OSHKOSH, Wis. — The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh is offering women's wrestling for the first time in its program history.
What You Need To Know
- UWO's first women's wrestling competition will be at the UW- Stevens Point, Pointer Open
- The team is made up of one junior and the rest are freshmen
- Coach Jared Costa has spent seven years as a wrestling coach, but it's his first time as head coach
- Savannah Danielson, who is on the team, competed against boys and girls growing up
Savannah Danielson has been wrestling for over a decade. She competed in the boy’s division as a freshman at Wausau West High School. That’s because the girls didn’t have a division of their own.
She said when she heard the Oshkosh Titans were starting a women’s wrestling program, she wanted to be a part of it.
“I feel like the practices are definitely different from high school,” said Danielson. “There is more push to you and to the team. You just got to push past your mindset. Everything’s in your mindset. So if you can just push past that, then you’ll be okay. And just to keep fighting, keep going.”
Danielson is a two-time state silver medalist. She calls her style “aggressive” and “funky.” As one of the most experienced on the Titans’ roster, Danielson said she tries to share her wrestling knowledge with her new teammates.
“I think that being a family and bonding and connecting all together is very important, especially on this girls’ team,” said Danielson. “Moving forward, we can just lean on each other if we’re struggling with something either wrestling related or life related. So, I feel like that’s very important.”
Jared Costa is in his seventh year as a wrestling coach, but this is his first time as a head coach. He has put together a team of 20 athletes from nine different states.
Costa said his ultimate goal is for his team to win a national title. But he said he has reasonable expectations heading into their first-ever competition.
“As long as we leave that tournament knowing we tried our absolute hardest, we worked really hard, and we competed, and we had pride,” said Costa. “When we go home at night and we can look in the mirror and say, I gave my 100% effort — that’s the goal for the tournament.”
Although Danielson wrestled competitively in high school, she said she still is nervous heading into her first collegiate event.
“All I got to say is keep going, keep going, keep going,” said Danielson. “You only get one more, one more… just trying to get the best reps in and staying consistent and good with your technique. Because when you get sloppy, then that’s just starting to go downhill.”
The Titans will compete in a tournament for the first time on Nov. 2 at the UW-Stevens Point, Pointer Open.