SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (November 14, 2024) – Western New England women's wrestling has been ranked 21st nationally by The Open Mat while sitting fifth overall in the latest November regional rankings, as announced by the Region I NCWWC Coaches Poll. Additionally, six Golden Bears rank in the top five of their respective weight classes after two wins at home last weekend.

The 21st ranking for the Golden Bears is their highest in program history, after being ranked 22nd overall to start the season. Western New England women's wrestling has achieved multiple successes on the mat this season, just two weekends into the schedule, including a triumphant 26-21 victory over 13th-ranked East Stroudsburg University last Saturday evening. The win was the first for Western New England over a ranked opponent on home soil, marking their third victory overall over a ranked opponent in the program's short history. Western New England was also announced as the fifth-ranked team in the region following their victory last weekend over ESU. Regionally, the Golden Bears have six wrestlers ranked in the top five of their respective weight classes, tied for the third most in the region out of 12 teams. Those athletes include Claudia King, Hailey Laabs, Linda Holeman, Abigail Alicandro, Atiyana Williams, and Samantha Rabkin.

King picked up two forfeit wins for the Golden Bears this past weekend in the 103 lb. weight class, against New England College and 13th-ranked East Stroudsburg University. The two victories for the Katy, Texas, native were her first two as a Golden Bear. King now ranks fourth in the regional poll in the 103 lb. weight class.

Laabs has accumulated two wins so far this season for the Golden Bears in the 110 lb. weight class. Laabs sits fifth regionally in the weight class after going 2-2 overall at the East Stroudsburg University Open to begin the 2024-2025 season. Her two wins were both pinfall victories, coming in one minute and 13 seconds and 40 seconds, respectively.

Holeman sits third overall for Western New England in the 124 lb. weight class regionally, having come away with two major victories this past weekend against NEC and ESU. To open the evening against the Pilgrims, Holeman collected a technical fall victory with ease, defeating her opponent by a 10-0 score. Holeman then battled in her next match against ESU's Waverly Kanelong, picking up a hard-fought 8-7 decision to help the Golden Bears secure a team win over the Warriors. In addition to being ranked third regionally in the weight class, the sophomore also ranks 19th nationally.

Alicandro recorded her first two wins on the mat this past weekend for Western New England with impressive performances. In her opening match against New England College, Alicandro needed just 36 seconds to secure a 10-0 technical fall victory, marking her first collegiate win. The Oxford, Massachusetts, native then went to work again in the 131 lb. weight class against ESU, earning a pinfall victory in 2:12 to sweep the evening with two wins. Alicandro now ranks fourth overall in the weight class.

Williams has won seven of nine matches so far to open the season, going 5-2 in the 160 lb. weight class at the East Stroudsburg University Open while also achieving two victories in the team's home opener. Williams picked up four pinfall victories at the ESU Open, with times of 29 seconds, 51 seconds, one minute and 33 seconds, and two minutes and two seconds. Williams earned her first technical fall win over New England College's Karime Carmarena-Tejada, taking a 10-0 win in 1:09. The Pemberton, New Jersey, native then earned her fifth fall victory of the season over ESU's Jade Huerta, with a pin in 1:23 to improve to 7-2 on the season. Williams now ranks fifth regionally in the 160 lb. weight class.

Rabkin has lost just two matches this season for the Golden Bears, boasting a 5-2 overall record. Rabkin collected a win via technical fall in her opening match, a 10-0 victory in 3:11. Rabkin went on to secure two fall victories at the ESU Open. A native of Sharon, Massachusetts, Rabkin's biggest win of the season came at the Western New England duals, where she secured a 2-1 decision to clinch a 26-20 team victory over the Warriors that night. Rabkin is currently ranked third regionally in the 207 lb. weight class.

The Western New England women's wrestling team is back in action on Sunday, November 17 at 10:00 AM taking on two regional opponents in Maine Maritime Academy and Buffalo State University from the Anthony S. Caprio Alumni Healthful Living Center.