BLOOMINGTON, Ill. The Illinois Wesleyan University women's wrestling team will square off against several nationally ranked opponents this week as they head to Lindenwood University for the Lindenwood Duals, before hosting No. 4 North Central College at the Shirk Center.

Freshmen Beyonce Espinosa (Homestead, Fla. - Home School), Kennedy Murray (Evanston, Ill. - Evanston) and AJ Grant (Chicago, Ill. - Phoenix Stem Military Academy) were featured in the National Collegiate Wrestling Coaches Association's latest regional rankings. Espinosa, after a 3-0 start that led to a first place finish in the Pointer Open, is ranked fifth in Region IV at 124 pounds. Murray is ranked fourth in Region IV after a 7-0 start to begin her collegiate career. She went 4-0 en route to a top finish at 145 pounds in the Pointer Open before going 3-0 at last weekend's Lakeland Duals. Grant is ranked fifth at 160 pounds after beginning the season 6-1, which included four wins at the Pointer Open, and two wins at the Lakeland Duals. The trio marks the second, third, and fourth IWU wrestlers to be regionally ranked in 2025-2026.

Most recently, the Titans collected the program's first dual meet win with a 41-8 triumph over Lakeland University, racking up wins in eight-of-the-ten matches. At Lindenwood, in the bracketed event, IWU will begin its day against the hosts, which are ranked 25th in the latest NWCA poll. Sunday's match will mark the first time in program history the Titans and Lions meet on the mat. The winner of that dual will square off against No 2. McKendree University. Fans can follow the live stats here.

IWU returns home to take on North Central, Monday, Nov. 17, for the first home dual meet in program history. Action from the Shirk Center is slated for 6 p.m. Fans can catch a livestream here or follow live stats here.