This has been one of the most important years in college women’s wrestling. Let’s look at what’s transpired and what we can expect. 

And Then There Were 10

Presbyterian kicked things off as the first Division I women’s wrestling program with a December 7, 2017, announcement. Today, there are 10, with Mercyhurst, Iowa State, and Columbia adding in 2026. 

Here are the 10 colleges that offer Division I women’s wrestling with the year the program was announced.

Lindenwood started in 2008 but didn't receive D1 designation until 2022.

Iowa State Got To Work

The Cyclones begin competition during the 2027-28 season, but new head coach Alli St. John has already built a title contender within weeks of recruiting. She hired former William Penn coaches Jake Kadel and Cash Wilcke, then made a full-court press for top high school, portal, and club talent. 

Here’s who Iowa State has (so far).

Jumoke Adekoye, 131, JR, Akure, Nigeria
Two-time NAIA champion (2025-26) for Dickinson State

Molly Allen, 124, SO, Oakland, Iowa
Spent a season with Oklahoma State’s club team

Greta Brus, 145, FR, Blue Grass, Iowa
Flipped her commitment to McKendree

Makennah Craft, 103, SO, Jackson, Ohio
3rd at the 2026 NAIA Championships for Campbellsville

Anaya Falcon, 110, SO, Yorba Linda, California
2025 NAIA finalist for Life University

Piper Fowler, 180, SO, Cleveland, Tennessee
2026 NAIA champion for William Penn and 2023 U17 World champion

Gabriella Gomez, 124, SO, Carol Stream, Illinois
Transferred from McKendree; two-time FloWrestling WNO winner

Persaeus Gomez, 131, SO, Arvada, Colorado
Spent two seasons with Oklahoma State’s club program

Esther Kolawole, 138, JR, Akure, Nigeria
Two-time NAIA champion (2025-26) for William Penn and 2024 Olympian

Daniella Nugent, 145, SO, Boxford, Massachusetts
Spent a season with Oklahoma State’s club team; 5th at 2025 U20 Worlds

Christianah Ogunsanya, 117, JR, Akure, Nigeria
Two-time NAIA champion (2025-26) and 2024 Olympian

Brooklyn Perez, 131, FR, Phoenix, Arizona
Fargo All-American and two-time Super 32 placer

Alezandra Robles, 145, FR, Tucson, Arizona
Three-time state placer

Kailey Benson, 131, SO, Cottleville, Missouri
Spent a season with Oklahoma State’s club team; three-time Fargo All-American.

Avy Perez, 110, SO, Mission Hills, California
2026 NAIA All-American for William Penn (7th)

Ella Poalillo, 160, HS SR, Wantage, New Jersey
2025 U17 World bronze medalist

Bella Miller, 138, HS SR, Dubuque, Iowa
Two-time state champion

Iowa Replaced A Sharp Blades

Kennedy Blades announced that she will not return to college wrestling but will stay in Iowa City to train for Real American Freestyle and the 2028 Olympics. That leaves an opening at 160 pounds, where she was a two-time college national champion. 

Replacing a 2024 Olympic silver medalist won’t be easy, but the Hawkeyes snagged Blades’s 2025 Final X opponent for the 160-pound spot. Brooklyn Hays was a 2023 All-American for Augsburg before training full-time at the Olympic Training Center.

What Will Iowa Look Like For 2026-27?

Although she won’t be the overwhelming favorite like Blades, Hays is a slight favorite to win the 2027 NCAA Championships. Blades scored 24.5 team points at the 2026 NCAA Championships, second on the team behind Kylie Welker, who scored 26. Iowa won’t lose much if Hays can score at least 20 points, and she likely can score more. 

True freshman Everest Leydecker will be the preseason favorite at 124 pounds (although returning NCAA champion Xochitl Mota-Pettis of Quincy will be formidable), giving the Hawkeyes another boost after losing Blades. Naomi Simon finished third at 180 pounds behind Welker at the 2025 National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships and is expected to move up to 207 after a redshirt season. 

As expected, this team will be in title contention from now through eternity after finishing second at the 2026 NCAA Championships behind McKendree and winning the 2024 and 2025 National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships. 

Here’s a breakdown of what Iowa’s 2026-27 lineup could look like.

103: Val Solorio/Sterling Dias/Rianne Murphy
Solorio is the returning NCAA champion, but she’s not a lock to be the starter, even though she is the favorite. Dias is a two-time All-American (2nd, 4th), and Murphy finished third in 2025. 

110: Emilie Gonzalez
Emilie Gonzalez wasn’t the 2026 starter, but she’s a 2024 national champion. Nyla Valencia and Ava Bayless are gone, but there are a few high-profile recruits on the table, like 2026 Senior World Teamer Morgan Turner. 

117: Brianna Gonzalez/Isabella Marie Gonzalez/Harlee Hiller
Gonzalez has national finishes of second, fifth, and third after an injury-plagued junior season. She’ll contend with another Gonzalez and Hiller, who secured big wins last season. 

