How High Will The Mountain Hawk Women Fly This Season?

By every measure, Lehigh's first sanctioned college women's wrestling season was a success. The Mountain Hawks crowned their first individual NCAA champion, had two additional All-Americans, and sent five wrestlers to the inaugural NCAA Women's Wrestling Championships in Coralville, Iowa.

The team finished sixth behind McKendree, Iowa, North Central, Grand Valley State, and Presbyterian, compiling a 15-2 dual record, with losses to Iowa and Presbyterian. 

Now, the fun begins.

Head coach Brazel Marquez went to work in the off-season, securing a monster recruiting class that will surely elevate the team's national standing.

Is this a top-five team, though? 

The Mountain Hawks were 29.5 points behind Presbyterian for fifth at the NCAA Championships, and 116.5 behind team champion McKendree. National tournament points are hard to come by, so closing the gap on the field and earning a trophy (given to the top four teams) will take a group effort.

Marquez has the personnel to make it happen. 

Jimenez returns for her sophomore campaign after winning the 110-pound NCAA title. An injury sidelined her 2026 international season, but she is the favorite at her weight.

Returning All-Americans Abbi Cooper (7th at 117) and Aubre Krazer (3rd at 131) join returning national qualifiers Cece Ravenelle (138) and Genevieve An (180) as the team's foundation. All five scored points at the NCAA Championships and are key pieces to the team's success. 

This season's incoming class will determine how high the Mountain Hawks fly. 

Alex Alli is an immediate national title contender at 160 pounds after spending time at the Elite Accelerator Program at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. Thirteen additional incoming freshmen will make this one of the most promising and exciting teams for years to come.

"I couldn't be more excited about leading the team here at Lehigh. It's such a unique place; I'm grateful that all these women understand and see the value that Lehigh has to offer. They're smart women. Because of that, we are attracting smart, talented women to this program, and we are stoked to see how this season pans out. 

"I've been working very hard all summer to ensure we have a well-organized, well-oiled machine this year. Year two will be even greater than year one, for many different reasons. We also have a tougher schedule this year. 

"I'm excited to test our program against some of the best and make any adjustments needed before the NCAA Championships to ensure a successful postseason. Everything is about planning, thinking ahead, and putting the athletes first. 

"We have so many great girls on the team, and I can't wait to see what our group of freshmen look like in four years. We are going to put our heads down and work. We don't get lost in the sauce with all the social media noise and rankings. We will always continue to keep the main thing, the main thing."

Head coach: Brazel Marquez (second season)

Assistants: Guesseppe Rea, Olivia Pizano, Kaylynn Albrecht, and Justin Ciliotta

2026 NCAA tournament finish: 6th

2026 NCAA tournament record: 13-7

2026 NCAA tournament points: 54.5

2026 dual record: 15-2

Returning All-Americans: 3 (Audrey Jimenez, Abbi Cooper, Aubre Krazer)

Returning NCAA qualifiers: 5 (Audrey Jimenez, Abbi Cooper, Aubre Krazer, Cece Ravenelle, Genevieve An)

Last NCAA champion: Audrey Jimenez (2026)

Highest NCAA tournament finish: 6th (2026)

Highest NCAA tournament finish under Marquez: 6th (2026)

Most national placers in a season under Marquez: 3 (2026)

Reese Adams, 124, Merrick, N.Y./Sanford Calhoun
Alex Alli, 160, Columbus, Ohio/Ohio Connections Academy
Ava Fodera, 110, Poway, Calif./Poway
Carolina Hattala, 207, Quakertown, Pa./Quakertown
Sarah Henckel, 160, Southbury, Conn./Blair Academy
Ryen Hickey, 145, Golden, Colo./Chatfield
Zorina Johnson, 131, Portland, Ore./Ida B. Wells
Lina Lockard, 145, Brooklyn, N.Y./Brooklyn Tech
Morgan Lucio, 138, Casa Grande, Ariz./Valiant Prep
Stevie Joyce Martin, 124, Castro Valley, Calif./Granada
Teagan McGuiness, 180, Endicott, N.Y./Union Endicott
Phoenix Molina, 207, Sadorus, Ill/Unity
Natalie Radecki, 110, Newark, Del./Caravel Academy
Charlie Wylie, 103, Montague, N.J./Port Jervis

103: Charlie Wylie, Hattie Mack 
Wylie will challenge Mack for the starting spot after a successful high school career that included a Fargo title and two New York state championships. Mack was last year's starter and went 2-2 at NCAA regionals. 

110: Audrey Jimenez, Natalie Radecki, Ava Fodera 
Radecki and Fodera add depth behind one of the country's most dynamic wrestlers. 

117: Abbi Cooper, Avery Hines, Olivia Adams 
Cooper is a returning All-American (7th) who went 3-2 at the NCAA Championships, falling to national finalist Riley Rayome in the quarterfinals. 

124: SJ Martin, Alexa Ciliotta, Reese Adams, Natalia Accorsi
Ciliotta had a solid 2026 campaign as the starter, finishing 17-15 and 4-2 at regionals. She will be challenged by incoming freshmen Martin and Adams, as well as sophomore Accorsi.

131: Aubre Krazer, Zorina Johnson
Krazer was 24-1 last season, finishing third at the NCAA Championships in a deep weight. 

138: Morgan Lucio, Cece Ravenelle, Mary Manis, Morgan Edwards 
Lucio will vie for the starting spot after a stellar high school career at Valliat College Prep in Arizona. Ravenelle went 1-2 at the NCAA Championships, compiling a 21-9 season record. 

145: Ryen Hickey, Sarah Henckel, Julia Fongaro, Lina Lockard, Makynna Loepp, Sydney Thompson 
Marquez has options. An incoming freshman will likely start. 

160: Alex Alli, Sarah Henckel, Cameron Millsapps, Paige DeCaro, Piper Zatechka  
Alli will factor heavily into Lehigh's national finish. She placed third at the 2026 Senior US Open at 72 kg and the U20 World Team Trials, and was a U23 National champion. 

180: Genevieve An, Teagan McGuinness, Brynn Shepardson 
An was 26-12 last season and can put points on the board. She's a returning national qualifier. 

207: Caroline Hattala, Phoenix Molina
Incoming freshmen Hattala and Molina will battle for the top spot.