In the United States, wrestling is an important sport at high schools and universities. Collegiate wrestling is the form of wrestling practiced at the university level. It is also called College wrestling or Folkstyle wrestling to distinguish it from other forms of wrestling. The National Collegiate Wrestling Association (NCWA) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) are the two main organizations in America that organize competitions across the country. The wrestling practiced at high schools in the United States is called ‘scholastic wrestling.’ It differs from collegiate wrestling and has its own rules.
Levels of Collegiate Wrestling
For wrestlers, it is important to gain experience at the school level. Collegiate wrestling differs significantly from forms like ‘professional’ and ‘international’ wrestling. The focus in this style is more on controlling the opponent than on explosive action. The rules also differ from other forms of wrestling. For example, in collegiate wrestling, it is not allowed to throw your opponent to prevent injuries.
The length of the rounds is also different from other wrestling styles. The first round lasts three minutes, while the second and third rounds last two minutes each. ‘Riding time’ is a unique rule in college wrestling. This means that if a wrestler spends more than a minute in the top position, they receive an extra point.
Many college-level wrestlers dream of moving on to professional wrestling. This is not easy because the rules differ and the level of professional wrestling is very high. Still, college wrestling is a good springboard and an excellent platform for young wrestlers to showcase their skills. The truly talented wrestlers are scouted at this level for the national teams.
