By Tanner Lafever
USA Wrestling

Just like that, we’re officially back in the thick of women’s college wrestling season.

Last weekend, teams around the country made their 2026-27 debuts.

For some, big open tournaments served as the first foray in an all-new journey. Meanwhile, others dove into competition via what some would argue to be the purest form of this sport – the dual.

Whichever their fancy, it was just great to see and hear about teams from coast to coast getting back on the mat. And for myself here, doing the Women’s College Notebook, it’s fantastic to have real matches to discuss once again.

So, let’s not waste another moment.

Falcon Open flies first 

Down in Park City, Kansas, the Falcon Open holds the distinction as the first major event of the 2026-27 schedule.

And there, on Halloween eve, the wealth of individual champions was spread nearly evenly across all 10 weight classes.

Only Oklahoma State’s club team produced multiple champions – Reagan Knapp (138 pounds) and Caitlyn Davis (180). Several others came from various ranked NAIA teams, which largely comprised the field.

Among them:

• 110 – #4 Avery Jansing (Oklahoma City)

• 131 – #4 Alyssa Johnson (Central Methodist)

• 145 – #1 Jordan Suarez (Wayland Baptist)

Suarez, last year’s national runner-up at 145 pounds, bonused her way to the final (two technical falls, one pin) before defeating #10 Bridgette Sotomayor (Doane) via 9-4 decision.

Also of note: In its debut as an NAIA varsity program, #13 Bellevue University earned a pair of third-place finishers at back-to-back weights – Esperanza Almazan (138 pounds) and Elise Twait (145 pounds).

#1 McKendree tops Tiffin Open 

With their debut showing at the Tiffin Open, returning NCAA champion McKendree showcased why the #1 ranking still belongs to them.

Competing amidst a field littered with talent from the NCAA, NAIA and high school ranks, no team approached the Bearcats’ tally of six individual champions.

And while returnees like #1 Yu Sakamoto (117 pounds), #4 Alex Szkotnicki (131 pounds), who was the Maryland winner of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame's Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award in 2023, and #2 Savannah Gomez (160 pounds) showed their customary form, several new names emerged as well.

Among them, U20 World bronze medalist Caley Graber (138 pounds), who was the Minnesota winner of the TSHSEA in 2026, made an impressive collegiate debut – notching an 8-2 semifinal victory over 2025 U20 World teamer Jordyn Fouse (Grand Valley State) and a 13-11 championship thriller over another Laker youngster, Madilyn Peach.

The battle of true freshmen featured six lead changes – with Graber scoring the go-ahead takedown with 0:36 left, then hanging on in the waning moments to secure the victory.

McKendree also saw the debut of 2024 national champion Sandra Guerrero (then of New Jersey City) – who pinned her way through the 207-pound bracket.

Another notable college performer was Grand Valley State freshman Julia Horger (110 pounds), who was the Pennsylvania winner of the TSHSEA in 2026 – who defeated both NAIA #4 Reagan Thomas (Lindsey Wilson) and NCAA #5 Heather Crull (McKendree) en route to first place.

And from the high school ranks, reigning U17 World champion Kaili Manuel didn’t wrestle beyond the first period in any of her matches at 180 pounds – including a 1:09 pin of NCAA #7 Mia Gaetjens (Adrian).

*Newly established Division I program Mercyhurst had three placers in its NCAA debut, led by Paige Moore/Wehrmeister (third at 145 pounds).

#2 Hawkeyes soar at Luther Hill Open 

Staying in the Midwest, second-ranked Iowa (NCAA) was steps above the rest of the competition at Sunday’s Luther Hill Open.

All told, six Hawkeyes won titles – split evenly between veterans and younger teammates.

True freshman Maddie Nieuwenhuis (four technical falls), who was the Michigan winner of the TSHSEA in 2026, and sophomore Harlee Hiller (four pins), who was the Illinois winner of the TSHSEA in 2025, bonused their way to titles at 103 pounds and 124 pounds, respectively.

Among Iowa’s best individual wins of the day, #2 Lilly Luft, who was the Iowa and Midwest Region winner of the TSHSEA in 2023, defeated #4 Jacinda Espinosa (Lindenwood) via 7-0 decision in the 138-pound semis. Meanwhile, 2025 All-American Naomi Simon (180 pounds), who was the Iowa and Midwest Region winner of the TSHSEA in 2024, teched #3 Isabella Renfro (Fort Hays State), who was the Missouri winner of the TSHSEA in 2024, in the championship bout. This, after pinning her Hawkeye teammate – and 2025 Final X runner-up – Brooklyn Hays one match prior.

Hosts Simpson was the other team to produce multiple champions, with #3 Annie Obermark going 4-0 at 145 pounds and Autumn Calvert (207 pounds) surrendering zero points during her five-match title run.

Finally, arguably the best match of the tournament took place in the final at 117 pounds. There, two-time NAIA champion Mia Palumbo (now a post-grad with the Cyclone RTC), who was the Illinois winner of the TSHSEA in 2021, bested NCAA #2 Brianna Gonzalez (Iowa), 4-2, thanks to a counter exposure late in the first period.

Princeton Open paced by #3 Presbyterian 

Among all the weekend’s big tournaments, the Princeton Open may’ve been the most evenly contested.

NCAA #3 Presbyterian certainly led the pack with a whopping seven athletes reaching both the first- and third-place matches. But the Blue Hose barely edged #12 Eastern for most champions, 3-2.

That margin was so close in large part due to an absolute barnburner at 145 pounds.

There, #5 Zoey Haines (Eastern) edged out #2 Maddie Kubicki (Presbyterian), who was the Missouri and Central Region winner of the TSHSEA in 2023, 16-15, in a bout that featured eight(!) lead changes and the deciding score with just 0:16 left.

