Women’s wrestling, one of the fastest-growing sports in the NCAA, will become Columbia University’s 32nd varsity sport beginning for the 2027-28 academic year. Under a unique agreement — known as the Columbia-Barnard Athletic Consortium — Barnard students and the undergraduate divisions of Columbia University compete together as members of university-wide athletic teams. The Consortium allows Barnard to be the only women’s college competing in NCAA Division I Athletics.
“Elevating our existing club team to varsity status reflects both the momentum of the sport and Columbia’s commitment to providing opportunities for elite student-athletes to compete at the highest level,” Campbell Family Director of Athletics Peter Pilling said.
Emma Randall, who led the program to a National Runner-Up title at Club Nationals for the 2025-2026 academic year, began her official role as the program’s head coach on July 1.
“This moment is incredibly meaningful. It was built through years of belief, consistency and community,” Randall said shortly after the announcement. “I want to acknowledge the student-athletes who helped lay the foundation to get us here and feel honored for the opportunity to continue leading this team into its next chapter.”
“We’re excited to be a program that develops exceptional wrestlers, students and leaders while pursuing excellence at the highest levels of the sport,” she added.
Going into the 2026-2027 academic year, there are at least 11 Barnard players on the team. While varsity status won’t take effect until the 2027-2028 academic year, the program already has over 35 potential returners and incoming student athletes for Fall 2026.
The team received a $10 million endowment to support the program’s longterm financial and operational needs. With the varsity status, the team will have access to a varsity weightroom, athletic trainers, sports rehab, and more.
“I couldn’t be more excited about the addition of Columbia women’s wrestling as a varsity sport,” said Columbia University Trustee Emeritus and wrestling alumnus Andrew Barth ’83CC ’85BUS. “Many of my best memories and lessons during my college years were due to being a wrestler at Columbia. I am so glad that women can now have those same opportunities and experiences."
“This is a historic moment for Barnard and for women in sports at large,” President Laura Ann Rosenbury said. “Barnard is proud to be the only women’s college with Division I Athletics, to have students competing on 13 teams, and to provide a world-class academic experience. This new chapter for women’s wrestling is exactly what Barnard is about: rising beyond boldness and moving fearlessly into the future. We look forward to having even more Barnard students join this growing team."
The announcement comes on the heels of a successful athletic season, with the recruitment of Barnard athletes on the upswing. The team wrapped its fifth season this year with a victory over an NCAA Division III program and across eight regular-season tournaments posted 15 placewinners, seven individual champions, and a 59% win rate.
“Today’s an important milestone, but it’s not our destination. It’s the beginning of our next chapter,” Randall said on June 15 during a news conference. “We’re excited to continue building something worthy of Columbia University and the women who choose to call this program home.”
Emili Lok ’29, said she’s proud to be part of a legacy.
“I cannot wrap my head around the fact that I’m part of history right now,” Lok said. “To imagine that years and years from now there will be girls who only knew of Columbia women’s wrestling as a varsity sport, who view it as something certain when it was something we were scared to jinx the odds of, is so amazing.”
For Eleanor DeHoog ’28 being able to attend Barnard and participate in varsity sports allows her to get the best of both worlds. “Coming to Barnard was a huge dream of mine and I wasn’t willing to sacrifice my athletics to be a part of this school and to have a team that I so very much am excited to be a part of finally reach varsity status, is huge,” DeHoog said.
The varsity Lions will compete in the Francis S. Levien Gymnasium, located inside of the Marcellus Hartley Dodge Physical Fitness Center, with the inaugural 2027-28 team expected to feature a roster of approximately 30.
Published in the Summer 2026 issue of Barnard Magazine with the headline "Columbia University Women’s Wrestling, Featuring 11 Barnard students to Become a Varsity Sport."