georgia (Mercer University) | Women's | Yakima Valley | • Men's division I: National Championships team score • Men's division II: National Championships team score • Women's division: National Championships team score |
| 2012 | Daytona Beach, Florida (Ocean Center) | Men's Division I: | Notre Dame College | • Men's division I: National Championships team score • Men's division II: National Championships team score • Women's division: National Championships team score |
| 2012 | Daytona Beach, Florida (Ocean Center) | Men's Division II | Wichita State | • Men's division I: National Championships team score • Men's division II: National Championships team score • Women's division: National Championships team score |
| 2012 | Daytona Beach, Florida (Ocean Center) | Women's | Southwestern Oregon | • Men's division I: National Championships team score • Men's division II: National Championships team score • Women's division: National Championships team score |
| 2013 | Allen, Texas (Allen Event Center) | Men's Division I | California Baptist | • Men's division I: National Championships team score • Men's division II: National Championships team score • Women's division: National Championships team score |
| 2013 | Allen, Texas (Allen Event Center) | Men's Division II | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | • Men's division I: National Championships team score • Men's division II: National Championships team score • Women's division: National Championships team score |
| 2013 | Allen, Texas (Allen Event Center) | Women's | Southwestern Oregon | • Men's division I: National Championships team score • Men's division II: National Championships team score • Women's division: National Championships team score |
| 2014 | Allen, Texas (Allen Event Center) | Men's Division I | Grand Canyon | • Men's division I: Collegiate Cup scoring system • Men's division II: National Championships team score • Women's division: National Championships team score |
| 2014 | Allen, Texas (Allen Event Center) | Men's Division II | Florida Gulf Coast | • Men's division I: Collegiate Cup scoring system • Men's division II: National Championships team score • Women's division: National Championships team score |
| 2014 | Allen, Texas (Allen Event Center) | Women's | Southwestern Oregon | • Men's division I: Collegiate Cup scoring system • Men's division II: National Championships team score • Women's division: National Championships team score |
| 2015 | Allen, Texas (Allen Event Center) | Men's Division I | Liberty | • Men's division I: Collegiate Cup scoring system • Men's division II: National Championships team score • Women's division: National Championships team score |
| 2015 | Allen, Texas (Allen Event Center) | Men's Division II | Washington State | • Men's division I: Collegiate Cup scoring system • Men's division II: National Championships team score • Women's division: National Championships team score |
| 2015 | Allen, Texas (Allen Event Center) | Women's | Southwestern Oregon | • Men's division I: Collegiate Cup scoring system • Men's division II: National Championships team score • Women's division: National Championships team score |
| 2016 | Kissimmee, Florida (Silver Spurs Arena) | Men's Division I | Central Florida | • Men's division I: Collegiate Cup scoring system • Men's division II: National Championships team score • Women's division: National Championships team score |
| 2016 | Kissimmee, Florida (Silver Spurs Arena) | Men's Division II | Florida | • Men's division I: Collegiate Cup scoring system • Men's division II: National Championships team score • Women's division: National Championships team score |
| 2016 | Kissimmee, Florida (Silver Spurs Arena) | Women's | Southwestern Oregon | • Men's division I: Collegiate Cup scoring system • Men's division II: National Championships team score • Women's division: National Championships team score |
| 2017 | Allen, Texas (Allen Event Center) | Men's Division I | Emmanuel | • Men's division I: Collegiate Cup scoring system • Men's division II: National Championships team score • Women's division: National Championships team score • GoGreco: GoGreco Championships team score |
| 2017 | Allen, Texas (Allen Event Center) | Men's Division II | Maine | • Men's division I: Collegiate Cup scoring system • Men's division II: National Championships team score • Women's division: National Championships team score • GoGreco: GoGreco Championships team score |
| 2017 | Allen, Texas (Allen Event Center) | Women's | Southwestern Oregon | • Men's division I: Collegiate Cup scoring system • Men's division II: National Championships team score • Women's division: National Championships team score • GoGreco: GoGreco Championships team score |
| 2017 | Dallas, Texas (Richland College) | GoGreco | North Texas | • Men's division I: Collegiate Cup scoring system • Men's division II: National Championships team score • Women's division: National Championships team score • GoGreco: GoGreco Championships team score |
| 2018 | Allen, Texas (Allen Event Center) | Men's Division I | Liberty | • Men's division I: Collegiate Cup scoring system • Men's division II: National Championships team score • Women's division: National Championships team score • GoGreco: GoGreco Championships team score |
| 2018 | Allen, Texas (Allen Event Center) | Men's Division II | Penn State (NCWA) | • Men's division I: Collegiate Cup scoring system • Men's division II: National Championships team score • Women's division: National Championships team score • GoGreco: GoGreco Championships team score |
| 2018 | Allen, Texas (Allen Event Center) | Women's | Southwestern Oregon | • Men's division I: Collegiate Cup scoring system • Men's division II: National Championships team score • Women's division: National Championships team score • GoGreco: GoGreco Championships team score |
| 2018 | Dallas, Texas (Richland College) | GoGreco | North Texas | • Men's division I: Collegiate Cup scoring system • Men's division II: National Championships team score • Women's division: National Championships team score • GoGreco: GoGreco Championships team score |
