The New Season Takes Shape ?
— Utica Pioneers (@Utica_Pioneers) November 3, 2026
The 2026-27 Utica women's wrestling season preview is now live! Visit our athletics website for more on the season ahead!
#FearTheMoose #GoPioneers #d3wrestle https://t.co/KX1jBUkT5T
UTICA, NY - The Utica University women's wrestling team will open its 2026-27 season on Saturday, November 7th, when the Pioneers travel to compete in the Ithaca Invitational. Utica returns two wrestlers from last year's squad and welcomes one newcomer as head coach Carmela Cancelmo and assistant coaches Joe Stever and Brian Stever begin their second season leading the program. The orange and blue will return home the following weekend to host the Utica Women's Scramble on Sunday, November 15th.
Last Season's Results: The Pioneers recorded 39 individual victories during the 2025-26 season, including 18 wins by fall and one by technical fall. Seven wrestlers contributed to the win total, led by Jackie Mace's (Montour Falls, NY/Odessa-Montour) 10 victories. Hannah Kusmierczak (Rome, NY/Holland Patent) followed with nine wins, while Natalie Enriquez (Mastic Beach, NY/William Floyd) recorded eight, including five pins.
Among the returning Pioneers, Paityn Billard (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) collected four victories, including one by fall. Octavia Dragotta (Utica, NY/Thomas R. Proctor) also gained experience across her first season with the program, competing at 124 and 131 pounds.
Minds Behind the Mat: Cancelmo returns for her second season as Utica's head coach, joined by assistant coaches Joe Stever and Brian Stever. A native of Mohawk, New York, Cancelmo came to Utica following her collegiate wrestling career at East Stroudsburg University, where she was a three-time Academic All-American.
On the mat, Cancelmo posted a 7-2 record during her senior season and placed second at the Millersville Open in her final competition for the Warriors. She also placed sixth at the Pennsylvania Women's Collegiate State Championships that year. Prior to coming to Utica, she gained coaching experience with the girls wrestling team at Little Falls High School.
The Schedule Ahead: Utica's schedule features seven events, beginning with Saturday's Ithaca Invitational. The Pioneers will compete at Ithaca College's Ben Light Gymnasium, with action scheduled to begin at 4:00 pm.
The following Sunday, November 15th, the orange and blue will host the Utica Women's Scramble at Miga Court in the Clark Athletic Center Gymnasium. Utica will close out its fall semester with trips to the Wilkes Women's Open on November 22nd and the Muhlenberg Novice Tournament on December 6th.
Following the semester break, the Pioneers will return to competition at the Alfred State Pioneer Invite on January 10th. Utica will then travel to the Ithaca College Duals on January 17th before closing its listed schedule at the Wilkes Women's Duals on January 31st.
Returning to the Mat: Billard enters her senior season after recording four wins for the Pioneers a year ago. She competed at 180 and 207 pounds during the 2025-26 campaign and is listed at 160 and 180 pounds for the upcoming season. The New Hartford native was also recognized with the team's Most Resilient award last year.
Dragotta returns for her sophomore season after competing in 28 bouts as a freshman. She is listed at 110 and 117 pounds for the upcoming campaign, following a first season in which she competed at 124 and 131 pounds.
A New Pioneer: Freshman Cheyenne Cook (Mexico, NY/Mexico) joins the orange and blue after wrestling during her junior and senior years at Mexico High School. Listed at 117 pounds, Cook also competed in soccer, cheerleading, and lacrosse during her high school career.
Up Next: After opening the season in Ithaca, the Pioneers will return to Utica to host the Utica Women's Scramble on Sunday, November 15th, at Miga Court in the Clark Athletic Center Gymnasium.