CASTINE,  Maine – Maine Maritime Academy Men's Wrestling will join the New England Wrestling Association (NEWA) beginning with the 2024-2025 academic year, the Academy's first season competing at the NCAA Division III level.
 
"On behalf of the executive board of the New England Wrestling Association (NEWA) and all the members of the league, we are excited to welcome Maine Maritime Academy as a full-fledged member of the conference at the start of the 2024-2025 academic year," said NEWA President, Mike Sugermeyer. "We are extremely excited to welcome Maine Maritime Academy as the 17th member of the NEWA and the second NCAA DIII Men's Wrestling program in the state of Maine."
 
Maine Maritime joins the University of Southern Maine, the state's only other intercollegiate wrestling program, as well as Bridgewater State, Coast Guard Academy, Johnson & Wales, New England College, Norwich, Plymouth State, Rhode Island College, Roger Williams, Springfield, Trinity, Vermont State-Castleton, Wesleyan, Western New England, Williams, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute. 
 
"We are very excited to be joining NEWA," said Mariners Head Coach, Lance Moore. "As a program that will be moving to the NCAA Division III level in 2024, this is a huge step for competing, scheduling, and getting recognition for our wrestlers."
 
Wrestling is part of the sports tradition at the Academy. Maine Maritime fielded a varsity-level men's wrestling team from 1967 to 1979. Wrestling resumed at the club level in Castine during the 2018-2019 academic year, competing in the National Collegiate Wrestling Association (NCWA). The program will continue in the NCWA for one more year before moving to NCAA competition in the 2024-2025 season. The Mariners finished in 20^th place out of 73 teams competing at the 2023 NCWA National Championships.
 
"I am incredibly excited for our wrestlers to have the opportunity to compete in the New England Wrestling Association," said Maine Maritime Director of Athletics, Steve Peed. "There are great programs and opportunities to compete inside of the Association, and being welcomed into the circle is another significant waypoint on our journey to establish ourselves on the New England and Division III scene."
 
The 2023-2024 schedule will feature several NCAA opponents, including several NEWA members in both dual met and tournament competition.  
 
"The NEWA is a very prestigious conference, so we are honored to be a part of it," said Moore. "Thank you to President Sugermeyer and the rest of the NEWA for voting us in, and we look forward to competing alongside the rest of the conference for the 2024-2025 season."
 
The Mariners open the 2023-2024 season at home on Saturday, November 4 with a tri-meet hosting the University of Maine and the University of New Hampshire teams.