McKendree Women Bring Loaded Lineup Into 2026 Season

McKendree hasn’t updated head coach Alexio Garcia’s coaching profile since 2023, but we will get you up to speed on what’s transpired since he was hired in 2022. 

The Bearcats were the team to beat, winning the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships from 2020-22 under Sam Schmitz. In 2022, Garcia inherited a winning program ravaged by the transfer portal. He snagged a few high-profile transfers — highlighted by Emily Shilson — and secured monster recruiting classes. 

The team performed admirably, finishing third, fourth, and third at nationals from 2023-25, with Iowa winning the past two titles. His 2025 team had five individual national finalists — the most of any school — and one champion. 

Now, for the 2025-26 season, with the first official NCAA women’s wrestling championships looming, McKendree women’s wrestling belongs completely to Garcia. 

And his team is good. Scary good.

McKendree returns five national finalists, including two champions. That’s on top of Japan’s 2024 U23 World champion Yu Sakamoto, who transferred from Northern Michigan, Duda Rodriguez, a 2025 U20 World bronze medalist for Brazil, and incoming freshman Heather Crull, a 2024 U23 National champion. There’s also All-Americans Alex Szkotnicki, Savannah Gomez, and Lydia Krauss. 

Oh, and four-time national champion Cam Guerin has a year of eligibility. There’s no telling if she will return for a final season, but Garcia has an ace of diamonds up his sleeve if he wants to use it. 

We don't know who will wrestle where or how the team will materialize, but, on paper, the Bearcats are fierce. 

No team can match Iowa’s depth, but McKendree only has to prepare for one Iowa hammer this season instead of multiple. 

Tristan Kelly is the returning 2025 national champion at 207 pounds, but Garcia has Sandy Guerrero, a 191-pound NCWWC national champion for New Jersey City University in 2024, who transferred for her final season. 

Either could slot in at the heaviest two weights, but the entire country will do its best to avoid 180 since Iowa’s Kylie Welker is there. 

Gabby Tedesco (103), Shelby Moore (124), and Haylie Jaffe (138) are title contenders after reaching the 2025 national finals. 

McKendree will likely show its hand when it matters most, presumably the National Duals and definitely regionals and nationals, but, if everything materializes, this team has a legitimate shot at winning the inaugural NCAA women’s wrestling championships in March. 

2025-26 McKendree Overview

Head coach: Alexio Garcia (fourth season)

2025 NCWWC tournament finish: 3rd

2025 NCWWC tournament record: 46-22

2025 NCWWC tournament points: 158.5

2025 dual record: 14-4

Returning All-Americans: 9 (Gabby Tedesco, Yu Sakamoto, Shelby Moore, Alex Szkotnicki, Haylie Jaffe, Savannah Gomez, Lydia Krauss, Tristan Kelly, Sandy Guerrero)

Last college national champion: Tristan Kelly (2025)

Highest national tournament finish: 1st (2020, 2021, 2022)

Highest national team finish under Garcia: 3rd (2023, 2025)

Most national placers in a season under Garcia: 5 (2025)

2025-26 Prospective Line-up

103 Pounds

Gabby Tedesco (2nd)

Katey Valdez

110 Pounds

Heather Crull

Yu Sakamoto (3rd), U23 World champion

117 Pounds

Yu Sakamoto (3rd), U23 World champion

Heather Crull

Jenna Beddow

Norah Swaim

124 Pounds

Shelby Moore (5th, 2nd)

131 Pounds

Alex Szkotnicki (3rd)

138 Pounds

Haylie Jaffe (2nd)

145 Pounds

Savannah Gomez (7th)

Duda Rodrigues, 2025 U20 World bronze

160 Pounds

Lydia Krauss (5th, 8th)

Duda Rodrigues, 2025 U20 World bronze

Destiny Rodriguez

Alison Evans

180 Pounds

Tristan Kelly (3rd, 3rd, 1st)

Sandy Guerrero (8th, 7th, 1st)

Rylee Ferranti

Alison Evans

207 Pounds

Tristan Kelly (3rd, 3rd, 1st)

Sandy Guerrero (8th, 7th, 1st)

Manusiu Muti

Rylee Ferranti