| 2019 | Allen, Texas (Allen Event Center) | Men's Division I | Liberty | • Men's division I: Collegiate Cup scoring system • Men's division II: National Championships team score • Women's division: National Championships team score • GoGreco: GoGreco Championships team score |
| 2019 | Allen, Texas (Allen Event Center) | Men's Division II | Penn State (NCWA) | • Men's division I: Collegiate Cup scoring system • Men's division II: National Championships team score • Women's division: National Championships team score • GoGreco: GoGreco Championships team score |
| 2019 | Allen, Texas (Allen Event Center) | Women's | Grays Harbor | • Men's division I: Collegiate Cup scoring system • Men's division II: National Championships team score • Women's division: National Championships team score • GoGreco: GoGreco Championships team score |
| 2019 | Dallas, Texas (Richland College) | GoGreco | North Texas | • Men's division I: Collegiate Cup scoring system • Men's division II: National Championships team score • Women's division: National Championships team score • GoGreco: GoGreco Championships team score |
| 2020 | Allen, Texas (Allen Event Center) | Men's Division I | Liberty | • Men's division I: Collegiate Cup scoring system • Men's division II: National Championships team score • Women's division: National Championships team score • GoGreco: GoGreco Championships team score |
| 2020 | Allen, Texas (Allen Event Center) | Men's Division II | East Carolina | • Men's division I: Collegiate Cup scoring system • Men's division II: National Championships team score • Women's division: National Championships team score • GoGreco: GoGreco Championships team score |
| 2020 | Allen, Texas (Allen Event Center) | Women's | Schreiner | • Men's division I: Collegiate Cup scoring system • Men's division II: National Championships team score • Women's division: National Championships team score • GoGreco: GoGreco Championships team score |
| 2020 | N/A | GoGreco | No season took place due to the Coronavirus pandemic in the United States. | • Men's division I: Collegiate Cup scoring system • Men's division II: National Championships team score • Women's division: National Championships team score • GoGreco: GoGreco Championships team score |
| 2021 | N/A | Men's Division I | No season took place due to the Coronavirus pandemic in the United States. | • Men's division I: Collegiate Cup scoring system • Men's division II: National Championships team score • Women's division: National Championships team score • GoGreco: GoGreco Championships team score |
| 2021 | N/A | Men's Division II | No season took place due to the Coronavirus pandemic in the United States. | • Men's division I: Collegiate Cup scoring system • Men's division II: National Championships team score • Women's division: National Championships team score • GoGreco: GoGreco Championships team score |
| 2021 | N/A | Women's | No season took place due to the Coronavirus pandemic in the United States. | • Men's division I: Collegiate Cup scoring system • Men's division II: National Championships team score • Women's division: National Championships team score • GoGreco: GoGreco Championships team score |
| 2021 | N/A | GoGreco | No season took place due to the Coronavirus pandemic in the United States. | • Men's division I: Collegiate Cup scoring system • Men's division II: National Championships team score • Women's division: National Championships team score • GoGreco: GoGreco Championships team score |
| 2022 | Allen, Texas (Credit Union of Texas Event Center) | Men's Division I | Liberty | • Men's division I: Collegiate Cup scoring system • Men's division II: National Championships team score • Women's division: National Championships team score |
| 2022 | Allen, Texas (Credit Union of Texas Event Center) | Men's Division II | Penn State (NCWA) | • Men's division I: Collegiate Cup scoring system • Men's division II: National Championships team score • Women's division: National Championships team score |
| 2022 | Allen, Texas (Credit Union of Texas Event Center) | Women's | Big Bend | • Men's division I: Collegiate Cup scoring system • Men's division II: National Championships team score • Women's division: National Championships team score |
| 2023 | San Juan, Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico Convention Center) | Men's Division I | Bellarmine | • Men's division I: Collegiate Cup scoring system • Men's division II: National Championships team score • Women's division: National Championships team score |
| 2023 | San Juan, Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico Convention Center) | Men's Division II | Ohio State (NCWA) | • Men's division I: Collegiate Cup scoring system • Men's division II: National Championships team score • Women's division: National Championships team score |
| 2023 | San Juan, Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico Convention Center) | Women's | Ottawa - Arizona | • Men's division I: Collegiate Cup scoring system • Men's division II: National Championships team score • Women's division: National Championships team score |
| 2024 | Bossier City, Louisiana (Brookshire Grocery Arena) | Men's Division I | Bellarmine | • Men's division I: Collegiate Cup scoring system • Men's division II: National Championships team score • Women's division: National Championships team score |
| 2024 | Bossier City, Louisiana (Brookshire Grocery Arena) | Men's Division II | West Chester | • Men's division I: Collegiate Cup scoring system • Men's division II: National Championships team score • Women's division: National Championships team score |
| 2024 | Bossier City, Louisiana (Brookshire Grocery Arena) | Women's | Grays Harbor | • Men's division I: Collegiate Cup scoring system • Men's division II: National Championships team score • Women's division: National Championships team score |

