“Knowing there are coaches and administrators advocating for my sport, it’s really awesome to see. I now have the opportunity to continue pursuing my passion at an even higher level.”
For Agawam High School junior Gabriella Ramos, wrestling has never been just a sport. Since middle school, she has competed at the varsity level, building her experience and passion in a field where opportunities for female wrestlers have only recently begun to expand.
For Ramos, who has competed at the state and regional level, the possibility of continuing her wrestling career in college was simply a dream. Yet, as more colleges begin adding women’s wrestling programs, that dream could become a reality, and Springfield College is becoming part of that change.
For more than four decades on Alden Street, the Pride has been represented by 26 NCAA athletic programs. Football has taken the stage at Stagg Field, Blake Arena has been filled with countless basketball games, and Springfield’s men’s volleyball program has brought home national titles.
But for the first time since 1980, a new program is set to make its mark at Springfield College. As women’s wrestling becomes the newest addition to the Pride, the sport is far from new to Alden Street.
Dating back to the origin of Springfield College, wrestling has been embedded in the institution. Long before the school had an official wrestling team, the sport was a crucial part of the core curriculum. In 1915, Springfield formed its team, initiating a program that would grow to become one of the most accomplished in Division III wrestling. While the team’s first-ever meet ended in a loss to Princeton, it was a catalyst for a program defined by longevity, commitment, and success.
This history reached another milestone in 2017, when the Pride earned their 1,000th and 1,001st dual-meet victories against Thiel College and Wesleyan University. Springfield College became the first Division III institution to reach this incredible feat.
More than a century after the team first took the mat, Springfield wrestling is entering a brand-new chapter.
In late July, the college revealed that women’s wrestling would join the Pride, bringing a new opportunity for female athletes to compete at the NCAA level. The program will begin competition in the 2027-28 academic year and is the first new varsity program added to Springfield College Athletics in 46 years.
The timing comes as women’s wrestling continues to grow at both the high school and collegiate levels. In January 2025, the NCAA also added women’s wrestling as its 91st championship sport. Springfield will be one of three schools in Massachusetts to establish a women’s program, along with Western New England University and Emmanuel College.
“I am thrilled that we are adding women’s wrestling to our portfolio of athletic teams,” said Springfield College President Mary-Beth Cooper. “This will provide the same opportunities for female wrestlers as their male counterparts.”
To Springfield College Executive Director of Athletics Dr. Craig Poisson, the addition is more than simply expanding the list of offered programs. He sees it as another way to strengthen the community that is Springfield College Athletics.
“When you add anything to what I hope is already considered to be a strong culture, the community just gets stronger, the culture gets stronger,” Poisson said.
The establishment of women’s wrestling also directly aligns with Springfield College’s strategic plan, which Poisson said touches the school’s five pillars: student experience and culture, recruiting and maintaining facility and staff, curricular and co-curricular opportunities and campus infrastructure and financial sustainability.
While the department is in the midst of the process that includes interviewing candidates, reaching out to prospective students and extensive planning, Poisson believes those efforts will be well worth it.
The focus now shifts from announcing the program to building its roster, establishing its culture and preparing for its inaugural season.
“We’re hoping to find students across the country that want to continue their high school wrestling with a little Humanics touch,” Poisson said. “It’s the next natural iteration to play off of the strong legacy and the strong foundation… I think it’s just going to add to the legacy and the strength of Springfield College wrestling.”
Jason Holder, who has been at the helm of this history for the past 15 years as the men’s wrestling head coach, said the addition of women’s wrestling represents another step in the legacy and evolution of the program.
“It’s a dynamic process,” said Holder. “You have to continue to stay on top of keeping a positive culture and doing the best that we can do to help these student-athletes who come to Springfield College and help them to accomplish their goals.”
A 2025 inductee into the New England Wrestling Association Hall of Fame, Holder led the Pride to their first NCAA Region I title in program history and was named the National Wrestling Coaches Association Region I Coach of the Year.
The sport continues to grow exponentially at the high school level, and Poisson believes Springfield has the opportunity to provide an important next step for athletes, such as Ramos, who are looking to carry on their passion during their undergraduate careers.
“I hope there are some local people. I hope there are some regional young competitors in high school, and I hope nationally that they find their way to Springfield,” Poisson said. “Let’s get them here and show them all the Humanics.”