Guilford College is set to make history this Friday as the Quakers host their first-ever home wrestling meet in Alumni Gym. Guilford will face UNC Charlotte and the University of South Carolina at 1 p.m., marking a major milestone for a program that has grown from a one-person club to an emerging athletic presence on campus.
For senior Jacie Livengood, the meet is more than just a competition—it’s the realization of years of determination and belief in what Guilford wrestling could become.
“It feels amazing!” Livengood said. “Having been the sole founding member, it’s very empowering to see how far this club has come since its inception at the end of my freshman year.”
When Livengood started the club, interest was minimal. Practices went unattended, and hosting an official meet felt like a distant dream.
“The program went from being only me and our club advisor at empty interest meetings and no-show practices,” she said. “The hiring of our head coach this January gave me hope for this program to grow, and sure enough, here we are with our first home match against major universities.”
Although only two Guilford wrestlers will compete on Friday, the team remains focused on long-term goals.
“We have a hopeful and developmental mindset going into this weekend,” Livengood said. “There will only be two competitors for this match, which is unfortunate, but both of us understand that we’re training for the long-term goal of Regionals and Nationals.”
The club now has eight members—a significant improvement from its beginnings. Livengood said she is especially proud of the progress made by the team’s freshmen.
“Despite only two members competing in this match, the club is made up of eight students,” she said. “I am very proud of how far our freshmen members have come and I look forward to seeing them compete in the next meet.”
Support from the Greensboro wrestling community has played a key role in helping the growing program. The mats being used for Friday’s meet were loaned to the team by Grimsley High School Wrestling.
“I’d also like to note that this event wouldn’t have been possible without the Greensboro wrestling community,” Livengood said. “The competition mats we will be using were lent to us by Grimsley High School Wrestling.”
Still, recruiting competitive wrestlers remains the team’s biggest challenge.
“The biggest challenge this year has been finding students willing to wrestle and compete,” she said. “We have a lot of intramural members currently, and we hope that this event encourages more students to join and represent Guilford.”
Looking ahead, Livengood hopes Friday’s event will help the program gain more recognition and institutional backing.
“I hope this meet brings attention to our club and rallies support from Guilford College Athletics,” she said. “We’re a small team this year, but with proper recruiting support, we can make wrestling into a retention tool for our school. I hope the school comes to see the value in this program.”
As Guilford prepares to host its first home wrestling meet, the pride surrounding the team is unmistakable. What began with one student has become a program with heart, purpose and growing potential—and Friday marks only the beginning.
“This meet isn’t just about wrestling,” Livengood said. “It’s about showing what we’ve built—and what’s still to come.”
