BETHLEHEM, PA – The Northampton Community College (NCC) Department of Athletics has announced the addition of men’s and women’s intercollegiate wrestling, set to begin competition in the fall of 2024. NCC wrestling will become the NJCAA’s (National Junior College Athletic Association) 3rd men’s program and 2nd women’s program in the state of Pennsylvania.

With the addition of the two wrestling programs, the college will now sponsor nine intercollegiate sports, beginning in the 2024-25 academic year. Those sponsored are men’s soccer, women’s volleyball, men’s volleyball, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, baseball, softball, men’s wrestling and women’s wrestling.

“We are extremely excited to launch men’s and women’s wrestling at NCC,” stated Director of Athletics, Troy Tucker. “I believe it is a natural fit for the college given the strength of high school wrestling in the Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas. I think we can be competitive on a national level very quickly.”

The NJCAA currently sponsors 58 men’s wrestling programs and 23 women’s programs. The Spartan men’s team will compete in Region 19 and the NJCAA Gulf Atlantic District along with dual meets and invitational tournaments. The women’s team will compete with an independent schedule, including dual meets and invitational tournaments. Both squads will have the opportunity to qualify for the NJCAA National Championships in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

In 2023, the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) sanctioned girls wrestling and now has over 180 teams. The PIAA also sponsors 472 boys’ programs, with 42 of those teams located in District XI, which includes the NCC service area.

The search for a head coach will begin immediately, with the goal of a successful candidate in place by April to begin recruiting for the Fall.

About Northampton Community College

With an enduring commitment to the regional community it serves and a focus on student success, Northampton Community College has developed a reputation as an institution of extraordinary distinction, earning accolades at the state and national levels for innovative programs, outstanding faculty and impressive student achievements. It counts among its successful alumni a four-time Pulitzer Prize winner and an Academy Award winning director as well as a host of CEOs, presidents, and leaders of business and industry. Today, Northampton Community College has locations in Bethlehem, Southside Bethlehem, and Monroe County, serving 30,000 students each year from 53 counties, 42 countries and 25 states. For more information, or to apply, please visit www.northampton.edu. Follow NCC’s President on Twitter @NCCPresDaveRuth, and follow the College on TikTok @NorthamptonCC and on Instagram @NorthamptonCommCollege. Like us on Facebook at Northampton Community College.