Tarleton State’s wrestling program continues growth

BY KELLAN BYARS

Multimedia Journalist

Wrestling might be the oldest sport in the world, but at Tarleton State University, it’s the newest fight for recognition.

In just its second year, the program already owns a women’s national title and three men’s individual champions. What it doesn’t own, yet, is the spotlight.

Tarleton’s Wrestling Club made its debut in 2024 with the completion of a $1.2 million facility. The team started its season in the NCWA category and couldn’t wait to get on the mat.

What no one expected was the success on the docket for the team. Each athlete fought through blood, sweat and tears, and it paid off. The women’s team won the NCWA Championship and the men’s team finished a strong third place.

The women’s team was a lineup of only freshmen, but they came home with a national title, seven All-Americans and four athletes in the top three of their weight class.

Freshman Rachel Corley dominated the mat at Nationals and came home with the 110-pound weight-class title.

The men’s team may not have come home with a national crown, but they tied for the number of individual championships, with three athletes—Zach Espalin, Zeke Liescheski and Kolby Kidd—winning their class. Tarleton’s men’s team also came home with 10 All-American athletes.

Returning wrestler Daniela Martinez explained that the team’s environment on and off the mat was what made them so successful.

“Achieving something like that as a first-year team full of freshmen was really cool. It was good to get to prove the people who doubted us wrong,” Martinez said.

The culture is what truly sets this team apart. Nicholas Egbalic, a junior this season, expressed that the continuous success of the program leads right back to the community each athlete has found within the team.

“Every moment I get better makes me proud. Taking down Zach (Espalin) or getting a shot in on the coaches makes it fun,” Egbalic said. “My goal is to be an All-American athlete this season, but more than that, I want to be better than I was last year. I don’t come in trying to win. I come in trying to get better.”

This season is looking promising for the Texan wrestlers. The team has several returning athletes, as well as a crew of freshmen and some transfers. Jennifer Soto, a transfer from King University, is competing for Tarleton this year and will be a real asset for the lineup.

“I wanted to see what was happening here. I wanted to see the culture built here and see it succeed,” Soto said.

The upcoming season is more important than ever, as Tarleton’s wrestling program is fighting to be the first NCAA wrestling team in Texas history. They are working harder than ever, in-season and offseason, to become better than they were yesterday, and the future looks promising.

Yet, the team’s biggest asset might be its attitude. Freshman Kingston Charles captures it best.

“If you want to be a great athlete, you’re going to make it happen. If you want to be the best, you’ll put in the best work,”  Charles said.

For a young program still fighting for the spotlight, that relentless mindset may be what carries the Texans from an overlooked upstart to an established powerhouse.