### Champions by team

| School | Total Championships | Year(s) won/Championship type |
| Southwestern Oregon | 7 | 2012$^W$ • 2013$^W$ • 2014$^W$ • 2015$^W$ • 2016$^W$ • 2017$^W$ • 2018$^W$ |
| Grand Valley State | 5 | 2001$^M$ • 2002$^M$ • 2006$^M$ • 2007$^M$ • 2008$^M$ |
| Liberty | 5 | 2015$^{D1}$ • 2018$^{D1}$ • 2019$^{D1}$ • 2020$^{D1}$ • 2022$^{D1}$ |
| Central Florida | 4 | 2004$^M$ • 2005$^M$ • 2010 $^M$ • 2016$^{D1}$ |
| North Texas | 3 | 2017$^{GG}$ • 2018$^{GG}$ • 2019$^{GG}$ |
| Penn State (NCWA) | 3 | 2018$^{D2}$ • 2019$^{D2}$ • 2022$^{D2}$ |
| Yakima Valley | 3 | 2009$^W$ • 2010$^W$ • 2011$^W$ |
| Bellarmine | 2 | 2023$^{D1}$ • 2024$^{D1}$ |
| California Baptist | 2 | 2011$^{D1}$ • 2013$^{D1}$ |
| Grays Harbor | 2 | 2019$^W$ • 2024$^{D1}$ |
| Pensacola Christian | 2 | 1999$^M$ • 2000$^M$ |
| Apprentice | 1 | 2009$^M$ |
| Big Bend | 1 | 2022$^W$ |
| East Carolina | 1 | 2020$^{D2}$ |
| Emmanuel | 1 | 2017$^{D1}$ |
| Florida | 1 | 2016$^{D2}$ |
| Florida Gulf Coast | 1 | 2014$^{D2}$ |
| Grand Canyon | 1 | 2014$^{D1}$ |
| Maine | 1 | 2017$^{D2}$ |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 1 | 2013$^{D2}$ |
| Nevada | 1 | 2003$^M$ |
| Northwest Missouri State | 1 | 2011$^{D2}$ |
| Ohio State (NCWA) | 1 | 2023$^{D2}$ |
| Ottawa - Arizona | 1 | 2023$^W$ |
| Notre Dame College | 1 | 2012$^{D1}$ |
| Schreiner | 1 | 2020$^W$ |
| Washington State | 1 | 2015$^{D2}$ |
| West Chester | 1 | 2024$^{D2}$ |
| Wichita State | 1 | 2012$^{D2}$ |
| Yale | 1 | 1998$^M$ |
$^W$: Denotes Women's Championship. $^{D1}$: Denotes Men's Division I Championship. $^{D2}$: Denotes Men's Division II Championship. $^{GG}$: Denotes GoGreco Championship. The following championships did not take place due to the Coronavirus pandemic in the United States:
* 2020 GoGreco Championship.
* 2021 Men's Division I Championship.
* 2021 Men's Division II Championship.
* 2021 Women's Championship.
* 2021 GoGreco Championship.

