Inside Arcadia’s New Wrestling Programs

When Arcadia's men's and women's wrestling teams begin competing in fall 2025, they will be the 21st Division III men's program in the state of Pennsylvania and the seventh women's program.

We asked Michael Childs, head coach of the women's team, and David Stevens, head coach of the men's team, to give us a little more information about the first-year programs.

This Q&A has been edited for clarity.

Please share with us a bit about your background and what led you to become the head coach of Arcadia's first women's wrestling team

MC: I grew up in the sport. My Dad, Jack Childs, was the head coach at Drexel University for 35 years. My uncle was a multiple time Pennsylvania state champ and an All-American at Penn State. Wrestling, as my mom calls it, "is the family business." I started wrestling at the age of 6 and continued competing through college. My college career was definitely frustrating, with three shoulder operations essentially ending my competitive career. But, that led me to coaching.

I coached locally at the high school level for seven years, four of those right down the road at Springfield Township High School. After that, I coached for a year in Glasgow, Scotland, at an MMA gym. Teaching fighters how to wrestle in an amazing city is one of my favorite memories. After grad school at Penn State, I spent six years as an assistant at the Division 1 level at Davidson College in North Carolina and Franklin & Marshall College in Pennsylvania.

After spending time as a stay-at-home dad, I still had a passion for the sport and jumped at the chance to join the coaching staff at Ursinus College. I spent five seasons there and we accomplished a lot. During my fourth season, Ursinus added their women's program and I was asked to be an assistant for that team as well.

When Arcadia announced that they were adding men's and women's wrestling, I threw my hat into the ring. I was at a point in my life personally and professionally where I felt I was more than capable of building a program. I talked it over with my wife, who is well aware of the demands of a head coach, to be sure she was on board. With her decision to be our biggest supporter, I accepted the position and almost six months later, here we are.

DS: I've always had a deep love for the sport of wrestling, though my journey began a bit later than most. I didn't start wrestling until closer to high school, which made me a latecomer compared to many of my peers. But once I stepped onto the mat, I was completely hooked. Wrestling grabbed hold of me, and from that moment, I gave it everything I had. My passion for the sport quickly grew, and so did my desire to help others achieve their goals. I was fortunate to have amazing people in my life who guided and supported me, and I wanted to pay that forward.

In my senior year of high school, I had the opportunity to coach the youth program alongside my head coach. That experience was eye-opening and sparked my interest in coaching. From then on, I knew coaching was my future. While I initially envisioned myself coaching at the high school level, my success in college and the personal growth I experienced made me realize that I was capable of much more. I saw that I could not only be a college coach but a successful one, and that became my driving goal.

Becoming the head coach at Arcadia University has truly been a blessing. Not only is this an incredible opportunity to start a program from scratch, but Arcadia is close to home for me, and family is a huge part of my life. Being able to build a program near where I grew up, while staying close to the people who mean the most to me, is something I couldn't have even dreamed of. It's a perfect fit both personally and professionally.

What excites you most about building a wrestling program from the ground up?

MC: There's a lot to consider when building a program. For me, the number one thing is attracting the right student-athletes and building a culture that is founded in self-motivation and a passion for the sport. Our core values will be excellence in reputation, a willingness to make sacrifices, treating your teammates like sisters, maintaining a positive attitude, and a willingness to overcome adversity. That's our starting point.

This is a building process. Success might not be overnight, but if we build the right culture and surround ourselves with like-minded student-athletes, it's going to be a really fun and fulfilling journey.

Lastly, the opportunity to continue growing women's wrestling and provide a competitive opportunity to these talented student-athletes is an amazing thing. Wrestling has had such a positive impact on my life, so the opportunity to give back and share all the things our sport can teach is a blessing.

DS: Once I recognized that coaching at the college level was within my reach, my dream shifted toward starting my own program. I thrive on taking risks and building something from the ground up. The idea of creating a culture that fosters success on and off the mat was, and still is, incredibly exciting to me.

I come from a program where culture was valued even more than winning, and it's an environment that shaped me deeply. My college coach, Coach Brunk, has been more than a mentor-he's become one of my closest friends and family.

I'm eager to create that same kind of environment for my athletes here at Arcadia, where they'll feel valued as people, not just as wrestlers. I want them to experience the sense of belonging and support that I had because it's that foundation that truly breeds success in all areas of life.

What are your goals for the program? Where do you see Arcadia Wrestling in five years?

MC: In five years, I see a roster of 30+, with multiple national qualifiers and All-Americans, both athletically and academically. We also want to consistently be at the top of the Middle Atlantic Conference. Finally, we want to build and operate a year-round club that will help serve the local youth, while also providing training and competition opportunities for current Knight wrestlers who want to continue their wrestling journey in the off season.

DS: I truly believe that in five years, people are going to know the name Arcadia wrestling. My goal is for us to be a top-20 team in the nation within our first four years, and I'm confident we have all the resources to make that happen. The support from this institution is absolutely unmatched. I've never been surrounded by a group of people so genuinely caring and supportive.

The coaching staff I'm building shares that same vision and belief. We've all experienced success, either on the mat or in life, and each coach brings something unique to the program. These different perspectives will help us not only stand out from other programs but also help our athletes grow as individuals. We're focused on more than just wrestling-we want to develop well-rounded people and students.

While I believe we'll achieve national success, what's even more important to me is that we'll be producing young men who are ready to take on the world. They'll be successful not only in their careers, but also as individuals who serve others and make a positive impact on the lives of those around them.

Tell us about a memorable moment from your wrestling career, whether as a wrestler yourself or as a coach.

MC: Too many to count, but some of my favorites include coaching an athlete in the semis of the Pennsylvania high school championships, helping coach the first D1 All-American in 33 years at Franklin & Marshall, and at Ursinus going from no national qualifiers in my first year to multiple and the first All-American in over a decade. Ultimately, my favorite thing is the relationships I've built with the student-athletes I've coached and the coaches that I've coached with.

DS: I'd say my favorite memories from being a wrestler aren't just about competing or winning-though I do love both of those things! What really stands out are the moments I shared with my teammates and how I grew in my faith. While I was at Messiah, I learned that wins and losses come and go, but there's so much more to life than just what happens on the mat. What I'll never forget is the sense of family I gained during those years. I now have a group of friends who are like blood to me. We built something so strong that it feels like we're family in every sense, even if we aren't related by blood.

The most impactful part of my journey was having mentors who used wrestling as a tool to help me grow spiritually. They taught me that my worth isn't defined by winning or losing. Instead, it comes from something much greater-my faith. Because of Jesus' sacrifice for my sins, I know that I'm seen as perfect in His eyes, regardless of the outcome of any match. That's something I carry with me every day.

Anything else you'd like to mention?

MC: I'm grateful for the opportunity to grow women's wrestling at a school that was originally an all-women's college. Women's wrestling at the college and high school level is still in its infancy and I'm honored to be at the beginning of this process at Arcadia.
DS: I'm extremely grateful for this opportunity and have been taking it by the horns, doing everything I can to ensure we build a successful program here. Thank you to everyone who has made this possible-I'm beyond excited to be a Knight and to introduce the sport of wrestling to campus. Go Knights!