The National Wrestling Coaches Association website lists all of the junior college programs that offer wrestling.
There are 58 participants from 20 different states who offer the sport.
Perhaps a Texas program could join the list.
Frank Phillips College in Borger is exploring adding the sport for the 2026-27 school year, which could be an ideal time for seniors who just wrapped up their careers to have a way to continue wrestling at the next level.
Mario Vasquez, the head wrestling coach at Borger, just emailed the junior college athletic administration.
He noticed that the junior college offered many sports, including basketball, volleyball, baseball, rodeo, and softball.
He emailed Gerald Ewing, who doubles as the women’s basketball coach.
“You know, with how rich the Panhandle is at wrestling already and just how rich wrestling is in Texas, I had been thinking about it,” Vasquez said. “I took a chance and emailed him (Ewing) and the president. Just showed them the numbers that could be recruited, how affordable it is and just the scheduling (options).”
The leaders were receptive to the idea and started looking into it.
In May of 2025, Carl Albert State College in Poteau, Oklahoma, started a wrestling program for men’s and women’s teams. It became the second school in the state to have the sport.
While there were plenty of Oklahoma wrestlers to bring into the program, the CASC program also recruited from Arkansas, North Carolina, Kansas, Utah, New Mexico, Florida, and Texas.
The Frank Phillips College leaders spoke with Carl Albert’s administration about how it works and what it looks like.
Vasquez said he hopes there is enough interest that the college would add the sport.
There is a Google Form available for wrestlers in 9th-12th grade to express interest in wrestling at the next level. It also asks what school they wrestled for in high school.
Vasquez said there will be a presentation to the Board of Regents on March 30.
He hopes to get interest from all parts of the Lone Star State — especially given the limited number of college wrestling opportunities. Vasquez said the school would be in NJCAA Division 1 and would offer 10 scholarships for each team, if approved.
He said that, given the location, north of Amarillo, the school could bring in wrestlers for various reasons. The talent is deep in West Texas from Lubbock to El Paso. About 5 hours away, Allen, Southlake Carroll, Melissa, and Azle all brought home trophies this year at the UIL State Championships.
The Oklahoma panhandle, New Mexico, Colorado and Kansas high schools would be only a couple of hours away.
The goal?
Turn in a list of 100 kids who are interested in becoming a Plainsmen or Lady Plainsmen.
“I’m so passionate about Texas wrestling and the way it keeps evolving and becoming what we need it to become,” he said. “This could provide a chance for a kid that maybe didn’t develop in high school or didn’t have the proper training or whatever the case may be; or maybe they started late and they want another year or two to develop. They might end up going to Division I or Division II or Division III or NAIA. Whatever the case may be. But giving them the opportunity is what I’m the most passionate about.”
