A Year Ago  

2024-25 Record: 11-4

Results: 1st at NCWWC Region 4 Championships, 14th/64 Teams at NCWWC National Championships

All-Americans: Nyla Burgess (Ajax, Ontario/Pickering High School) (4th, 160 pounds)

This Season  

Preseason National Ranking:  21st

Key Returning Student-Athletes: Jada Badayos-Chaves (Odenton, Md./Arundel High) (So., 103), Brenna McCarley (North Tonawanda/North Tonawanda High) (So., 110), Hannah McCarley (North Tonawanda, NY/North Tonawanda High) (So., 117)), Bella Phillips (Bellingham, Wash./Squalicum High School) (So., 180), Lili Ujfalvi (Kecskemet-heteny, Hungary/Bolyai Janos Secondary School) (Sr., 138)

Newcomers: 8 Freshmen, 4 Transfers

Key Dates

Season Opener: Sunday, November 2nd @ ESU Open (East Stroudsburg, PA) - All Day 

Home Opener: Thursday, November 13th vs D'Youville (Highmark Events Center) - 7:00 pm 

NCAA Regional: Saturday, February 21st - Location TBD 

What To Expect  

Before looking at the season itself, women's wrestling is excited to begin their journey in the NCAA. The sport was officially added as the NCAA's 91st championship sport in January 2025. And, off their first ever regional championship, third-year coach Erin Vandiver and the Golden Knights are seeking to quickly cement their program as one of the nations best, both on the regional and national stage, in 2025-26. Vandiver feels the roster has the pieces to do so.

1: Key Returners – One of the strengths for the Golden Knights is the sheer quantity of student-athletes that are back from a year ago. Five national qualifiers return, including a pair of regional champions. At 180 pounds, Bella Phillips (Bellingham, Wash./Squalicum High School) will look to build off an impressive freshman season. The Bellingham, Washington native ended the year with a 39-9 record, setting a school record for wins in a season. Lili Ujfalvi (Kecskemet-heteny, Hungary/Bolyai Janos Secondary School) (138 pounds) is back for her senior season, as well. A regional champion in 2024-25, Ujfalvi is a three-time national qualifier who was 26-8 a year ago and enters the campaign ranked second in career victories with 76.      

Vandiver Comments: "We have a great team. We have a great group of established leaders who are helping the new class acclimate and get ready for the season. They are filling the role of a leader tremendously, and helping get everyone up to speed for what will be a great year ahead. They are willing to share, help teach, and bring everyone along."

2: New Faces – Eight new freshmen will be a part of the Gannon roster this year and several have a chance to make an immediate impact when the season begins. Among the top faces of that list include local standout Sierra Chiesa (West Springfield, Pa./Northwestern) from nearby Northwestern High School. She became the first female to ever compete in the PIAA state championship meet, won the District 10 individual title in 2022-23, and twice qualified for states. Iowa transfer Rose Cassioppi (Roscoe, Ill./Hononegah) will also look to make an impact and could compete at either 160 or 180 pounds.

3: Challenging & Expansive Schedule – Vandiver's 2025-26 schedule has three home duals plus the Gannon Women's Duals as one of the pioneers in women's wrestling continues to educate the area on the growing sport. The Golden Knights will compete against some of the top teams in the country at the NWCA National Duals in January, and for the first time, will wrestle in the Journeyman Women's Duals in Albany, NY on Saturday, January 24. Gannon welcomes Otterbein, Lehigh, Waynesburg, Emory & Henry, King, West Liberty, and Heidelberg to the Gannon Women's Duals on Saturday, December 6.

Vandiver Comments: "We are excited for the 2025-2026 season. Our schedule pits the Golden Knights against the best competition in the country. We will return to the NWCA National Duals and make our first appearance at the Journeyman Women's College Duals, where we will face Iowa, Sacred Heart, King, and Elmira. The Gannon Women's Duals will feature a strong field, with three top 15 teams from last year, as well as Lehigh. The competition will mirror World Cup format, with two round robin pools and placing matches through 7th/8th. This is a great opportunity for the community to come out to see high level women's wrestling in a fun and competitive dual meet style competition."

4: Welcome to the NCAA – There is no doubt a mountain of excitement for the season ahead, as the women's wrestling program, and all programs across the country will compete for an NCAA championship for the first time. The NCAA added women's wrestling as its 91st championship sport in January of this year. While the NCAA regional location is still to be determined, the Golden Knights seek to defend a first-ever regional crown. Gannon is aiming to have a strong showing at the inaugural NCAA Women's Wrestling National Championships in Corallville, IA, on March 6-7, 2026. Last year Vandiver's squad took home 14th place at the NCWWC National Championships.

Vandiver Comments: "This is, without question, an epic year for our program. We're calling it the Golden Era. We don't want to forget this milestone, and cherish the fact that we are now an NCAA championship sport. It gets lost a little bit if you're not reminded about it. It's special and unique, and we want to be able to enjoy those moments and cherish the opportunity that we have."

Full 2025-26 Schedule (Pictured Below)