Grand View Women’s Wrestling Makes History on Iowa PBS

by Bryon Houlgrave

Grand View University introduced its women’s wrestling program in the fall of 2019 and quickly began stacking up honors and awards, despite that first season being cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. By the end of the program’s second season, the Vikings were the Heart of America Conference champions. In fact, they haven’t not been conference champions since then. 

On Tuesday, Feb. 11, the Vikings will host William Penn University at Dave Sisam Arena in Des Moines. The meet will be broadcast live with us on air statewide and livestreamed on YouTube and on our College Wrestling site. It will be the first time Iowa PBS, which has a long history of carrying wrestling coverage, will air a women’s meet. 

Currently the Vikings are ranked No. 2 nationally in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics behind Life University, a Georgia-based chiropractic and holistic health institute. William Penn, found in Oskaloosa, is currently ranked No. 6. 

“These are both really good teams, among the top in the country in NIAI,” said Jim Miller, a broadcaster for Iowa PBS Sports. “You’re going to see some quality women’s wrestling that night on TV.”

Individually, Grand View’s Olivia Brown is ranked No. 1 nationally at 207 pounds. 

While the program has exploded to the top pretty much since the mats were installed, Grand View isn’t the first college or university in the state to introduce women’s wrestling. Not even by a long shot. That distinction belongs to Waldorf University, a small private school in the northern Iowa town of Forest City. Waldorf introduced women’s wrestling in 2010. The University of Iowa was the first NCAA power five school in the state to offer women’s wrestling when its program began in 2021.

“Our women and girls have just exploded in Iowa and across the country,” Miller said. “Women’s wrestling is the fastest growing sport in America.”