MANHEIM, Pa.— The National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) has released its Women's Preseason Coaches' Poll for the '26-'27 season. With two returning All-Americans, Eastern University Women's Wrestling starts its second season ranked No. 12 overall. 

With a strong second recruiting class including 13 first-years and a transfer, the Eagles are now able to fill all ten weight classes. 

Sophomores Savannah Witt and Zoey Haines are ranked atop the region at 124 and 145, and both enter the season ranked in the top five nationally. Going into the National Tournament, Witt had just a single loss and secured bonus-point wins in all but one of her 30 wins. She finished the season 33-3. Haines finished the season as the national leader in pins. 

Josey Wehr, the team's lone senior, is ranked second in the region at 117. Sophomore Ava Paul, a West Deptford, N.J. native and transfer from Bethany College, is also ranked second. 

After punting on the weight class all last year, the Eagles have depth and quality at 131. Paige Weiss and Marlowe Donato were both multi-year place-winners at the New Jeresy State Championships. Similarly, the Eagles have quality at the top two weight classes. Alexus Padden won 109 matches in high school and placed three times in the New Jersey State Championships, and Esmeralda Perez brings a nationally-ranked pedigree and Pennsylvania State Finalist resume to the top weight class. 

The 2026-27 season is the final season for Women's Wrestling to be a combined Championship. McKendree University and the University of Iowa are the top two teams in this year's poll. The Eagles are one of five Division III teams in the preseason top-25. North Central is fourth, Simpson and Aurora are tied with Eastern at No. 12, and Wartburg is tied for No. 17. 

The Eagles will open the year at the Princeton Open on Nov. 1.