### Collegiate Cup championship

At the 2013 Vision Forum, the NCWA approved a new National Championships Series to crown a true National Team Champion. With the National Dual Meet Championship, the team that wins the Collegiate Cup will earn 24 team points. The runner-up will receive 23, third-place 22, and so forth until the 23rd-place team receives 2 points. All other teams that participated, but did not place in the top 23 will receive 1 point. Those points will be carried over to the individual-based National Championships where teams will continue to score points based on their individual athletes' performances.
The winner of the Collegiate Cup will have accrued the most total points between both events and be presented with the College Cup as the overall NCWA National Champions. Grand Canyon University was the first champion of the new format in 2014.
| Championship Year | Champion School | National Dual Meet Championship finish | National Championships finish | Notes |
| 2014 | Grand Canyon | 1st | 1st - Division I | Inaugural Collegiate Cup champions 1st team to sweep National Dual Meet Championship and National Championships in same season under the Collegiate Cup format |
| 2015 | Liberty | 1st | 1st - Division I | |
| 2016 | Central Florida | 1st | 2nd - Division I | 1st team to win Collegiate Cup without winning both the National Dual Meet Championship and National Championships in same season |
| 2017 | Emmanuel | 1st | 1st - Division I | |
| 2018 | Liberty | 1st | 1st - Division I | 1st team to win multiple Collegiate Cup championships |
| 2019 | Liberty | 1st | 1st - Division I | 1st team to win back-to-back Collegiate Cup championships |
| 2020 | Liberty | 1st | 1st - Division I | National Championships tournament continued during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| 2021 | No 2021 season took place due to the Coronavirus pandemic in the United States. | No 2021 season took place due to the Coronavirus pandemic in the United States. | No 2021 season took place due to the Coronavirus pandemic in the United States. | No 2021 season took place due to the Coronavirus pandemic in the United States. |
| 2022 | Liberty | 1st | 1st - Division I | |
| 2023 | Bellarmine | 1st | 1st - Division I | |
| 2024 | Bellarmine | 1st | 1st - Division I | |

## Structure

The NCWA is divided into eight regional conferences and four divisions. Men's Division I programs are athletic department funded or have met the NCWA's D-I criteria. Many of the Division I programs also offer athletic scholarships. Men's Division II teams are broken into categories; Emerging Programs, that are developing into Division I teams, and Clubs that operate on campuses where there are established NCAA/NCAA/NJCAA Teams; few Division II schools are of the latter circumstance. Schools whose wrestling teams are competing in the NCWA during their school's transitional period are placed into Division I. Women's programs are any collegiate/post-secondary scholastic programs who also compete in the collegiate folkstyle ruleset. GoGreco programs have most of the same set-up as the men's and women's divisions with the exception that it is under a Greco-Roman ruleset.
In August 2010, the current two-division system was passed at that year's Vision Forum and implemented for the 2011 National Championships.

