SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (October 8, 2026)  - The Western New England women's wrestling team is back in action for its fifth season as a program in 2026-27 and will open the season on November 1, as announced in today's schedule release. 

The Golden Bears have four home events scheduled this season, three dual matches, and the first time hosting the Golden Bear Invitational. The Blue and Gold will open the season at the East Stroudsburg University Open on Sunday, November 1, with first matches set to begin at 9:00 AM. WNE will then compete in its first tri-match of the season, traveling to Norwich University on Saturday, November 7, to take on the Cadets as well as the University of Bridgeport at 1:00 PM. Western New England opens its home schedule the next week, hosting New England College on Friday, November 13, at 5:00 PM from the Anthony S. Caprio Alumni Healthful Living Center. WNE will then be in action twice the following weekend, heading to the University of Bridgeport on Saturday, November 21, for the Bridgeport Open beginning at 9:00 AM before traveling further east, back to East Stroudsburg University for the ESU Duals on Sunday, November 22. 

Following a short rest for the Thanksgiving break, the Golden Bears will compete in two dual matches before breaking for the holiday. Western New England hosts Kean University on Friday, December 4, at 5:00 PM, meeting the Cougars for the first time in program history. Kean is entering its second season as an NCAA Division III program in 2026-27. The Golden Bears will end the first half of their schedule on the road when they meet the University of Bridgeport for the second time in dual action on the season, competing with the Purple Knights on Friday, December 11 at 7:00 PM. 

Western New England women's wrestling will ring in the new year far from home when they compete in the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) National Duals for the second straight season in Cedar Falls, Iowa. WNE finished in fourth place at the event last season out of 16 Division III teams. This season's event will take place from Friday, January 8-10 at the UNI Dome. The Golden Bears will return to dual action on Friday, January 15, at 4:00 PM, when they take on the Eagles of Eastern University on the road. The two teams will meet for the first time in program history. The Golden Bears will be right back in action the following morning when they head to the Will Abele Open on Saturday, January 16, at 10:00 AM, hosted by Ursinus College. 

WNE heads to New England College for the second meeting of the season with the Pilgrims on Wednesday, January 20, for dual action beginning at 6:00 PM. The Golden Bears will look to sweep the season meetings and remain undefeated all-time against NEC. From there, Western New England will host the Golden Bear Invitational, set for Sunday, January 24, beginning at 10:00 AM. WNE expects over 12 teams to compete on the day of the event. The final road tri-match of the season sends the Golden Bears to Lehigh University on Saturday, Jan. 30, at 1 p.m., where they will take on the Mountain Hawks and the University of Iowa Hawkeyes, one of the top women's wrestling programs in the country. Western New England's final dual match of the season will be at home on Friday, February 5, at 6:30 PM when the Pioneers of Sacred Heart University visit Springfield. 

The NCAA Regional Championships will take place on February 19-20 at Ithaca College's Athletics & Event Center. Qualifiers from the regional event will then compete at the NCAA National Championships in Coralville, Iowa, from March 5-6. Eight Golden Bears competed on the national stage last season, while 18 total have wrestled on the national stage over the program's four full seasons. To view the full WNE women's wrestling schedule, click here.