124: Everest Leydecker
Leydecker made her first Senior World Team after winning the 2025 U20 World Championships. 

131: Karlee Brooks/Bella Williams
Brooks finished seventh at the 2026 NCAA Championships and could be tested by Williams if she stays at 131. 

138: Lilly Luft/Bella Williams/Cadence Diduch
Luft is a two-time All-American and a hometown favorite. She could get pushed by Williams and Diduch. 

145: Reese Larramendy
Larramendy is a consistent force for the Hawks, finishing first, third, and second at nationals. 

160: Brooklyn Hays
Hays is a returning All-American and Final X participant.

180: Kylie Welker
Welker is a three-time national champion and one of the best wrestlers on the planet. 

207: Naomi Simon
Simon finished third at nationals and is a U20 World bronze medalist.

Black and Gold Misprints

Iowa has an updated roster for the 2026-27 season, but don’t believe everything you read on their “Players” page. Here are a few misprints with updates. 

Kennedy Blades isn’t with the team and is listed in the non-existent weight class of 165.

Karlee Brooks is listed at 124, and she was an All-American at 131.

Sterling Dias is listed at 101, and the weight is 103.

Cadence Diduch is listed at the non-existent weight of 136 instead of 138.

Brianna Gonzalez is listed at 101, and she competes at 117.

Emilie Gonzalez is listed at 101, and she competes at 110. 

Brooklyn Hays is listed at the non-existent weight of 175, and she will compete at 160.

Reese Larramendy is listed at the non-existent weight of 143, and she competes at 145.

Calli Leng is listed at the non-existent weight of 123, and she competes at 124.

Lilly Luft is listed at the non-existent weight of 130, and she competes at 138.

Kylie Welker is listed at the non-existent weight of 170, and she competes at 180. 

Taylor Whiting doesn’t have a weight listed. 

McKendree: Still The Champs

The Bearcats are the team to beat after winning the inaugural NCAA Women’s Wrestling Championships under Alexio Garcia. McKendree has a history of firsts, beginning in 2020 when Sam Schmitz led the team to its first three National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships. 

Garcia took over during the 2023 season and went to work, building a team that will go toe-to-toe with Iowa again, but their roster could see changes. Katey Valdez was expected to compete at 103, but she entered the transfer portal. 

Here is a snapshot of what Garcia could have, but, like Iowa, this can and will change. 

103: Heather Crull
Crull finished sixth at the 2026 NCAA Championships, but can she continue to make 103? 

110: Gabby Tedesco
Tedesco was a national finalist at 103 before finishing third at the 2026 NCAA Championships. 

117: Yu Sakamoto
Sakamoto was a 2024 U23 World champion for Japan, who finished third at the 2025 National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships before winning the 2026 NCAA tournament.

124: Shelby Moore
Moore is a bright spot for the Bearcats, finishing fourth, second, and second at nationals. She may have outgrown the weight, but 124 could be the only available slot for her to make the team. 

131: Alex Szkotnicki
Szkotnicki finished sixth at the 2026 NCAA Championships at 145, but her preferred weight is 131. She won the U23 National Championships, securing two wins over her former teammate Cam Guerin, a five-time college national champion. McKendree is in good hands here. 

138: Haylie Jaffe
Jaffe finished second in 2025 and third in 2026 and will be a key piece of the lineup.

145: Adaugo Nwachukwu
This was McKendree’s biggest off-season score. Nwachukwu made her second consecutive Senior World team after winning three NAIA titles for Iowa Wesleyan/William Penn. She is the favorite during her senior campaign. 

160: Savannah Gomez or Jasmine Robinson
Gomez has finished seventh and fourth at nationals. Robinson didn’t compete in the postseason, but she is wildly talented and can go with anyone (and throw them, too). 

180: Destiny Rodriguez
Rodriguez had a magical run at the 2026 NCAA Championships, finishing second to Welker. 

207: Tristan Kelly
Kelly is a returning two-time national champion. Much of the team’s success depends on her output. 

Will The Birds Still Fly High?

North Central has another monster team, led by returning NCAA champion Bella Mir. The Cardinals finished third at the 2026 NCAA Championships and won the National Duals with victories over Iowa (semis) and McKendree (finals).

Here’s the thing: North Central is a Division III program, and D3 schools are splitting from D2 and D1 after this season. Head coach Joe Norton is going after the best talent in the country, but opposing coaches are using the transition to recruit against him. 

Norton is working toward an exemption after the 2027 season, but if it doesn’t happen, North Central will battle for D3 supremacy in 2028. Unfortunately, the Cardinals are collateral damage to the D1 women’s wrestling movement. North Central has been a leading force in women's wrestling, so it’s difficult to imagine the most passionate college wrestling fanbase gone from the biggest stage. 

For now, though, North Central has a line-up that will be in contention for a national title after finishes of 1st, 2nd, 2nd, and 3rd from 2023-26. 

103: Brianne Graves
Graves should get the nod after splitting time with graduated national champion Maddie Avila last season. 