### Conferences

| Conference | Year Founded | States/region | Automatic Qualifiers per weight class | Allocated Wild Cards | Notable teams |
| Great Lakes | 2012 | Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, Wisconsin Mid-West, Great Lakes, Great Plains | 5 | 15 | Bellarmine University Grand Valley State University University of Toledo |
| Mid-Atlantic | 2003 | Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia Southeast, Mid-Atlantic | 6 | 14 | Allen University Emory & Henry College Liberty University Middle Tennessee State University Queens University of Charlotte The Apprentice School |
| Mid-East | 2009 | Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania Mid-Atlantic, Northeast | 6 | 14 | Penn State - Mont Alto University of Maryland - Baltimore County Slippery Rock University West Chester University Williamson College of the Trades |
| Northeast | 1998 | Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont Northeast | 6 | 14 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Springfield Technical Community College Stony Brook University United States Military Academy Prep United States Naval Academy Prep University of New Hampshire Yale University |
| Northwest | 2001–2009, 2012 | Canada: British Columbia United States: Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, Wyoming Great Plains, Pacific Northwest | 5 | 15 | Big Bend Community College Central Washington University Grays Harbor College Montana Western University University of British Columbia Washington State University |
| Puerto Rico | 2022 | United States: Puerto Rico Puerto Rico | 2 | 11 | Interamerican University of Puerto Rico University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez |
| Southeast | 1998 | Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi Southeast | 3 | 11 | Auburn University Emmanuel College Florida A&M University Florida Gulf Coast University Florida State University University of Alabama University of Central Florida University of Florida University of Georgia University of South Florida |
| Southwest | 1998 | Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas Great Plains, Mid-West, South, Southwest | 3 | 11 | Texas A&M University of Texas Wayne State College |
| West Coast | 1998 | Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah West, West Coast | 5 | 15 | UT Tech University UNLV Sacramento State UCLA UC Riverside Fresno State San Jose State Colorado State University Ottawa University of Arizona University of Southern California Santa Rosa JC Grand Canyon University Menlo College |

### Former Conferences

| Former Conference | Years Active | Region | Notes |
| Great Plains Conference | 2012-2018 | Mid-west, northern, central, western | Teams dispersed into Great Lakes, Northwest, Southwest, and West Coast conferences |
| North Central Conference | 2002-2012 | Mid-west, northern, central, northwestern | Split into Great Lake and Great Plains conferences due to large size |
| Northeastern Conference | 1998-2001 | Northeast, northern, Atlantic | Renamed "Northeast Conference" |
| Northern Conference | 1998-2002 | Mid-west, northern | Renamed "North Central Conference" |
| Northwestern Conference | 2001-2002 | Mountain, northwest, Pacific | Renamed "Northwest Conference" |
| Southeastern Conference | 1998-2002 | Atlantic, southern, southeastern | Renamed "Southeast Conference" |
| Southwestern Conference | 1998-2002 | Central, Mid-west, southern | Renamed "Southwest Conference" |
| West Conference | 2003-2005 | Pacific, northwest, southwest, west | Renamed "West Coast Conference" |
| Western Conference | 1998-2001 | Pacific, northwest, southwest, west | Renamed "West Conference" |
Wrestling clubs in the NCWA: Bloomsburg University, Edinboro University, Ferrum College, Fresno State University, Iowa State University, Lehigh University, Michigan State University, Northern Illinois University, Ohio State University, Pennsylvania State University, Rutgers University, Sacred Heart University, State University of New York - Cortland, University of Buffalo, University of Iowa, University of Maryland, University of Michigan, University of Northern Colorado, University of Pittsburgh, University of Wisconsin, Virginia Military Institute, Virginia Tech University.

