Iowa Still #1 in NWCA’s First Regular Season NCAA Women’s Coaches Poll
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by National Wrestling Coaches Association
Manheim, Pa. – The National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) has released its first NCAA Women's Regular Season Coaches Poll for the 2025-26 season, and Iowa remains in control of the top spot. The Hawkeyes 118 points edged out McKendree's 111. Grand Valley State climbs to #3 with 86 points, jumping North Central, which moves to #4 with 78 points. Colorado Mesa enters the top five with 38 points.
All ten top-ranked individuals from the preseason poll retained their #1 positions for the second straight month.
TOP RANKED INDIVIDUALS | Individual National Rankings | Individual Regional Rankings
103 Olivia Shore - Otterbien
110 Ava Bayless - Iowa
117 Yu Sakamoto - McKendree
124 Shelby Moore - McKendree
131 Alexis Janiak - Aurora
138 Katerina Lange - Grand Valley State
145 Bella Mir - North Central
160 Kennedy Blades - Iowa
180 Kylie Welker - Iowa
207 Tristan Kelly - McKendree
TOURNAMENT TOP 25 | PDF DOWNLOAD
| Rank | Team | Total Pts. | Previous Rank | Regional |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iowa | 118 | 1 | 5 |
| 2 | McKendree | 111 | 2 | 6 |
| 3 | Grand Valley State | 86 | 4 | 4 |
| 4 | North Central | 78 | 3 | 4 |
| 5 | Colorado Mesa | 38 | 6 | 6 |
| 6 | Presbyterian | 35 | 5 | 3 |
| 7 | King | 24 | NR | 3 |
| 8 | Aurora | 18 | 7 | 4 |
| 9 | East Stroudsburg | 17 | 10 | 2 |
| 10 | Otterbein | 16 | 9 | 4 |
| T-11 | Simpson (IA) | 15 | 18 | 5 |
| T-11 | Northern Michigan | 15 | 22 | 4 |
| T-13 | Fort Hays State | 11 | 8 | 6 |
| T-13 | Tiffin | 11 | 18 | 4 |
| 15 | Emmanuel (GA) | 10 | 10 | 3 |
| T-16 | Chadron State | 9 | 10 | 6 |
| T-16 | Elmira | 9 | 16 | 1 |
| T-16 | Eastern | 9 | NR | 2 |
| 19 | William Jewell | 8 | 15 | 6 |
| 20 | Quincy | 7 | 16 | 5 |
| T-21 | Adrian | 6 | 18 | 4 |
| T-21 | York | 6 | NR | 2 |
| T-21 | New England | 6 | NR | 1 |
| T-24 | Wartburg | 5 | 10 | 5 |
| T-24 | Lindenwood | 5 | 25 | 6 |
TOURNAMENT POLL METHODOLOGY: THIS IS A TOURNAMENT POWER INDEX RANKING; THE POLL IS NOT BASED ON A TEAM'S DUAL STRENGTH. TPI POINT TOTALS ARE BROKEN DOWN BY INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS DIRECTLY CORRELATED TO PLACEMENT POINTS AT THE NCAA TOURNAMENT: 1ST=16PTS, 2ND=12PTS, 3RD=10PTS, 4TH=9PTS, 5TH=7PTS, 6TH=6PTS, 7TH=4PTS, 8TH=3PTS, 9TH=2PTS, 10TH=1PT. THE TOP TEAM POINT TOTALS WILL BE LOWER THAN THE FINAL ACTUAL NCAA TOURNAMENT POINTS BECAUSE THIS POLL DOES NOT INCLUDE BONUS POINTS OR ADVANCEMENT POINTS.
Ranking Committee
Region 1: Cody Griswold, Elmira & Paulina Biega, Sacred Heart
Region 2: Cindy Calixto, Alvernia & Anibal Nieves, East Stroundsburg
Region 3: Jessica Casperson, Southern Virginia & Breonnah Neal, Frostburg State
Region 4: Cliff Cushard, Adrian & Joe Norton, North Central
Region 5: Clarissa Chun, Iowa & Jake Wozniak, UW-Stevens Point
Region 6: Travis Mercado, Colorado Mesa & Frank Yattoni, Lindenwood
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