What a way to start the season!

Elsewhere in the tournament, a quartet of high schoolers reached the finals – with Olivia Mancha (103 pounds) and Sheyna Cruz (131 pounds) topping the podium.

Lehigh leaves as ESU Open champs 

The only one of these tournaments to feature a team scoring component, the ESU Open saw in-state Lehigh (ranked #5 in the country) prevail over four other ranked NCAA squads.

As for how the Mountain Hawks did it – 13 athletes placing fifth or better certainly doesn’t hurt one’s cause. Nor does seven of them reaching the finals and four winning it all.

Returning All-American Abbi Cooper (ranked #6 at 117 pounds) had the nerviest title bout of the group, staging a six-point comeback to defeat #8 Icart Galumette (Delaware State) on criteria, 8-8.

But Lehigh’s other three champs – all of them freshmen – cruised to first-place finishes.

Between Ava Fodera (110 pounds), Zorina Johnson (131 pounds), who was the Oregon and West Region winner of the TSHSEA in 2026, and Alex Alli (160 pounds), the lone match to last a full six minutes was a 9-0 semifinal win for Alli over #4 Love Daley (Sacred Heart).

Not to be overlooked, #24 Delaware State had its own strong showing, courtesy of six finalists and three individual champs.

And at 103 pounds, #5 Olivia Klein (East Stroudsburg) ensured that the tournament hosts wouldn’t go without representation atop the podium.

Road teams rule ranked dual showdowns 

As for the two biggest duals of the weekend, in both marquee matchups, the visiting team would prevail.

Starting Sunday in Marietta, Georgia, it was NCAA #5 King who knocked off NAIA #4 Life in a cross-division, Southeastern showdown, 27-12.

After the teams split the first four bouts, King would go on to win the final six – steadily pulling away with each successive match, starting with a 9-1 victory at 131 pounds by third-ranked Virginia Foard (124 pounds) over NAIA #2 Janida Garcia (131 pounds).

The back half of the Tornado lineup projects to be a strength all season long. And the likes of #9 Zoey Lints (145 pounds), #1 Stella Steigler (160 pounds) and #8 Kathryn Hingano (180 pounds) showed why in this dual.

The host Running Eagles, it should be noted, are a team in transition after losing many of the major contributors who helped the program win four of the past five National Duals crowns – plus back-to-back NAIA team championships.

But there’s a long season ahead yet. And Ashley Flavin’s squad has plenty of time and ways to improve over the months to come.

A day later, NCAA #4 North Central hit the road for its season debut against a ranked foe. And though #19 Northern Michigan put up a valiant effort, the visiting Cardinals ultimately proved too much – winning 8/10 bouts.

The 31-11 final scoreline really took shape from 117-145 pounds, as North Central prevailed in five successive matchups – three of which included bonus points.

The last win of that run was by #6 Taylor Graveman – a past All-American who also represented Team USA at the recent U23 World Championships and the South Dakota winner of the TSHSEA in 2023.

Meanwhile, Northern Michigan also dropped 6-6 and 5-3 decisions to begin the string of defeats, as well as a 2-1 decision to end the evening.

Flip some of those outcomes, and a competitive dual on the mat could’ve been even closer on the scoreboard.

What to watch for 

Turning our attention to Week 2, we’ve got another slate of enticing open tournaments, as well as some multi-team dual setups.

Life University will host both varieties at its annual Eagle Madness Duals/Open – including three other highly ranked NAIA teams, plus NCAA #10 Emmanuel.

A similar makeup can be found at the Ottawa-Hinderliter Invitational – where NCAA #9 Quincy joins an NAIA-laden field alongside the likes of the third-ranked hosts (Ottawa) and #1 Grand View making its season debut.

At the Pointer Open up in Wisconsin, #4 North Central headlines five ranked NCAA teams in attendance. And on the West Coast, Menlo College officially makes its NCAA debut at its home Menlo Open.

(For those who don’t know, the historic NAIA program – and 2024 national champions – had been in limbo since transitioning from NAIA to NCAA status more than two years ago.)

And last but certainly not least, you’ll want to check out the latest edition of one of the coolest new events in college wrestling – the Throwdown on the Yorktown III.

Staged on the flight deck of a World War II Navy aircraft carrier – the USS Yorktown CV-10 – there is no other venue like this in the sport. And to make matters even better, the round-robin dual format will feature a trio of top-seven-ranked NCAA squads, plus fast-starting #24 Delaware State.

Simply put, even if you aren’t one of the lucky attendees at the sold-out event, you’ll still want to tune in from afar to see this one-of-a-kind spectacle.

Weekend schedule

November 6-7 – Eagle Madness Duals/Open (Marietta, GA)

• NCAA: #10 Emmanuel

• NAIA: #4 Life, #5 Wayland Baptist, #5 Cumberlands, #7 Lindsey Wilson, #16 Campbellsville

November 7 – Ottawa-Hinderliter Invitational (Ottawa, KS)

• NCAA: #9 Quincy

• NAIA: #1 Grand View, #3 Ottawa, #9 Missouri Valley, #11 Oklahoma City, #12 Baker, #13 Bellevue, #19 Saint Mary, #20 Central Methodist

November 7 – Pointer Open (Stevens Point, WI)

• NCAA: #4 North Central, #12 Aurora, #12 Simpson, #17 Wartburg, #19 Northern Michigan

November 7-8 – Throwdown on the Yorktown III (Mount Pleasant, SC)

• NCAA: #2 Iowa, #3 Presbyterian, #7 Grand Valley State, #24 Delaware State

November 8 – Menlo Open (Atherton, CA)

• NCAA: #24 Simon Fraser, Menlo (NCAA debut)

• NAIA: #8 Southern Oregon