MANHEIM, Pa. — The West Liberty University women's wrestling team will open the 2025–26 campaign among the nation's elite, checking in at No. 13 in the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) NCAA Women's Preseason Poll released this week.
This season marks a historic milestone for women's collegiate wrestling, with the sport officially recognized as the NCAA's 91st championship. The inaugural NCAA Women's Wrestling Championships will take place March 6–7 in Coralville, Iowa, at Xtream Arena.
West Liberty returns several national qualifiers and regional standouts from last year's squad. The Hilltoppers once again feature multiple wrestlers in both the national and regional rankings, underscoring their growing national reputation.
Leading the way is junior Cassia Zammit, ranked No. 4 nationally at 131 pounds and No. 1 in the Region 2 rankings. Graduate standout Chiara Barbieri also appears in both polls, coming in No. 7 nationally and No. 1 regionally at 103 pounds.
Six additional Hilltoppers earned Region 2 recognition:
As a team, West Liberty totaled 13 points in the NWCA Tournament Power Index (TPI), placing them 13th nationally and second among Region 2 programs, trailing only East Stroudsburg (No. 10). The TPI reflects potential national tournament scoring based on individual rankings.
Head coach Troy Bell said the national ranking is a credit to his athletes' dedication and the continued growth of the program.
"This is an exciting time for women's wrestling and for our program," Bell said. "To be recognized among the top teams in the country shows the hard work our women have put in. Hosting the first NCAA Region 2 Championship here at West Liberty will be a great opportunity to showcase the sport and our university on a big stage."
The Hilltoppers will host the first-ever NCAA Region 2 Championship on February 20–21 inside the ASRC, serving as the final qualifying event before the national championships in Iowa.
Top-ranked Iowa, McKendree, and North Central College hold the top three spots in the preseason poll, followed by Grand Valley State and Presbyterian rounding out the top five.