110: Kaelani Shufeldt
Shufeldt had a disappointing end to her season, but has another shot at the top spot following national finishes of sixth and second. 

117: Riley Rayome
Rayome was a breakout star, finishing second at the NCAA Championships as a freshman in a competitive finals match. 

124: Carissa Qureshi
Qureshi has age-level wins over Leydecker from two years ago. Can she replicate the magic in 2027? 

131: Grace Stem
Stem is a two-time All-American (4th, 4th) who was behind DiCugno and Yele Aycock last season. 

138: Claire DiCugno
Three different schools. Three podium finishes for DiGugno: 6th in 2022 for Colorado Mesa, 1st in 2024 for King, and 2nd in 2026 for North Central. 

145: Taylor Graveman
Graveman didn’t place at the NCAA Championships at 160 but will drop to her preferred weight after two All-American finishes (7th, 5th).

160: Bella Mir
Mir won the 2026 NCAA Championships at 145 after finishing fifth for Iowa in 2024 and second for North Central in 2025. 

180: Jael Miller
Miller had a solid freshman year and will replace four-time All-American Shenita Lawson. 

207: Caroline Ward
Ward finished sixth at the 2026 NCAA Championships but will have plenty of in-house competition to make the team. 

Ain’t It Grand?

Grand Valley State has a massive recruiting haul, but it’s hard to predict what head coach Jake Short will do. His team finished fourth in the past two seasons, but he might redshirt his best wrestlers to make a push for 2028. We’ll keep you posted.

Hear from incoming GVSU recruits Eva Zimmerman and Naima Ghaffar

Blue Hose Challenge

Don’t sleep on Presbyterian. Head coach Brian Vutianitis sent all 10 wrestlers to the 2026 NCAA Championships, and all 10 return, including All-Americans Chloe Dearwester, Jenna Anderson, Alyssa Mahan, Madeline Kubicki, and Maria Aiono. 

Here’s the scary part. Vutianitis will have an in-room battle for most of his roster spots, so last year’s starting 10 might not be this year’s. Anna Maralit (103), Anna Ockerman (110), Charlee Shuler (117/124), Liz Donovan (131/138), Zoe Griffith (145), Kaylie Hall (160/180), Henlee Haynes (180), and Grace Leota (180/207) are capable of making the line-up. 

A fifth-place finish at the 2026 NCAA Championships and a deep roster prove that Presbyterian is trending upward. 

Will The Mountain Hawks Keep Climbing?

Lehigh finished sixth at the 2026 NCAA Championships during its inaugural season. Brazel Marquez sent five wrestlers to nationals, with Audrey Jimenez (1st at 110), Abbi Cooper (7th at 117), and Aubre Krazer (3rd at 131) securing All-American honors. 

The Mountain Hawks landed a monster high school recruiting haul and secured Alexandria Alli, who trained at the Elite Accelerator program after high school. Marquez recently hired NAIA champion Kaylnn Albrecht as an assistant, so all is well in Bethlehem. 

Hear from eight members of Lehigh's incoming recruiting class

Where Does The NAIA Go From Here?

Life University won the last two NAIA Championships, and will be the favorites again with William Penn gutted after the departure of the coaching staff and the majority of its best wrestlers. The Statesmen would have been the favorite after finishing second this year, but they will be lucky to place in the top 10 after a new coach is hired. 

Menlo won the 2024 NAIA Championships but is still transitioning to the NCAA Division II, and it is taking longer than expected. 

Matt Atwood led Providence to a fourth-place finish at the 2026 NAIA Championships, but left for Bellevue in Nebraska, where he insists he can win. His former school is in severe financial trouble after a major budget crisis. 

Campbellsville used to be the team to beat after winning four college team titles, but a 21st-place finish in 2026 and the departure of Lee Miracle leave more questions than answers for this storied program. 

Grand View finished third at the 2026 NAIA Championships and will push the Running Eagles for the top spot. The Vikings are still seeking their first individual NAIA champion. 

Several of the NAIA’s best wrestlers have either transferred or graduated.

Graduated
103: Erin Hikiji (Providence), 4x finalist, 2x champ
110: Mia Palumbo (Iowa Wesleyan/William Penn), 4x finalist, 2x champ
124: Cristelle Rodriguez (Doane), 3x champ
138: Zaynah McBryde (Life), 3x finalist, 1x champ
145: Jamilah McBryde (Life), 4x AA, 3x finalist, 1x champ
160: Latifah McBryde (Life), 4x AA, 3x finalist, 1x champ

Transferred to NCAA
117: Christianah Ogunsanya (William Penn), 2x champ
131: Jumoke Adekoye (Dickinson State), 2x champ
138: Esther Kolawole (William Penn), 2x champ
180: Piper Fowler (William Penn), 1x champ

Get Ready For College!

Hear from Nadia Thomas, Morgan Maschmann, Kassidy Fiala, and Ashley Diaz about what to expect from the college experience and how you can prepare as an incoming freshman.