CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — First-year Ay'Seante Ross (Wilmington, N.C.) made history for the Norwich University women's wrestling program this weekend, becoming the first Cadet to compete at the NCAA Women's Wrestling Championships during the program's inaugural varsity season.

The national championship tournament featured one of the deepest fields in collegiate wrestling, bringing together competitors from Division I, Division II, and Division III programs across the country.

Competing at 180 pounds, Ross opened the tournament with a strong performance, earning a fall over Journey Land of Mount Olive in 4:12 to advance in the championship bracket.

Ross then faced nationally ranked competition in the following rounds. In the championship round of 16, Isabella Phillips of Gannon secured a technical fall victory. Ross continued her tournament in the consolation bracket, where she met Atiyana Williams of Western New England, falling by technical fall to conclude her historic national appearance.

Ross's qualification and performance mark a significant milestone for Norwich women's wrestling, which competed in its first varsity season in program history during the 2025–26 campaign. Her appearance at the national championships represents the program's first competitor on the sport's biggest collegiate stage.

"I'm very proud of Ay'Seante and the resilience she has shown this year. She overcame many obstacles and setbacks but stayed focused on her goals throughout the season. It was incredibly rewarding to watch her qualify for nationals and then knock off a tough Division II opponent in her first match of the tournament. I think Ay'Seante had just enough success to prove she belongs at that level, and it has left her hungry for more. We've been working with her to build her confidence and mindset and encourage her to set even loftier goals. I have full faith that she will make it back to nationals and become an All-American for our program. As for this year overall, I've been extremely happy with how our first season went. We qualified for nationals and posted a winning record, even with three starters being first-year wrestlers. Results and milestones aside, what I'm most proud of is the culture we're building. We have a group of wonderful athletes who genuinely love and support one another and who are not afraid to work hard. Coach Alyssa, or Coach A as we call her, has been a huge part of our growth. Her wrestling expertise, knowledge, and unwavering support for our athletes have been critical to our success. I've had so much fun working with this team this year. I feel reenergized and inspired, and I can't wait to continue growing and building this program into something special. We've set the foundation and the floor, and I truly believe there is no ceiling for what this team can accomplish."

The Norwich Women's Wrestling program rounds out its inaugural season, going 7-5 in dual meets. In addition to Ross's berth on the national stage, Addisyn Herdic (Canterbury, Conn.) and Gianna Silva (Monroe, Conn.) earned All-Region recognition.