JOHN CARROLL, ELMIRA TO JOIN AMCC IN SPORT OF WOMEN'S WRESTLING

With the addition of Elmira College and John Carroll University, women's wrestling will become the newest Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference championship sport, beginning with the 2025-26 academic year.

The sport is continuing to grow in the AMCC, as the Soaring Eagles and the Lobos will join the conference as affiliate members, effective immediately, bringing the total number of schools sponsoring women's wrestling in the AMCC to six.  The other current members are Alfred State College, Penn State Altoona, Buffalo State University and Hiram College.

The establishment of the AMCC championship dovetails neatly with the NCAA's establishment of wrestling as a national championship for women.

 "We are excited for our women's wrestling program to join the AMCC beginning in the '25-'26 academic year," stated John Carroll Director of Athletics Brian Polian. "This move for more consistent competitive opportunities and provides our young women the chance to compete for a conference championship. It is a positive development for our current student-athletes and for the future of the team."

Polian's words were echoed by Elmira AD Rhonda Faunce.  "Joining the AMCC provides our student-athletes with a structured conference environment that fosters growth and competition,” said Faunce. “As women's wrestling gains momentum nationally, we're excited to be part of a conference that supports and advances the sport.”

AMCC Commissioner Donna Ledwin expressed the conference's enthusiasm for adding Elmira and John Carroll.  "These are both established programs that provide enhanced stability for the league, " she said.  "Like any new sport, women's wrestling will take a bit more time to take deep root, but the AMCC is excited to be a the forefront of establishing the national championship experience and creating new opportunities for high school girls to compete at the intercollegiate level.  We're so pleased that Elmira and John Carroll will join us in this effort."

The AMCC championship will be held Saturday, February 7, hosted by Penn State Altoona.  The inaugural national championship date is expected to be announced shortly.