MOUNT VERNON – Cornell's women's wrestling program claimed its first regional placewinner (Olivia Cotton) and first NWCA Scholar All-Americans (Averi Burke, Sidney Zimmerman) in 2025-26, while doubling its dual wins (four) from the previous three seasons combined.
 
The Rams are moving in the right direction under fourth-year head coach Boston Jacobs.
 
"We have a great group, a lot of team camaraderie. We're going to do well this season," said Jacobs, whose squad finished 4-5 in duals last year. "Our team came together at the end of last season. We established a core group and now the freshmen have come in and gravitated to them."    
 
The Rams get their season underway Saturday at the Pointer Open in Stevens Point, Wis. The team has early season home duals Nov. 18 (Central, Luther), Dec. 3 (Simpson) and Dec. 10 (Loras). The annual Cliff Keen-Mike Duroe Invitational is Jan. 16 in Mount Vernon.
 
Jacobs expects to field a full lineup this season with help from 10 first-year wrestlers in the program.
 
"We have a lot of freshmen who we feel good about," Jacobs said. "We have good quality individuals. The women are working very hard in the room and have big goals for the season. We're moving along a lot faster in the room this year."
 
Junior Burke (7-16 at 138 pounds) and sophomore Tori Maxey (12-10 at 180 pounds) both competed at last year's Region V Championships, where the Rams finished 10th out of 15 teams. Maxey went 2-2, one win short of placing.   
 
Zimmerman (160), a sophomore, finished 14-19 in her first collegiate season and led the Rams with 10 falls. The Rams also return junior Jasmine McCaskel (145), who missed most of last season after going 13-11 in 2024-25.
 
Sydney Newberg (160) is the lone senior on Cornell's young roster.
 
"We're going to continue to work hard and develop," Jacobs said. "My goal is to place higher at the QC Division III Invitational (16th of 30 last year) and push a few individuals through to nationals."
 
The Region Championships are Feb. 20-21 in Stevens Point, Wis. The NCAA Championships will be contested March 5-6 in Coralville.