In the outskirts of Chicago, an impressive transformation has taken root at North Central College in Naperville, where the women's wrestling program is pinning down success with unwavering rigor. From an initial roster of nine, the program has surged to a prodigious squad of 55, now the NCAA's bulkiest women's wrestling team. Joe Norton, a former North Central wrestler and then-graduate assistant coach, got the ball rolling in 2019 with an idea that swiftly roped him into the head coach position, per his reflection to CBS News.
Norton's team is not just another set of athletes; they are the grinding gears behind North Central's burgeoning reputation as a collegiate sports hub. The Cardinals captured their glory last year by clinching the national championship in an astonishing four years time – a record break to beat. According to the Chicago Tribune, Norton, who also assists the men's team, has managed to quickly build an athletic behemoth eager to ever expand their trophy case.
Amidst the growth of college women's wrestling nationwide, with its participant numbers leaping impressively from 935 to a brawny 2,641 in just five years, North Central College leads the charge. Their ambition shines through not just in numbers but in decorum: 21 All-Americans artists of the mat proudly call North Central home, boasting remarkable transformations. Norton described the systemic improvement, explaining athletes "weren't even nationally ranked when they got here, then they're All-American," as shared to CBS News.
The Cardinals' comet-like ascent has made North Central an undeniable magnet, with wrestlers from as far as Alaska and Texas joining forces. Several of these athletes, as per the reports, have even shrugged off full-ride scholarships elsewhere simply to up and join the fever at North Central. "I just found myself really enjoying it," said Norton, whose casual proposal rapidly spawned into a division-dominating phenomenon.
Roster depth isn't this team's only accolade. An impressive six Cardinals are slated to compete in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials at Penn State next month. But as Norton sagely recognizes, they're wrangling with more than just state and national championships; they're shaping the future of the sport as it battles for official recognition.
With the NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics pushing for championship status, the dream Norton sold in 2019 is fast becoming a well-earned reality. It won't be long before powerhouses like North Central might have to face off against NCAA-acknowledged teams. As the first potential championship could roll out in 2026, North Central is poised to claim its spot as a lasting D-III powerhouse, according to Norton's strategy, which he backed up in a candid revelation to the Chicago Tribune. Yet for the time being, the spotlight is theirs to bask in, and North Central College is not just participating—they're setting the pace.
