Grays Harbor College to add women's wrestling

Grays Harbor College has added Women's Wrestling to the athletic department's lineup of programs. The program will start the fall quarter of the 2016-2017 school year. Grays Harbor is the only community college in the state of Washington to offer a women's wrestling team and is the 2nd junior college to offer it in the entire nation, the other, Southwestern Oregon College in Coos Bay Oregon. The Chokers will compete in both the WCWA (Women's Collegiate Wrestling Association) and the NWCA (National Collegiate Wrestling Association). The WCWA is the current governing body for all the collegiate wrestling programs at NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA institutions. The WCWA competes in freestyle Olympic Wrestling. the weight classes included are 101, 109, 116, 123, 130, 136, 143, 155, 170, and 191.

According to the NWCA website, there are 9 NCAA DII or DIII schools in the country, 14 DI-DIII club teams, and 18 NAIA schools with a women's program. Washington is one of only 6 states in the US with a womens high school state championship tournament.

The Chokers have tapped veteran coach Andrew Cook as its interim head coach. Andy is the director/head coach of the Vandit Wrestling Academy. This past season Andy was the head wrestling coach at Mt Vernon High School.

As an athlete, Andrew is a three time high school state champion and two time All American, making the ASICS All American Team in 1996. In freestyle and Greco roman wrestling he was a fifteen time state champion. He attended the University of Tennessee Chattanooga and North Idaho College achieving All Conference Honors in 1997 at 126 lbs. With his career being cut short due to injury, he started his coaching career in 1999.

In Andrew's fifteen years of coaching he has produced one four time high school state champion, 9 three time high school state champions, and over 30 one time state champs. In freestyle and Greco roman he has coached over 26 national champions and over 50 All Americans.

Over the past few years Andrew has accumulated recognition from USA Wrestling as the Western Developmental Coach of the Year and finalist for National Coach of the Year. In 2014 he earned a spot as apprentice coach for the United States World Wrestling Team taking him to Uzbekistan. His academy is currently the reigning state champion in folkstyle and Greco roman with a runner up finish in freestyle.

Andrew is excited about the possibilities with this program. "As the new head coach for the brand new GHC women's wrestling program, I am going to set some lofty goals! I feel that we can immediately compete for a National Championship and set the tone for future Lady Chokers. With the opportunity for our women to compete in the international style, I feel we will immediately be in the mix for placing our athletes on future US World amd Olympic Teams. This ground breaking program will be in the fore front of women's college wrestling in the USA.." "I know GHC is a community college, but with the school adding a couple of 4 year programs as well, I see this an opportunity for some of our student-athletes to complete all 4 years of their collegiate career right here."

The Athletic Department is fortunate to have Andrew on board to help jumpstart this program. If you have questions about the program feel free to email Andrew at vanditwa@gmail.com or email Athletics@ghc.edu.

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Grays Harbor College to add women's wrestling

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