## Notable people

The NCWA has had thousands of alumni since it began in 1997. Notable alumni include:
* Jeff Allen: First 4x National Champion in NCWA history (2019–2020, 2022–2023).
* Kevin Andres: Head coach of Ottawa - Arizona's men's and women's wrestling teams and current Sports Clubs Coordinator. Head coach of Belmont Abbey (1998–2006), Mercer (2006–2014) men's, and Ottawa (2015–2018) men's wrestling teams.
* Justin Bellman: First 2x National Champion (1998–1999) for Valley Forge Military, 1999 NCWA Most Outstanding Wrestler.
* Jadaen Bernstein: 4x NCAA Division I National Qualifier wrestler for United States Naval Academy. 2014 174 lb National Champion for Navy Prep.
* Asnage Castelly: 2016 Olympic freestyle wrestler for Haiti. Coaches at Springfield Tech.
* Jesse Castro: 4x NCCAA champion wrestler for Liberty and National Wrestling Hall of Fame - Virginia Chapter member. Current head coach of Liberty wrestling team.
* Ryan Diehl: 2x NCAA Division I National Qualifier wrestler for Maryland. 2x NCWA National Champion for Liberty.
* Tony Ferguson: MMA fighter signed with UFC, winner of The Ultimate Fighter 13. 2006 165 lb national champion and 2x All-American for Grand Valley State].
* LeRoy Gardner III: Head men's wrestling coach at University of the Ozarks and NCAA Division III champion for Wartburg. Former head wrestling coach at Houston - Downtown.
* Nicholas Gil: 2x NCAA Division I National Qualifier wrestler for United States Naval Academy. 2015 149 lb National Champion for Navy Prep.
* David Hazewinkel: Olympic Greco-Roman wrestler for the United States of America in 1968 and 1972, brother of Jim Hazewinkel, uncle of Sam Hazewinkel. Coached at Pensacola Christian (1998–2006) and Marion Military (2006–2016).
* Jim Hazewinkel: Olympic Greco-Roman wrestler for the United States of America in 1968 and 1972, brother of Dave Hazewinkel, father of Sam Hazewinkel. Coached at Pensacola Christian (1998–2006) and Marion Military (2006–2016).
* Shay Horton: 3x NAIA National Championships qualifier for Thomas More. 2024 All-American for Thomas More.
* Kailan Keith: 2023 NAIA National Championships qualifier wrestler for Thomas More. 2024 All-American wrestler for Thomas More.
* Josh Kenny: 2024 NCAA Division II National Champion wrestler for Grand Valley State. 2023 National Runner-up for Grand Valley State.
* Seth Konyenbelt: 2024 NCAA Division II National Qualifier for Grand Valley State. 3x All-American and 2x National Runner-up for Grand Valley State.
* Tom Lawlor: MMA fighter signed with UFC. 3x national champion and 4x All-American for Central Florida.
* Henry A. Marsh: 2017 NCWA Hall of Honor Inductee, NCWA Northeast Conference Chairman, NCWA Head of Officials Committee, 3x NCWA Northeast Conference Coach of the Year, 3x NCWA Northeast Conference Team Titles, 10 years University of New Hampshire Head Wrestling Coach, coached 3 NCWA National Champions, a member of the USA Wrestling Hall of Fame, and a 1968 Olympic Trial Finalist.
* Antonio Martinez: 3x Copa Sparta freestyle tournament champion, most recently at 70 kg in 2016. 2016 All-American for Texas - Austin.
* Santiago Martinez: 2015 NCAA Division I National Qualifier wrestler for Lehigh, 2x Pan-American freestyle medalist and World Championships 79 kg freestyle wrestler for Columbia at 79 kg. 2x 157 lb National Champion for Central Florida.
* Daulton Mayer: 2023 NAIA 285 lb All-American for Thomas More. 2023 285 lb All-American for Thomas More.
* Anthony McLaughlin: 2019 NCAA Division I National Qualifier wrestler for Air Force. 2015 184 lb National Champion for Air Force Prep.
