Robert Daniels
From left, head coach Ryan Ciotoli '02 and assistant coaches Kate Zavuholnik and Joel Ferrara will lead the women's wrestling team in its inaugural season when the team takes to the mat this winter.
Last July, Ithaca College expanded its athletics program by introducing an NCAA varsity women’s wrestling team. With the 2025-26 inaugural season approaching, the team’s preparations are in full swing, including the hiring of head coach Ryan Ciotoli ’02 and the recruitment of the eight athletes.
After the announcement, getting a team built and coaches hired was a priority. Since his time on South Hill, IC Athletic Hall of Famer Ciotoli has spent his time coaching men’s wrestling at the college, high school and club level, including assistant coaching the men’s team at IC from 2002-08.
Over the past year, Ciotoli was tasked with finding the first Bombers for the team. Ciotoli said many competing programs began scouting earlier, which presented a challenge when finding players interested in IC.
“I’ve been involved with wrestling for 30, 40 years, and I’ve made very good contacts with some of the top clubs and coaches,” Ciotoli said. “I started making those phone calls. ‘Who do you have available? Do you think they would be a good fit for Ithaca College?’ I just started hitting the pavement.”
Ciotoli traveled to tournaments around the country to find the perfect fits for the new squad. Soon after Ciotoli’s hiring, first-year Sophia Torian from Menards, New York became the first athlete to announce her commitment. Torian said she was thrilled to find out the college was adding the sport.
“I knew about Ithaca and I knew it was a really good school, but they didn’t have a [women’s wrestling team],” Torian said. “So when I found out they had one, I applied, got it and then I toured the school and I really liked it … so I just committed.”
During her high school senior season, Torian went 17-6 and placed first at the Kristie Stenglein-Davis High School Tournament. Torian said she is very excited about her college career and the seasons ahead of her.
“I don’t have any serious goals for this year, because I’m a freshman, but as I get older, I want to go to nationals,” Torian said. “I just can’t wait to wrestle with my team.”
Over the next few months, the team added first-year commits Delaney Bisaillon, Angie Berry, Arianna Leo, Melina Georgas, Emmie Moore and Faith Villanueva to the South Hill roster. Ciotoli said it was difficult fighting other schools for recruits, but he is happy with the team he assembled.
“Some of the other colleges had a leg up on us with the recruits, but we did really well,” Ciotoli said. “[Our recruits] are a great group.”
The team also had one more recruit become a pioneer member, senior Sammi Meyer. In middle school, Meyer wrestled but her high school did not offer a program. Meyer tried to create a wrestling club at IC, but it never got off the ground. Meyer said her dream was nearly lost.
“I kind of gave up on the dream and then I heard that we were having women’s wrestling,” Meyer said. “I was really excited [so I] talked to Coach and he was all for [me joining the team.]”
Ciotoli said that although Meyer can only be on the team briefly, she could make a substantial mark on the future of the team.
“We’re pretty lucky to have her,” Ciotoli said. “She will only be on the team for a year, but she hopes to make a lasting impact.”
When the team roster was finalized, preparations started for the upcoming year. Ciotoli moved back north from his old home in Virginia and the wrestlers moved in for the school year.
On Sept. 3, Ithaca’s 28th varsity sport held its first-ever practice. On top of having to build chemistry with a brand new team, some of the athletes had to learn a new style of wrestling according to the guidelines of New York state. Meyer said New York high school athletes use freestyle techniques, but anyone coming from out of state had to learn it. Freestyle is a faster-paced style of wrestling that emphasizes explosiveness and quick scoring.
“[The coaches are] just kind of getting everyone really familiar with freestyle, for those who are out of state, and just getting everyone to a collegiate level,” Meyer said.
The athletes are also learning about each other off the mat. They spend time going to dinners, lifting, going to events together and hiking. Torian said the team has felt like they are able to build community quickly due to their small crew.
“Since we have such a small team, I feel like it’s a lot easier [to build relationships],” Torian said. “We all hang out … and it’s really fun.”
Ciotoli is also adjusting well to his new position on South Hill. Ciotoli said everyone in the athletics office is very excited to introduce the new sport.
“The athletic department has been great,” Ciotoli said. “The coaches are very helpful. … Everybody’s been great. [The athletes] are all positive, coachable people. [I’m] just excited to be a part of Ithaca College again.”