By Tanner Lafever
USA Wrestling

It’s been a minute since my last correspondence, but with a brand-new season less than a month away, I couldn’t be happier to be back with USA Wrestling to help cover the women’s collegiate landscape.

From now through the NCAA/NAIA Championships in March, I’ll be here (pretty much) every week to highlight the latest news from the women’s college season – and to preview the next must-see event(s) on the calendar.

But before setting the scene for what’s ahead, I figured a look back was in order.

In part, that’s because the 2025-26 season is eminently worth remembering – both for its many noteworthy achievements and remarkable moments.

But also, it’s because major women’s college wrestling news has continued throughout the offseason – the sort that will help to further the sport’s growth and evolution in the years to come.

So, if you’ll allow me to be your guide, let’s dive right in.

McKendree and Life University win 2026 national team titles 

Last year’s season-ending championship events certainly delivered – as both the NCAA and NAIA team title races played out in compelling fashion.

Up first, McKendree University made waves at the first-ever, officially sanctioned NCAA Women’s Championships – knocking off two-time defending (NCWWC) champion Iowa.

The Bearcats edged the Hawkeyes by a mere five points (171 to 166) in a back-and-forth, two-day slugfest – with Yu Sakamoto’s dramatic finals victory at 117 pounds clinching the team title for Alexio Garcia’s program.

Grand Valley State’s Katerina Lange (138) became the first-ever women’s NCAA champion, while McKendree’s Cameron Guerin (131) closed out the tournament with her fifth career individual national title.

As for the NAIA Championships, Life University once again warded off all challengers.

The Eagles secured their second title in as many years, as head coach Ashley Flavin’s squad placed seven different athletes in the top four at their respective weights – including 145-pound champion Jamilah McBryde.

Nearly all of Life’s 169 team points were needed, too, as runners-up William Penn placed four athletes atop the podium amidst its own impressive performance.

Here were the 2026 individual national champions across both divisions:

NCAA

103 pounds – Valarie Solorio (Iowa)

110 pounds – Audrey Jimenez (Lehigh)

117 pounds – Yu Sakamoto (McKendree)

124 pounds – Xochitl Mota-Pettis (Quincy)

131 pounds – Cameron Guerin (McKendree)

138 pounds – Katerina Lange (Grand Valley State)

145 pounds – Bella Mir (North Central)

160 pounds – Kennedy Blades (Iowa)

180 pounds – Kylie Welker (Iowa)

207 pounds – Tristan Kelly (McKendree)

NAIA

103 pounds – Erin Hikiji (Providence)

110 pounds – Mia Palumbo (William Penn)

117 pounds – Christianah Ogunsanya (William Penn)

124 pounds – Cristelle Rodriguez-Dobler (Doane)

131 pounds – Jumoke Adekoye (Dickinson State)

138 pounds – Esther Kolawole (William Penn)

145 pounds – Jamilah McBryde (Life)

160 pounds – Jumoke Adekuoroye (Wayland Baptist)

180 pounds – Piper Fowler (William Penn)

207 pounds – Lillian Gradillas-Flores (Southern Oregon)

North Central, Wartburg and Life find a way at NWCA National Duals 

Midway through the 2025-26 season, another marquee women’s collegiate event crowned champions by way of the annual NWCA National Duals.

On this occasion, North Central College (NCAA combined), Life University (NAIA) and Wartburg College (NCAA Division III) each won titles across three separate divisions.

Brady Kyner’s Wartburg Knights prevailed in the newly established NCAA Division III bracket, overcoming a 23-21 semifinal scare against Aurora before routing Simpson (31-13) in the final.

Meanwhile, Life University took home top NAIA honors for the fourth time in five years.

The Eagles’ closest dual was a 24-18 semifinal win over William Penn – which they followed with a 32-11 runaway against Providence, winning the last eight matches of the final.

But the unquestioned headliner of the weekend was North Central.

Both the Cardinals’ semifinal and final duals came down to a must-win bout at 207 pounds, and Joe Norton’s team delivered both times.

In the semis, North Central handed two-time defending champion Iowa its first dual defeat in program history, 23-21. Then, later that same day, the Cardinals edged out McKendree, 21-18, to secure the school’s first National Duals championship.

Menlo to make NCAA debut 

Moving on to some offseason news, no development will have a more immediate impact on the 2026-27 season than the mid-September announcement that Menlo College will be eligible to compete at the 2027 NCAA Women’s Wrestling Championships.

Based in Atherton, California, Menlo athletics had been in limbo as the school transitioned from NAIA to NCAA Division II status. And that meant its proud women’s wrestling program has been unable to compete in the postseason since 2024 – when the Oaks won an NAIA national title.

Now, head coach Michael Ayala’s team will enter the mix with the likes of McKendree, Iowa, North Central and others this postseason – providing another exciting element to an NCAA landscape that grows more competitive each year.

Division I growth continues 

Speaking of growth, women’s college wrestling continues to expand across the country – with new programs in new places being added each year.

One area in which that growth has been especially notable of late is at the Division I level – where four schools have announced new programs in the past eight months:

• Kent State University (12/18/25)

• Mercyhurst University (1/28/26)

• Iowa State University (4/16/26)

• Columbia University (6/10/26)

Since then, all four schools have also announced their first head coach – with Clay Wenger (Kent State), Alexia Wagner (Mercyhurst), Alli St. John (Iowa State) and Emma Randall (Columbia) set to lead their programs into the future.

Among the quartet, only Mercyhurst will be postseason-eligible in 2026-27, while the other three build their respective rosters for a 2027-28 varsity debut.

Regardless of the timeline, it’s incredibly exciting to witness further expansion of the women’s DI landscape – whose membership increased by a whopping 67 percent with these additions.

As it stands today, 10 different schools now sponsor a Division I women’s wrestling program:

• Columbia, Delaware State, Iowa, Iowa State, Kent State, Lehigh, Lindenwood, Mercyhurst, Presbyterian, Sacred Heart

Here’s hoping that number is even greater by the time next season rolls around – or shoot, even by the time I’m back here writing next week’s Women’s College Notebook!