* Frank Mensah: Canadian Olympic Trials runner-up and current Development Coach for the Women's Provincial Team and Head Coach/Program Director of Coast Wrestling Academy in the Lower Mainland. 2005 125 lb national champion and 2x All-American for Douglas.
* Zach Merrill: 2017 University Nationals 98 kg Greco-Roman champion, 2018 World Championships 97 kg freestyle qualifier, and 2020 Pan-American Olympic Qualifier representative for Puerto Rico. 2x NCWA champion for California Baptist.
* Andre Metzger: 2x NCAA Division I national champion for Oklahoma and 3x World Championship freestyle wrestling medalist for United States of America and National Wrestling Hall of Fame inductee c/o 2017. Head coach of North Texas.
* Pat Milkovich: 2x NCAA Division I national champion and 4x NCAA Division I finalist for Michigan State and National Wrestling Hall of Fame inductee c/o 2000. Former head coach of Florida Gulf Coast University.
* Ryan Moore: 2023 NAIA 149 lb National Runner-up for Thomas More. 2024 149 lb National Champion for Thomas More.
* Bill Neal: Former Greco-Roman wrestling coach for United States Olympic Training Center. Head wrestling coach at Richland.
* Ike Okoli: 2014 World Championships +90 kg bronze medalist in Beach Wrestling for United States of America, 2019 Turkmen Goresh bronze medalist at the World Nomad Games, and 2019 US Open 130 kg Greco-Roman place winner. 2x NCWA All-American for South Carolina.
* Jasmit Phulka: 2x World Championships qualifier and 2x Pan American Wrestling Championships medalist for Canada. 2013 NCWA All-American for Douglas College.
* Richard Robitaille: Veteran, author, and founder of Richard Robitaille, LLC. Coached at Valley Forge Military.
* Johnny Rouse: National Wrestling Hall of Fame inductee c/o 2001 and 1976 Regional Olympic Trials Champion. Former coach at Central Florida.
* Melvin Rubio: 2019 NCAA Division II National Qualifier wrestler for Queens. 2018 NCWA All-American at 125 lbs.
* Joe Scott: 2017 NCAA Division III National Qualifier wrestler for Washington & Lee. 2020 NCWA National Champion for Liberty.
* Bruce Shumaker: Edinboro wrestler who wrestled in two U.S. Open Trials. Head coach of Apprentice from 2008 to 2017.
* Jonovan Smith: 2024 Olympic 125 kg freestyle wrestler for Puerto Rico. 2024 National finalist at 285 lbs for Caribbean University
* Geordan Speiller: 2018 World Championships 82 kg Greco-Roman wrestler for the United States of America. 2016 165 lb national champion for Central Florida.
* Cesar Ubico: 2024 Pan-American 92 kg freestyle medalist and wrestler for Guatemala. 2024 285 lb National Champion for Utah Tech
* Cole VonOhlen: 4x NCAA Division I National Qualifier wrestler for United States Air Force Academy. 2009 141 lb National Champion for Air Force Prep.
* Bryant Wood: Model and actor. 2014 NCWA National runner-up for Grand Canyon.
* Josh "The Goods" Woods: Amateur professional wrestler signed with Ring of Honor. 4x NCWA All-American and 2011 National Champion for Central Florida.

## NCWA Gear

NCWA Gear is the official apparel of the National Collegiate Wrestling Association. Based out of Orlando, Florida, the business sells sublimated athletic apparel designed for wrestling and mixed martial arts practice and competition for both men and women of all ages. NCWA Gear also offers full customization on its products.
In 2015, USA Wrestling named NCWA Gear's Florida National Team Uniforms for Fargo as the "Best Uniform Package." Mixed martial artists Josh "The Goods" Woods and Daniel "The Animal" Martinez both wore NCWA Gear while fighting.