GREENVILLE, S.C. – The 2026-27 season marks the third year of women's wrestling in Conference Carolinas, in partnership with the South Atlantic Conference, and the second season in which the sport will be contested as an NCAA championship.
King University has captured the first two conference titles, and the Tornado enter the 2026-27 campaign as the preseason favorite to claim a third consecutive championship.
King received 7of-8 first place votes and 49 total points to take the top spot. The Tornado were followed by Emmanuel University with 43 points and the final first place vote. The University of Mount Olive came in third with 36 points.
Emory & Henry University (27), Allen University (24), Lincoln Memorial University (18), Newberry College (16) and Bluefield State University (11) rounded out the poll.
The preseason poll was voted on by the league's head coaches and they can't vote for their own school.
2026-27 Conference Carolinas
Women's Wrestling Preseason Poll
|
School |
Points (1st Place) |
| 1 |
King |
49 (7) |
| 2 |
Emmanuel |
43 (1) |
| 3 |
Mount Olive |
36 |
| 4 |
Emory & Henry |
27 |
| 5 |
Allen |
24 |
| 6 |
Lincoln Memorial |
18 |
| 7 |
Newberry |
16 |
| 8 |
Bluefield State |
11 |
2026-27 Conference Carolinas Women's Wrestling
Wrestlers to Watch
Allen
- Cathia Timas, Sr., Kissimmee, Florida (NCWA All-America)
- Katlyn Fields, So., Cedartown, Georgia
- Isis Severe, So., North Miami, Florida (NCAA national qualifier)
Bluefield State
- Caitlynn Ashh, Jr., 117, St Albans, West Virginia
- Charneice McClarence, Jr., 138, Atlanta, Georgia
- Yelena Torres Guzman, Fr., 209, Dalton, Maryland
Emmanuel
- Karissa Turnwall, Sr., Murrieta, California (Three-time All-America, Two Conference Carolinas Wrestler of the Year, All-Conference Carolinas first team, Regional champion, Pan-Am U23 Gold Medalist, U23 national champion, US Open third place)
- Alexandra Ford, So., Laurel, Maryland (NCAA Regional third place, All-Conference Carolinas first team)
- Gemma Templeman, Tremonton, Utah (NCAA Regional third place, All-Conference Carolinas second team)
Emory & Henry
- Molly Keller, Sr., 145, Fairlawn, Virginia (Two-time All-Conference Carolinas second team)
- Rihana Carson, Jr., 160, Roanoke, Virginia
- Eryn Hubble, 5th, 180, Leesburg, Virginia
King
- Stella Steigler, Sr., 160, Orange County, Virginia (Two-time All-America, Region champion)
- Virginia Foard, Jr., 124 Madison, Virginia (Two-time All-America, Region champion)
- Ruby Julien-Newsom, So., 130, San Diego, California (NCAA All-America, Region champion)
Lincoln Memorial
- Shonticia Taft, Jr., Marietta, Georgia (2025-26 NCAA Region Three placer)
- Hannah Parrish, So., Maryville, Tennessee (Two-time USA Wrestling Team Tennessee member)
- Neveah Morgan, So., Cleveland, Tennessee (2025-26 NCAA Region Three placer)
Mount Olive
- Lily Prendergast, Jr., 103, Southport, North Carolina (2026 NCAA National Championships qualifier, NCAA Region Three third place)
- Bella Murillo, So., 131, Wilson, North Carolina (NCAA Region Three fourth place)
- Kalyse Hill, So., 138, Daphne, Alabama (2026 NCAA National Championships qualifier, NCAA Region Three runner-up)
Newberry
- Lainey Hooper, Sr., 117, Fort Myers, Florida
- Rachel Hayes, Fr., Woodruff, South Carolina
- Serenity State, Fr., Boiling Springs, South Carolina