OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma City University women's wrestling team enters the 2026-27 season after being ranked No. 17 in the NAIA last season, poised to build on recent championship momentum under Sooner Athletic Conference Coach of the Year William McKinney.
 
With an experienced veteran core and a talented trio of newcomers, the Stars' 2026-27 roster features 12 athletes focused on transforming national tournament appearances into hardware.
 
"We have had a national finalist in each of the past two seasons, and it's time we bring home another national champion," McKinney said. "We also have several wrestlers working toward their first All-American finish. They are putting in the work every day to become better wrestlers and be ready to perform their best in March."
 
Veteran Core Ready for Podium Chase
The foundation of this year's squad relies on a battle-tested group of returning upperclassmen. McKinney expects a collective leap forward from the veterans, many of whom are primed to break through on the national stage.
 
"We expect improvement across our entire returning group," McKinney said. "They bring valuable experience and a better understanding of what it takes to compete at this level. Several are coming back from injuries or looking to build on the progress they made last season. With consistent effort, accountability, and support for one another, we expect them to compete for a spot on the podium this year."
 
The lower weights feature heavy senior experience, led by Sofia Abramson, Wachipi Hamelryck and returning NAIA finalist Avery Jansing. They are joined by returning senior Natalia Posada to anchor the lighter half of the lineup.
 
Moving into the upper weight classes, senior Makayla Munoz and senior Rayleigh Fisher bring significant power to the middle of the order, while senior Corin Lowe, junior Symphony Mankwe, and sophomore Allie Brose look to shut down opponents at the top of the card.
 
Rather than capping his athletes' potential, McKinney emphasizes that the ceiling remains high for the entire roster, provided they maintain their team culture.
 
"All of our returning wrestlers have the potential to reach the podium this year," McKinney said. "We need them to hold themselves accountable, support their teammates, and consistently push one another to improve. Ultimately, we need them to believe in each other and respond. If they stay committed to that process, there is no limit to what they can accomplish."
 
Newcomers Set to Make Immediate Impact
Adding to the seasoned roster is a small but potent freshman recruiting class. The coaching staff expects the fresh faces to shake up the national rankings immediately rather than treating this as a developmental year.
 
Local standout Hannah Lopez (Moore, Okla.) stays close to home, while twin sisters Jaelyn Skelley and Tayla Skelley arrive from Prosper, Texas, to inject explosive depth into the Stars' lower and middle weight classes.
 
"We have three promising newcomers," McKinney said. "As they adjust to the pace and physical demands of college wrestling, we expect them to compete with the best wrestlers in the country and contend for All-American honors."
 
Benchmarks and Daily Mission
The Stars have lined up a demanding schedule to test their lineup before the postseason. A mid-season trip to a premier national tournament will serve as the ultimate litmus test.
 
"Missouri Valley is consistently one of the toughest tournaments in women's college wrestling," McKinney said. "It gives us a valuable measure of where we stand against the top teams in the country and shows us what we need to improve before March."
 
While the team's postseason benchmarks are high, McKinney anchors the program's daily mindset in holistic development.
 
"Our mission is to bring home a team trophy, develop national champions, and produce All-Americans," McKinney said. "But our daily goal is simple: be better today than we were yesterday as students, athletes, and people. If we commit to improving in each of those areas, we put ourselves in a stronger position to achieve our competitive mission."
 
The season culminates in March at the NAIA National Championships, an event the Stars have spent months preparing for.
 
"Nationals is the event we build toward all season," McKinney said. "Our mission is to arrive prepared, confident, and ready to wrestle our best when it matters most."