WW Recruits

Women's Wrestling Bob Shreve, Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations

Promising Group of Recruits Bolsters 2025-26 Women's Wrestling Roster

ERIE, Pa. – Gannon University women's wrestling coach Erin Vandiver has announced the addition of 11 recruits for her 2025-26 team. The list includes four transfers and seven freshmen.
 
Vandiver enters her third year at the helm of the Golden Knights looking to continue to build Gannon into one of the top teams in the country. Her 2024-25 squad made great strides, setting the record for duals wins while finishing at 11-4. The Golden Knights went on to capture first place at the Region 4 Championships, qualifying nine wrestlers for the NCWWC National Championships. Gannon placed 14th out of 64 teams at the National Championships.  
 
"We're excited to be bringing in eleven new team members for the 2025-2026 season," commented Vandiver. "This group is experienced and ready to contribute right away. This recruiting class includes state and national champions, a Pan-American champion, and a collegiate national qualifier. 
 
"It's great to have five Pennsylvania natives joining our squad, considering the strong wrestling tradition within the state," she continued. "With this promising recruiting class, combined with our eight returning previous national qualifiers, we expect big things out of the Golden Knight wrestlers this season."
 
Here's a look at the latest additions to the women's wrestling roster:
 
Freshmen
Sierra Chiesa – 124 lbs.
West Springfield, Pa. / Northwestern High School
2023 USAW U16 Fargo National Champion; #2 in current HS national rankings; 2025 USAW U20 National team member 55kg
 
Joelle Scott  -- 131 lbs.
Cranesville, Pa. / SPIRE Academy
2024 JCU Women's Open Champion; 2023 USAW Central Regional Junior Champion
 
Caroline Biegel – 207 lb.
Lakeland, N.J. / DePaul Catholic High School
2025 NJSIAA New Jersey State Champion (NJ); ranked as high as #2 in HS national rankings
 
Kennedy Perez  -- 117 lbs.
Livonia, Mich. / Stevenson High School
2025 MHSAA State Championships 4th; Grappler Fall Classic U15 & High School Champion
 
Kamila Castro – 145 lbs.
Ridgewood, N.J. / Prospect High School
2025 USAW NJ Freestyle State Champion; 2025 NJSIAA State Runner-Up (NJ)
 
Anaya Velez  -- 145 lbs.
Bethlehem, Pa. / Freedom Area High School
2024 PIAA District 11 District 4th place
 
Erin Wright  -- 160 lbs.
Odenton, Md. / Arundel High School
2025 MSWA Archbishop Spalding FS Open Champion
 
Transfers 
Rose Cassioppi – 160 lbs. R-So. (Univ. of Iowa)
Roscoe, Ill. / Hononegah High School 
2023 US Senior Open Runner-Up; 2021 Pan-Am Champion; 2022 IHSA State Champion (IL)
At Iowa in 2024-25:  Overall record of 12-6 with 11 tech falls; 2-1 in dual competition; placed 2nd at 2024 Luther Hill Open; placed 4th at 2025 Grand View Open
 
Leyna Rumpler – 160 lbs. – So. (Baldwin Wallace University)
Wexford, Pa. / North Allegheny High School
2025 NCWWC National Qualifier; 2024 PIAA State Runner-Up (PA)
At Baldwin-Wallace in 2024-25: NWCA Scholar All-American; NCWWC National Championships qualifier at 160 pounds; finished second at Region 4 Championships at 160 pounds; 160-pound champion at West Liberty Open; 160-pound champion at BW Open; 160-pound champion at Tiffin Open; second on team with 21 wins; tied for second on team with 12 pins and third on team with four technical falls
 
Jaylene Martinez – 138 lbs. – Jr. (Cerritos College)
Whittier, Cal. / Whittier High School
2024, 2025 CA Community College State Runner-Up; 2025 US Senior Open Top 12
At Cerritos in 2024-25: Finished with a 12-8 record at 138 lbs.; helped team to third straight 3C2A State Championship with second-place finish. In 2023-24 also advanced to the finals of the 3C2A State Championships at 136 pounds; had 15-10 overall … helped the team win the 3C2A Team Dual State Championship with wins in two of her three matches… finished third at the Leader of the Pack Tournament.
 
Ava Weibley – 124 lbs. – So. (York College)
Carlisle, Pa. / Big Spring High School
At York: Part of first women's wrestling team at York (Pa.) in 2023-24; 2023 Wasps Women's Open 8th Place 
 
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