New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
SHU heads to Regionals with national ranking
The Sacred Heart University’s women’s wrestling team is heading to the Region I Championships in Erie, Penn. this weekend as a ranked team.
In school’s second season as New England’s only Division-I women’s wrestling program, SHU is ranked No. 10 in the country in the latest National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) NCAA Women’s Wrestling rankings and is looking for big results at Regions.
“We won regional duals in Erie earlier in the season and are hoping to do well down there again this weekend,” SHU head coach Paulina Biega said. “We have a great group of girls who work very hard and are always grinding to get better. They are all for the team first and they show that on the mat.”
As for the national ranking, Biega said rankings can only be decided on the mat.
“The rankings mean a lot to those who care about rankings, but the only ranking that matters to us is after Regions,” Biega said. “I am proud of my wrestlers no matter where they are ranked. Our goal is not to get ranked in the season, it is to see where we are at the end. That’s the goal and I strongly believe in this team.”
SHU is 16-4 with 20 wrestlers on the roster, up from eight last season as the program continues to grow in its infancy. Biega said she plans to have 30 wrestlers on the roster next winter.
During the first season, SHU had three All-Americans at the NCWWC Championship, including a third-place finish by Madison Sandquist at 143 pounds.
Sandquist wrestling at this winter.
SHU had one regional champion and three more advanced to the national championship last season and is hoping for more this time around.
As the first coach for the SHU women, Biega was also the first female NCAA Division I wrestling coach in the country when she took the job prior to last season.
For now, she is trying to guide a young team of freshmen and sophomores through Regions and then hopefully on to the NCWWC Championships in Cedar Rapids, Iowa March 3-4.
“I have been very impressed with our young team,” Biega said. “They are all freshmen and sophomores and they are all doing a tremendous job. I am happy across the board with how we are competing right now.” has been 136 pounds