My Future

Wrestling in college requires talent and a great deal of dedication.  For wrestlers who wish to continue competing after high school there are several options.

Attention:  High School Juniors & Seniors who are thinking about College.

I just wanted to pass on some information to all the Juniors & Seniors out there.  Every year we see talented High school wrestlers at the state tournament who for some reason have slipped through our recruiting radar.  We talk to them after the tournament and find out that some of them are even Division I eligible (3.0 GPA and 1100 SAT), an accomplishment for any Student-Athlete.  But my heart breaks when I hear that no one ever told them to fill out a FASFA.

FASFA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and is required for all students who seek consideration for federal financial aid programs.   There is substantial aide from various universities throughout the state of Illinois for those who qualify.  The deadline for FAFSA applications is March 2nd and the earliest filing period is Jan. 1st.  Reportedly, the closer you are to the Jan. 1st day, the better chances you have to receive financial aide. Before completing, compile all tax information for yourself and your parents. The web site is www.fafsa.ed.gov.   I pass on this information because there is a lot of money out there for those who need it, regardless of whether or not you are wrestling in college.  For more information about a FASFA, talk to your high school counselors, or look at the web page. Good luck to all of you, in wrestling and in life.

Earl Danan

Head Wrestling
Guerin College Preparatory High School

College Requirements for Athletes

Colleges are affiliated with associations that have their own rules, regulations and eligibility equipments.  Eligibility guidelines for NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA are outlined below.  For more detailed information, visit their Web sites.

NCAA (85 Division I, 38 Division II, and 99 Division III colleges with wrestling): Division I and II colleges can offer athletic scholarships; Division III colleges (mostly smaller, private colleges) cannot.  Before an athlete can play a sport or receive an athletic scholarship at a Division I or II college, he/she must meet the NCAA’s academic requirements.  Division III athletes do not need to meet NCAA academic requirements.

Athletes going to Division I and II colleges must have a 2.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) in a specified number of core courses.  They must also have the required SAT or ACT score.  Division II athletes must have a 68 (sum of the 4 scores) on the ACT or an 820 on the SAT.  ACT/SAT requirements for Division I eligibility are based on a sliding scale.  The higher the core GPA, the lower the test score required.  A student with a 2.0 core GPA, for example, will be required to have a much higher ACT/SAT score than a student with a 3.0 core GPA.  Division II athletes need a 2.0 GPA in their core courses and a 68 on the ACT or an 820 on the SAT.

Athletes should meet with their counselor to discuss NCAA requirements and to make sure that they’re taking the right courses.  In the spring of their junior year, athletes should take the ACT and the SAT.  Athletes must also complete the NCAA Clearinghouse Student Release Form.  This form should be completed after an athlete’s junior year.   www.ncaa.org

NAIA (23 colleges with wrestling):  NAIA colleges can award full or partial scholarships.  To play a sport or receive an athletic scholarship an athlete must have 2 of the following 3 NAIA requirements:  (1) an ACT composite score of 18 or an 860 on the SAT, (2) an overall 2.0 GPA, (3) graduate in the top half of his/her class.   www.naia.org

NJCAA (45 junior colleges with wrestling):  NJCAA Division I and II colleges can offer scholarships; Division II colleges cannot.  There are no academic eligibility requirements for athletes entering junior colleges.   www.njcaa.org

Developing Student Athletes

The wrestling coach’s job is to development athletes and to win matches.  As a parent, it is your job to monitor your wrestler’s academic progress and to encourage him to be successful in the classroom.  The following tips will help you do that.

Be Interested - Make certain that your son/daughter knows that his/her academic progress is important to you.  Attend all open houses and parent conferences.  Know when each grading period ends, and see all progress reports and report cards as soon as they come out.  Do not just assume that someone will call you if there is a problem.  If you do not see a progress report of report card, call the school and request a copy immediately.

Make Sure Your Wrestler’s Courses are Appropriate for His/her - Help your son/daughter choose his/her courses carefully.  If any of his courses are too difficult, too easy, or inappropriate, talk to his school counselor.  If your son hopes to wrestle at a Division I or Division II college, ask his counselor or the athletic office for information in NCAA guidelines, and make sure he’s taking the courses he needs to be eligible.