DUBUQUE, Iowa - The University of Dubuque women's wrestling team will have some new faces on the team and on the sidelines for the 2026-27 season. They will also be under new leadership with Fernando Villaescusa who joins the Spartans after spending the past six years as a member of the Iowa State University Cyclones wrestling staff, most recently as the development coordinator. He was a member of the coaching staff at team Arizona – USA National Wrestling team for over 20 years - including four years as the Wrestling Director for Women's Wrestling.
 
Villaescusa was instrumental in rebuilding of the Iowa State University Cyclone wrestling program under former head coach Kevin Dresser. Their efforts saw ISU climb on the national stage, highlighted by a 2024 Big 12 title and fourth-place finish at the NCAA Championships, ISU's best since 2010. Villaescusa played a vital role in recruiting and development, both within ISU wrestling and the Cyclone Regional Training Center. 

Joining him as assistant coach is Nate Carr Sr. who built a legendary career at Iowa State University, winning three consecutive NCAA championships (1981-83), winning two Big 8 Conference titles (1980-81), and finishing 122–17-1 overall in the 150 lbs. weight class. Internationally, he earned a spot on the US World Team in 1983. He claimed Olympic bronze in 1988 in Seoul, outscoring his opponents 67-7. Carr also won the World Cup and Pan American Championships in 1986 and later captured a Goodwill Games gold in 1990. Carr was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member. 

They coaching staff begins the season with 16 student-athletes, including six freshmen who will be looking to make their mark on the wrestling mat for the Spartans.
Click HERE for Full Roster

The Spartans begin their season on Saturday, Nov. 7 at the UW-Stevens Point Pointer Open at 9:00 a.m. UD will host the A-R-C Women's Wrestling Championships on Jan. 23, 2027 in the Chlapaty Recreation and Wellness Center beginning at 10:00 a.m. The NCAA Division III Regional V Regional tournament will be hosted by UW-Stevens Point on Feb. 21 with the NCAA National Championships being hosted on March 5, 2027 in Coralville, Iowa.
2026-27 UD Spartans Women's Wrestling Schedule

The NCAA Region 5 includes the following schools: Augsburg University (Minn.), Augustana College (Ill.), Buena Vista University (Iowa), Carthage College (Ill.), Central College (Iowa), Cornell College (Iowa), University of Dubuque (Iowa), University of Iowa, Lakeland College (Wis.), Loras College (Iowa), Luther College (Iowa), Quincy University (Ill.), Simpson College (Iowa), Upper Iowa University (Iowa), Wartburg College (Iowa), UW-Oshkosh (Wis.), and UW-Stevens Point (Wis.). 

Click HERE for All Six NCAA Regions.

Last Season Honors (2025-26):
American Rivers Conference Wrestler of the Week:
Alex Hofrichter – 02/20/2026 (third time honoree)
Alex Hofrichter – 12/08/2025

The American Rivers Conference Women's Wrestling All-Conference 2025-26.
Grace Murphy – 3^rd at 101 lbs.
Sara Schroder – 3^rd at 110 bs.
Shea Reisel – 1^st at 117 lbs.
Alex Hofrichter – 2^nd at 160 lbs.
Merin Yates – 2^nd at 180 lbs. 
(The team was compiled based on the top three A-R-C place-winners from the 2026 A-R-C Championships on January 24, 2026 at Central College.)

American Rivers Conference All-Academic Team
(To be eligible for the Conference's All-Academic Team honors a student-athlete must be on the eligibility list for the sport of nomination, at least a sophomore in academic standing with at least one year in residence and attain an accumulative grade point average of 3.5 or better on a 4.0 scale.)
Alex Hofrichter
Tatum Levendahl
Mattie Papenthien
Argelis Hernandez Perez
Brianna Seixas
Bree Swenson

The National Wrestling Coaches Association NCAA Women's Scholar All-American Awards for 2025-26:
Argelis Hernandez Perez (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic / Juan Emilio Bosh Gavino HS) - Human Health Science major
Alex Hofrichter (Antigo, Wis. / Antigo) - Communications & Psychology double major
Tatum Levendahl (Saint Joseph, Mo. / Benton) - Environmental Science major
Grace Murphy (Peosta, Iowa / Western Dubuque) - Human Health Science major
Mattie Papenthien (Black Earth, Wis. / Middleton) - Business and Sport Marketing & Management double major
Sara Schroder (Canton, S.D. / Canton) - Nursing major
Brianna Seixas (Guilford, Conn. / Guilford) - Mathematics major
Bree Swenson (Shellsburg, Iowa / Vinton-Shellsburg) - Pre-nursing major
Lydia Virtue (Dubuque, Iowa / Wahlert Catholic) - Biology major
Merin Yates (Merrill, Wis. / Merrill) - Business & Marketing double major

Papenthein is a three-time NWCA Scholar All-American, while Hofrichter, Levendahl, and Seixas have earned the honor twice in their respective careers. Hernandez Perez, Murphy, Schroeder, Swenson, Vitrue, and Yates all picked up their first academic honors from the NWCA in 2025-26. A total of 540 student-athletes representing 92 institutions were recognized for their academic success in the classroom while competing throughout the season.
 
College Sports Communicators (CSC) 2026 at-large academic all-district team. The University of Dubuque Spartans had one women's wrestler with academic all-district honors by the organization, Alex Hofrichter - Antigo, Wis. / Antigo).

Women's Historical Record Book
University of Dubuque Women's Wrestling All-Americans
Shea Reisel - 117 lbs. 8th place in 2025 (NCWWC)
Alex Hofrichter - 155 lbs. 7th place in 2024 (NCWWC)
Alex Hofrichter - 160 lbs. 7th place in 2025 (NCWWC)

University of Dubuque National Championship Placings
21st in 2024 with 17 points (NCWWC)
18th in 2025 with 25.5 points (NCWWC)