CORVALLIS, Ore. – In the first-ever Cascade Collegiate Conference women’s wrestling preseason coaches’ poll, Providence was selected to finish third behind preseason favorite Menlo College, the unanimous choice to win the team title, and No. 2 Southern Oregon.
Menlo made history by winning the first-ever NAIA Invitational last year and went undefeated in dual competition, producing 12 all-Americans and five champions, with eight grapplers in the NAIA Invitational finals. Providence, meanwhile, took 16th as a team at the championship meet.
Southern Oregon, which includes Billings West High alum Glory Konecny on the roster, was predicted to take second in the CCC this year. Konecny was an honorable mention all-American last season in helping the Raiders to an eighth-place finish at the NAIA Invitational.
Women’s wrestling became the eighth official sport in the CCC, with 2019-20 being the first year the conference sponsors the sport. Seven teams will compete in the first-ever CCC Championship Meet, held March 1, 2020, in Ashland, Ore. The 2020 NAIA Invitational will follow on March 13-14 at a site yet to be announced.
The NAIA has recognized the sport as an offering at the national level and must remain in the Invitational status for a minimum of three years. After the three years have passed, and if a minimum of 40 institutions in the NAIA sponsor it, women's wrestling will be considered for championship status. There are currently 30 institutions sponsoring the sport.
2019-20 CCC Women’s Wrestling Coaches’ Preseason Poll
First-place votes and total points at right
1. Menlo College (7) 49 pts
2. Southern Oregon University 42 pts
3. University of Providence 35 pts
4. Eastern Oregon University 24 pts
5. Life Pacific University 16 pts
T-6. Simpson University 15 pts
T-6. Warner Pacific University 15 pts
The NAIA women’s wrestling preseason poll will be released Oct. 24.
