INDIANAPOLIS – McKendree was voted first in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) women’s wrestling preseason coaches’ poll presented by Primo Designs, the conference office announced Wednesday.
The preseason poll is selected by the league’s head coaches, who, per GLVC Bylaws, are not permitted to vote for their own team.
No. 1 McKendree
- Received six first-place votes and 36 total points.
- 2026 GLVC regular season champions and 2026 NCAA Women’s Wrestling Champions.
- Ended the 2025-26 season 16-1 overall and 5-0 in GLVC play.
- Head coach Alexio Garcia enters his fifth season with the program, with an all-time record of 33-10 at McKendree.
- Return 117 lb. national champion and Two-Time All-American Yu Sakamoto.
No. 2 Grand Valley State
- Received the other first-place vote and 31 total points.
- Placed fourth at the inaugural NCAA Women’s Wrestling Championship last season.
- Ended the 2025-26 season 12-3 overall and 4-1 in GLVC competition.
- Head coach Jake Short enters his second season with the team after leading 2 wrestlers to be crowned as national champions in their respective weight classes last year.
- Return 117 lb. Kiely Tabaldo, 117 lb. Aspen Blasko, and 145 lb. Margaret Buurma, all national qualifiers.
No. 3 Northern Michigan
- Received 25 total points.
- Head coach Adam Wilson enters his second season with the program after leading three wrestlers to the NCAA Championships last season.
- Return three national qualifiers in 145 lb. Alissa Caltagirone, 160 lb. Sophia Bassino, and 180 lb. Abbie Miles.
No. 4 Quincy
- Received 21 total points.
- Ended the 2025-26 season 7-8 overall and 2-3 in GLVC play.
- Head coach Jeff Haley enters his fifth season with the Hawks, having led the program to a ninth place finish in the inaugural NCAA Women’s Wrestling Championship last season.
- Return 138 lb. Sereena Baca, as well as 138 lb. Maddy Barton and 145 lb. Julia Chambers.
Rounding out the poll respectively in fifth through seventh are William Jewell (14 points), Upper Iowa (8), and Davenport (6).
The complete poll and voting results can be found below.
2026 GLVC WOMEN’S WRESTLING PRESEASON POLL
| Place |
School |
Points (first-place votes) |
| 1. |
McKendree |
36 (6) |
| 2. |
Grand Valley State |
31 (1) |
| 3. |
Northern Michigan |
25 |
| 4. |
Quincy |
21 |
| 5. |
William Jewell |
14 |
| 6. |
Upper Iowa |
8 |
| 7. |
Davenport |
6 |