SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (March 18, 2025) – Eight members of the Western New England women's wrestling team have been announced as 2025 NCAA Women's Scholar All-Americans by the National Wrestling Coaches Association. The eight student-athletes named is a program record. 

The eight outstanding student-athletes that don the blue and gold have demonstrated excellence both on the mat and in the classroom, meeting one of the following athletic and academic requirements. To gain recognition, a women's wrestler must either be a top eight placer at nationals and have at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA). A student-athlete must have competed in a minimum of 15 matches that are recorded in TrackWrestling and have at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA. The final potential qualification includes being a national qualifier who has at least a 3.25 cumulative GPA. 

Noelle Alexander picks up honors for the first time in her career, pursuing a degree in management and leadership from Western New England. Alexander shined in her first year as a Golden Bear, going 18-7 overall in the 145 lb. weight class. Alexander placed sixth overall at the NCWWC Region 1 event. Alexander's season can be highlighted by starting the year with 15 wins in her first 16 matches overall. Alexander earns Scholar All-American status for the first time in her career.

First-year Abigail Alicandro wrestled in 34 matches overall for the Golden Bears this season, coming away with a 23-11 record. Alicandro wrestled all 34 matches at 131 lbs. and placed fifth overall in the NCWWC Region 1 event. Alicandro would also take fifth place overall at the Will Abele Invitational, an impressive placement for the Oxford, Massachusetts native. Alicandro earns Scholar All-American status for the first time in her career. Alicandro is working on a Bachelor of Arts in Law at Western New England. 

Linda Holeman wrestled to the NCWWC National Championships this season, one of seven Golden Bears to reach the national stage. Holeman was 31-4 on the year for Western New England, earning multiple first-place finishes in the 124 lb. weight class, including at the Will Abele Invitational while also coming in first place at the NCWWC Region I event to punch her ticket to the national stage. Despite starting the season with two losses in her first three matches, Holeman won 30 of her final 32 matches on the year. The WNE sophomore earns Scholar All-American status for the second time in her career. Holeman is working on a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice at Western New England.

Rebecca Kilday wrestled in 15 matches on the year for the Golden Bears, fluctuating between the 138 lb. and 145 lb. weight classes. Kilday also picked up a victory in the 160 lb. weight class this season over Maine Maritime Academy in a quad match. Kilday finished her 2024-2025 campaign with a win in the 138 lb. weight class over Centenary University's Jenna Magrino on a fall in 1:52. For Kilday, this is the second straight season earning Scholar All-American. Kilday is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Degree in Mechanical Engineering at Western New England. 

Mikayla Maloy went 15-14 for Western New England this season in the 180 lb. weight class. Maloy's season wrapped up in the NCWWC Region 1 event where the WNE sophomore earned a sixth-place finish at the event, winning three matches there overall. Maloy also finished sixth at the New Standard Corporation Invitational, hosted by York College (Pa.) in December. For Maloy, this is the second straight season in which she has received Scholar All-American status. Maloy is working towards a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from Western New England. 

First year Evangeline Moran was on the mat in ten matches for Western New England this season, earning five victories. Moran's first win of the season came at the East Stroudsburg University Open, going 2-2 overall at the event. Moran ended the 2024-2025 campaign with a victory in dual action over New England College, picking up a fall victory in 2:13. Moran earned Scholar All-American status for the first time in her career. Moran is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Degree in Finance. 

Samantha Rabkin owned the 207 lb. weight class this season for the blue and gold, coming up with a 24-10 overall record. Rabkin finished the NCWWC Region 1 event in fifth place in the weight class, coming away with a win in her final match of the season, an 11-0 technical fall victory. Rabkin was a mainstay for the Golden Bears in the starting lineup and would place fifth overall at 207 at the ESU Open to start the season. For Rabkin, this is the first Scholar All-American recognition of her career. Rabkin is working on a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Studies. 

Tanya Teneva was a force to be reckoned with on the mat this season in the 138 lb. weight class, coming up with a 27-3 overall record. After starting the season with two losses, two forfeit wins, and a technical fall victory, Teneva dropped nearly every opponent she faced, winning 27 straight matches overall. Teneva came in second place overall at 138 in the NCWWC Region 1 event to automatically qualify for the NCWWC National Championships and would pick up a win on the national stage over Fort Hayes State University's AshLynn Goodwin before falling just short to end the season. This is the first Scholar All-American recognition for Teneva in her career.  Teneva is pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Technology. 

The eight Golden Bears who have received Scholar All-American honors are the most in the program's history, up three student-athletes from last year's program record of five. As a team, Western New England women's wrestling finished out the year with a 17-4 dual match record, placed first as a team at the New Standard Corporation Invitational, second overall at the Will Abele Invitational, and third overall as a team, sending seven national qualifiers to the NCWWC National Championships, a program record.