NCAA Women's Individual Rankings Reshuffle following National Duals
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by National Wrestling Coches Association
NWCA NCAA Women's Tournament Top 25 Coaches Poll for January 16, 2026
Manheim, Pa. - The National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) has released its latest NCAA Women's Coaches Poll, and while the team standings at the top remain unchanged, a dramatic weekend of competition at the 2026 NWCA/USMC National Dual Meet Championships in Cedar Falls, Iowa, produced significant movement throughout the individual rankings.
The top five teams held firm in the latest poll, led once again by No. 1 Iowa with 120 points. The Hawkeyes are followed closely by No. 2 McKendree (102) and No. 3 North Central (101). Grand Valley State checks in at No. 4 with 67 points, while King rounds out the top five at No. 5 with 41 points.
The individual rankings saw considerable upheaval with six of the ten weight classes feature new No. 1 wrestlers following many statement performances at the National Duals, underscoring the depth and competitiveness of the NCAA Women's field.
Iowa continues to set the national standard individually, leading all programs with five top-ranked wrestlers. North Central follows with three No. 1 athletes, while Grand Valley State boasts two top-ranked individuals in the latest release.
103 Valarie Solorio- Iowa
110 Kaelani Shufeldt - North Central
117 Sage Mortimer - Grand Valley State
124 Sara Sterner - North Central
131 Karlee Brooks- Iowa
138 Katerina Lange - Grand Valley State
145 Reese Larramendy - Iowa
160 Kennedy Blades - Iowa
180 Kylie Welker - Iowa
207 Shenita Lawson - North Central
TOURNAMENT TOP 25 |
| RANK | TEAM | POINTS | PRVS RANK | REGIONAL |
| 1 | Iowa | 120 | 1 | 5 |
| 2 | McKendree | 102 | 2 | 6 |
| 3 | North Central | 101 | 3 | 4 |
| 4 | Grand Valley State | 67 | 4 | 4 |
| 5 | King | 41 | 5 | 6 |
| 6 | Presbyterian | 36 | 6 | 3 |
| 7 | Colorado Mesa | 28 | 7 | 3 |
| 8 | Wartburg | 23 | T13 | 6 |
| 9 | Lehigh | 21 | T10 | 3 |
| 10 | Aurora | 18 | T23 | 6 |
| T-11 | Emmanuel (Ga.) | 16 | 8 | 2 |
| T-11 | Fort Hays State | 16 | 9 | 4 |
| T-11 | Simon Fraser | 16 | T10 | 2 |
| T-14 | Northern Michigan | 13 | T10 | 5 |
| T-14 | East Stroudsburg | 13 | 15 | 1 |
| 16 | Elmira | 10 | 17 | 4 |
| 17 | William Jewell | 9 | T20 | 5 |
| 18 | Simpson (Iowa) | 8 | 16 | 2 |
| 19 | Lindenwood | 7 | T23 | 6 |
| 20 | Adrian | 6 | NR | 4 |
| T-21 | Gannon | 5 | T18 | 1 |
| T-21 | Tiffin | 5 | 22 | 6 |
| 23 | New England | 4 | T20 | 4 |
| T-24 | Eastern | 3 | T13 | 1 |
| T-24 | Quincy | 3 | NR | 5 |
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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