UTICA, NY - Utica University Women's Wrestling is excited to announce the hiring of a new head coach ahead of the 2025-26 season, Carmela Cancelmo. Cancelmo joins the program following four years of competition with the nationally-ranked DII East Stroudsburg University Warriors. After graduating summa cum laude from East Stroudsburg in 2024, Cancelmo has spent the last year volunteering with her high school's girls wrestling team, and working in marketing and public relations with the Central Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

Utica's women's wrestling program began their first season of competition just two years ago in 2023-24. Connor Lapresi was hired to lead the young program each of the last two seasons. After a rocky inaugural season that saw the Pioneers finish with a 1-12 team record, last season saw growth. In 2024-25, the team played to a 5-8 record, and had one wrestler compete at the National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championships, finishing the event with a 3-2 record. 

As an athlete with East Stroudsburg, Cancelmo had several notable accomplishments, both on the mat and in the classroom. After losing her freshman year of competition due to COVID-19, Coach Cancelmo completed a 27-32 record over her three seasons. Her career was highlighted by notable finishes such as a 7th place in the 2021 Regionals, alongside 4th place at the 2022 Will Abele Invitational. As a senior, Cancelmo finished 7-2 overall, with a 6th place finish in the Pennsylvania Women's Collegiate State Championships. Her last time on the mat for East Stroudsburg saw her place 2nd at the Millersville Open. In addition to her athletic successes, Cancelmo was named an Academic All-American three times. Though Utica and East Stroudsburg met to compete three times in Cancelmo's 2023-24 senior season, she did not face any Utica competition in the events. 

Coach Cancelmo will look to alter the program to her vision, while also building off of success the young program began to find last year. She believes in consistent effort from all team members, and looks to not only create strong athletes, but also strong students, leaders, and members of the community. Overall, Coach believes that "through wrestling, we develop strength, resilience, and values that last a lifetime."