There are fewer scholarships for wrestling than there are for sports such as football, basketball and baseball. This can make it very difficult for a high school athlete to get a wrestling scholarship.

A student interested in getting athletic scholarships will likely be expected to meet certain basic requirements. A student should be ranked in the top 25 for his weight and class. In addition, he needs experience competing in state championships.

To receive serious consideration, a high school athlete should also win a number of school tournaments and participate in summer tournaments. He needs to be a starting wrestler on the school's varsity team.

Having athletic skills alone is often not enough. Many wrestling scholarships are provided by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The NCAA has certain academic standards, and a student with poor grades will not likely meet the eligibility requirements.

A student's character is also taken into consideration during recruitment. College coaches do not want athletes who exhibit behavioral problems. When an athlete displays negative behavior, it reflects poorly on the entire team. In addition, coaches have to waste valuable time dealing with individual team member's behavioral issues. Therefore, they will not likely take a player who is displaying negative behavior in high school.

Financial need also plays a role in getting a scholarship. A qualified student who shows financial need may receive money for college before an equally qualified student who does not have a need for financial assistance.

Even when players meet the above qualifications, they may still have difficulty earning a scholarship. Recruiters are usually only aware of the very best high school wrestlers in the country. Coaches do not have time or funding to travel the country looking for talent. Therefore, high school students who are not well known nationally will have to put forth a great deal of effort to get the attention of college coaches.

One way to get coaches' and recruiters' attention is by attending wrestling camps. Athletes can also post athletic profiles online that are available for recruiters to view.

They should research colleges that interest them and send information to the coaches. Students can send videos of their wrestling performances as well as information about their academic standing. Athletes should visit schools of interest in order to meet with coaching staff to determine if they are a good fit for the school's wrestling team.

Students should not become discouraged or give up if they are not recruited. There are other possible types of funding available. Community organizations and even professional wrestlers have scholarships for which students may qualify.