Greenville, S.C. - For the first time in program history, the Lincoln Memorial University Women's Wrestling team has earned a first-place vote in the Conference Carolinas Preseason Poll, as three Railsplitters were named to the conferences wrestlers to watch list ahead of the season.  

The Railsplitters bring back four returners to the roster this season, with two being honored by the conference. Sophomore Shonticia Taft earned 11 wins across the season, including making a trip to the semifinals of the Wasps Women's Open Tournament and finishing in fifth place at last years Blue Hose Challenge.  

Joining Taft as a returner to watch is fellow sophomore Sophia Walls. Walls earned three wins last season, including a victory over an opponent from Alma in the semifinals of the Baldwin Wallace Women's Open to secure a berth in the tournaments first-place match. Walls would earn two of her wins via falls last season. 

Hannah Parrish was highlighted out of a group of seven incoming freshmen who will join the team this season. Parrish comes to the Railsplitters from Maryville, Tennessee where she was a four-time all-state qualifier in wrestling and was a member of USA Wrestling's Team Tennessee.  

The Railsplitters begin their season on with the East Stroudsburg Open, hosted by East Stroudsburg University on November 2nd in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. 

The full coaches poll and wrestlers to watch can be found below.  

Conference Carolinas Preseason Coaches' Poll 

Rank School (1st place votes) Points 

 1 King (6) 45 

2 Mount Olive 37 

2 Emmanuel (1) 37 

4 Allen 29 

5 Emory & Henry 25 

6 Bluefield State 

7 Newberry 16 

8 Lincoln Memorial (1) 13 

Wrestlers To Watch 

Allen 

Morgan Tomas, So., 180 pounds, Birmingham Alabama  

Alissa Brown-Washington, 131 pounds, Orlando, Florida 

Cathia Timas, Jr. 160 pounds, Kissimmee, Florida  

Bluefield State 

Survavive Roberson, Sr., 207 pounds, Garner, Arkansas 

Caitlynn Ash, So., 124 pounds, St. Albans, West Virginia  

Enrique Sanchez, Sr., 149 pounds, Doral Academy, Florida 

Emmanuel 

Karissa Turnwall, Jr., 117 pounds, Murrieta, California  

Alyssa Arana, Sr., 180 pounds, Los Angeles, California 

Gemma Templeman, So., 207 pounds, Tremonton, Utah 

Emory & Henry 

Molly Keller, Jr., 145 pounds, Fairlawn, Virginia  

Rihanna Carson, So., 160 pounds, Roanoke, Virginia 

Natalia Langer, Jr., 117 pounds, Powhatan, Virginia 

King 

Eliana Bommarito, Sr., 207 pounds, Hartland, Michigan 

Stella Steigler, Junior, 145, Orange, Virginia  

Virginia Foard, Junior, 124/131, Reva, Virginia  

Lincoln Memorial 

Hannah Parrish, Fr., 124 pounds, Maryville, Tennessee 

Sophia Walls, So., 131 pounds, Shepherdsville, Kentucky 

Shonticia Taft, So., 145 pounds, Marietta, Georgia 

Mount Olive 

Lily Prendergast, So., 103 pounds, Southport, North Carolina 

Ayonna McNeil, Jr., 124 pounds, Fayetteville, North Carolina 

Journey Land, Sr., 180 pounds, Little Rock, Arkansas 

Newberry 

Trinity Halls, 130 pounds, Fr., North Charleston, S.C. 

Irie Edwards, 180 pounds, Fr., Lexington, S.C. 

Shayana Shell, 160 pounds, Fr., Lexington, S.C.