October 2, 2025
Story by Barton Communications
The Barton Community College Board of Trustees voted unanimously at its September meeting to approve the launch of a women’s wrestling program, set to begin competition in the 2026-2027 academic year.
With this addition, Barton’s nationally recognized athletic lineup now features a total of 23 programs, reflecting the college’s ongoing commitment to expanding opportunities for student-athletes and responding to the growing popularity of women’s wrestling across the state of Kansas.
Barton Athletic Director Trevor Rolfs said the timing is ideal given the sport’s momentum at the high school level.
“With the growth and popularity of women’s wrestling in the state of Kansas at the KSHSAA level, it makes perfect sense to expand on our athletic programming here at Barton by adding the sport,” he said. “With an exceptional men’s wrestling program already in place, and the chance to add opportunity for young women in Kansas to continue their wrestling careers at the collegiate level, I am very excited about this endeavor.”
The new program is expected to increase full-time student enrollment by 20 to 30 students, generating additional in-state credit hours and expanding Barton’s reach within its service area. Barton joins a growing number of community colleges and universities in Kansas that have embraced women’s wrestling. The sport has seen exponential growth since its official recognition by the Kansas State High School Activities Association in 2019.
Head Wrestling Coach Nathan Broeckelman, who helped usher in women’s wrestling at the high school level, said he’s eager to build a program that includes both men’s and women’s teams.
“I am looking forward to continuing to build a wrestling program here at Barton that will now involve the women’s side,” he said. “I got to see firsthand the unique side of women’s wrestling when it became an official KSHSAA sport. College women’s wrestling is on another level, as they compete in freestyle instead of the traditional folkstyle used on the men’s side. I believe this, coupled with our growing men’s squad, marks the beginning of a new wrestling era at Barton Community College.”
Recruitment for the inaugural women’s team will begin in the coming months, with the program ready to offer new opportunities for high school athletes across Kansas who wish to compete at the collegiate level.
Interested athletes are encouraged to complete the prospective athlete form at bartonsports.com or contact Coach Broeckelman at (620) 786-1157 or broeckelman@bartonccc.edu.