WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – The Wilkes women's wrestling team is set to begin their second-ever season on Sunday, November 1 when they travel to the East Stroudsburg Tournament for a 9:30 a.m. start. 

Kasey Kruczek enters her second season as head coach of the young program, coming off of a 4-7 record in their inaugural season. In the NCAA Region 1 Tournament, the Colonels had three top-six finishers including Grace Riley (Wood Ridge, NJ/Paramus Catholic) (117-pound) and Milly Hughes (Jefferson, GA/Jefferson) (138-pound), who are returning for another season. 

"They (Riley and Hughes) did a great job, they can also lead by example and show what it takes to get to that point," Kruczek said when talking about her excitement with returning two top-six regional finishers. 

The team holds 23 wrestlers, completing the roster is one senior, 10 sophomores, and 11 first years. 

"We had a lot of foundation building that first year, showing up, being consistent, and having those expectations. So now going into year two, we have that nice foundation that our sophomores can relay to the freshmen,"  Kruczek explained.  

For the first event of the season, Kruczek is excited to build off of their foundation that they set in their inaugural season. 

"It's always exciting starting the season, so just going into this tournament and getting better each match, that's the most important thing," Kruczek explained. "Building that confidence, building that excitement, and getting the year started off on the right foot and making sure everyone is cheering for one another."

Weight-by-Weight Preview

103 – Returning for her sophomore season is Santina Saraka (Hanover Township, PA/Hanover Area) after previously wrestling in the 110 weight class.

110 – The 110-weight class welcomes two first-years, Ava Novello (Mahwah, NJ/Mahwah) and Luci Zigrino (Cresskill, NJ/New York Military Academy). 

117 – Grace Riley (Wood Ridge, NJ/Paramus Catholic) comes back following an outstanding season, returning with a 18-15 career record after finishing 3rd in the Cougar Classic and the Golden Wolves Open. Sophomore Haylee Robinson (Baldwinsville, NY/Charles W Baker) also returns after a high-performing year, with a 17-13 career record. Rounding out the 117 weight class is sophomore Isabella Seip (Wilkes-Barre, PA/Wyoming Valley West). 

124 – The duo of sophomore Sydnee MacDonald and first year Katelyn Nunez (Newfoundland, PA/Western Wayne) joins the program for their first season. 

131 – Milly Hughes (Jefferson, GA/Jefferson) returns after a great season with a 15-10 record, finishing 4th in the Wilkes Open and Cougar Classic, while also placing second in the Golden Wolves Open. 

138 – Returning for the 138 weight class is the lone senior, Jamie Henderson (Olyphant, PA/Mid Valley), and joining her is Angel Upright (Hanover, PA/Southwestern) for her sophomore season. Upright finished the season with a 12-16 career record. First years Sophia Klecha (Pequannock, NJ/Pequannock) and Imani Walker (Randallstown, MD/New Town) round out the 138 weight class. 

145 – Alyssa McIntosh (Easton, PA/Easton Area), who finished the season with a 11-10 career record and placed 4th and 2nd in the Cougar Classic and Golden Wolves Open, returns with the new addition of first-year Iyana Graves (Salisbury, MD/Wicomico).

160 – Sophomores Kimberlee Hechler (Carlisle, PA/Cumberland Valley) and Lily Shymanski (Forty Fort, PA/Wyoming Valley West) make up the 160 weight class, adding on first year Mya Johnson-Guerrero (Ocean City, MD/Stephen Decatur). 

180 – The lone first year in the 180 weight class is Sierra Ripka (Glen Lyon, PA/Greater Nanticoke Area).

207 – Entering her first season with the Colonels is Abigail Paglia (Newton, NJ/Newton) for the 207 weight class. 

First-years Jane Rodrigues (Piscataway, NJ/Piscataway) and Sydney Rosenbloom (Sayre, PA/Waverly) will also be joining the team.