SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio - Notre Dame College will offer wrestling during the 2006-07 academic year. The new offering will give Notre Dame's athletic program a total of 17 varsity teams, each affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The addition will compete within the winter sports season along with men's and women's basketball.

"The decision to add wrestling was a very logical one for the College," said NDC Director of Athletics Sue Hlavacek.

According to the 2004-05 National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), wrestling was the sixth most popular boys sport in the country with 243,009 male participants. With the addition, Notre Dame College will offer five of the top six most popular boys programs.

"Wrestling is very popular in Ohio," said Hlavacek, "especially in the northeast. Notre Dame is looking to offer those talented student-athletes a way to continue their participation at the collegiate level, while at the same time offering them an opportunity to receive a quality education." 

In the sport of wrestling, Ohio has 249 high schools that participate in the sport, according to figures tallied by the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA). 

Scholarships are available to student-athletes interested in participating in any of Notre Dame's athletic programs.