Columbia To Add Women’s Wrestling As 32nd Varsity Program

Columbia Press Release via the NWCA

NEW YORK — Columbia Athletics announced Wednesday that women’s wrestling will become the University’s 32nd varsity sport beginning with the 2027-28 academic year. Additionally, Campbell Family Director of Athletics Peter Pilling has appointed Emma Randall as the program’s head coach and will officially begin her role on July 1, 2026.

“Women’s wrestling has experienced tremendous growth at both the national and collegiate levels, and Columbia is proud to take this important step by becoming the first Ivy League institution to offer the sport at the varsity level,” said Pilling. “Elevating our existing club team to varsity status reflects both the momentum of the sport and Columbia’s commitment to providing opportunities for elite student-athletes to compete at the highest level.”

Women’s wrestling becomes the first varsity sport added at Columbia since men’s and women’s squash were introduced in 2007.

“I’m deeply grateful to Columbia’s leadership and alumni for their vision and commitment to women’s wrestling,” said Randall. “This moment is incredibly meaningful. It was built through years of belief, consistency and community. I want to acknowledge the student-athletes who helped lay the foundation to get us here and feel honored for the opportunity to continue leading this team into its next chapter. We’re excited to be a program that develops exceptional wrestlers, students and leaders while pursuing excellence at the highest levels of the sport.”

The growth of women’s wrestling has accelerated rapidly across the NCAA in recent years. More than 100 NCAA institutions currently sponsor women’s wrestling programs, with the sport officially recognized as an NCAA Championship sport beginning in 2025 and crowning its first champions in 2026. Columbia joins a growing list of Division I institutions making major investments in one of the fastest-growing sports in the country.

“Congratulations to Coach Emma Randall and the countless women who worked tirelessly to lay the foundation for this historic achievement,” said Kyra Tirana Barry ’87CC, who has been a driving force in elevating the program to varsity status and a former member of the women’s soccer program. “The varsity program at Columbia will provide women with the opportunity to pursue a highly competitive education while simultaneously participating in an elite wrestling program that is worthy of their ambitions.

“With gratitude for Columbia’s leadership in taking this bold step, we are hopeful that this commitment will also demonstrate to our peer institutions that varsity wrestling belongs on their campuses as well.”

The Lions will compete in Levien Gymnasium, joining one of the nation’s premier wrestling traditions. Columbia’s varsity men’s wrestling team, established in 1903, is the oldest collegiate wrestling program in the country and is coming off its first Ivy League Championship since 1982, along with the highest NCAA Championship finish in program history after placing 17th nationally this past season.

A $10 million endowment has been established to support the program’s long-term financial and operational needs.

“I couldn’t be more excited about the addition of Columbia women’s wrestling as a varsity sport,” said Columbia University Trustee Emeritus and wrestling alumnus Andrew Barth ’83CC ’85BUS. “Many of my best memories and lessons during my college years were due to being a wrestler at Columbia. I am so glad that women can now have those same opportunities and experiences.

“I want to express my gratitude to Peter Pilling and the Athletic Department for all of their efforts to make this happen. I also want to thank Claire Shipman, our administration and the Board of Trustees for approving this historic and visionary action.”

Since 2021, Randall has served as head coach of the New York City Regional Training Center women’s freestyle program while also leading the Columbia Women’s Wrestling Club. Under her leadership, Columbia’s club program rapidly developed into one of the nation’s top collegiate clubs, growing to more than 25 student-athletes annually and helping 34 wrestlers gain admission to the University.

“Emma is uniquely qualified to lead this program’s transition to the varsity level,” Pilling said. “She brings elite technical expertise necessary for Division I success. Combined with her leadership within the sport and commitment to student-athlete development, Emma will position us to become a destination program and set us up for immediate and long-term success.”

Prior to arriving at Columbia, Randall spent three years as the High School Program Director and Girls Head Coach for Beat the Streets New York City, where she led wrestling and educational programming for more than 3,000 student-athletes in underserved communities. She also previously served with USA Wrestling as the Women’s Freestyle Wrestling Assistant National Coach from 2014-18 and was a staff member for Team USA at the 2016 Olympic Games, supporting Helen Maroulis’ historic gold-medal performance, the first Olympic wrestling gold medal won by an American woman. Randall has coached at every level of international competition, including Pan American, World and Olympic Championships, and was named the 2023 National Women’s Developmental Coach of the Year.

With the addition of women’s wrestling, Columbia will sponsor 17 women’s teams and 15 men’s programs. The Lions will feature a roster of approximately 30 on their inaugural team in 2027-28.