Spring Arbor University Athletics has announced the addition of men's wrestling and women's flag football as varsity sports beginning in the 2027-28 academic year. The men's wrestling program will begin competition during the winter of 2027-28, while women's flag football will debut in spring 2028. 

With the addition of men’s wrestling and women’s flag football, Spring Arbor University will expand its athletic offerings to 23 scholarship-supported sports, creating new opportunities for student-athletes to pursue competitive athletics alongside an education grounded in the university’s Christ-centered mission.

 “We are incredibly excited to welcome Women’s Flag Football and Men’s Wrestling to the Spring Arbor University athletic department,” shared SAU Athletic Director Ryan Marken. “The addition of these two sports represents an exciting step forward in the growth of our department and creates new opportunities for student-athletes to be part of the SAU community.” 

“While we look forward to the competitive opportunities these programs will bring, what excites us most is the opportunity to invest in more young men and women, build meaningful relationships, and impact lives for Jesus Christ,” added Corey Ross, Chief of Staff at Spring Arbor. “We believe athletics is another mission field, and we look forward to seeing how God uses these programs, our coaches, and our student-athletes to make an eternal impact.”

The men's wrestling program will seek membership in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC), which currently features six men's wrestling programs. Nationally, more than 70 NAIA institutions sponsor men's wrestling.

Women's flag football will compete as an independent program when it begins its inaugural season in spring 2028, joining a rapidly expanding collegiate sport.

In June 2026, the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) officially approved women's flag football as its 30th championship sport, elevating it from invitational status. The sport's inaugural NAIA National Championship is scheduled for spring 2027.

The NAIA first recognized women's flag football as an emerging sport in 2021 through a partnership with the National Football League (NFL). Since then, the sport has continued to expand at the collegiate level, with approximately 60 NAIA institutions expected to sponsor women's flag football during the 2026-27 academic year.

A search for head coaches to lead both programs is currently underway.

Prospective student-athletes interested in joining the men's wrestling or women's flag football programs are encouraged to complete SAU’s Athletic Recruitment Form at saucougars.com.