McKendree Women Secure All-American Transfer

The reigning three-time national team champions just got better with the addition of All-American Sophia Mirabella.

Jan 15, 2023 by Kyle Klingman

McKendree Women Secure All-American Transfer

McKendree University keeps adding to its impressive recruiting haul. This time, it’s an All-American transfer from King University.

Sophia Mirabella — a fourth-place finisher at the 2021 national collegiate women’s wrestling championships — is officially a Bearcat. Mirabella left Bristol, Tennessee, last semester and is currently living in Lebanon, Illinois.

Mirabella has three seasons of eligibility and might enter the regional qualifying tournament on February 19 in hopes of qualifying for NCWWC Championships in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on March 3-4.

McKendree, the reigning three-time national collegiate champions, has already signed Shelby Moore (#2 P4P), Destiny Rodriguez (#3 P4P), Alex Szkotnicki (#11 P4P), and Savannah Gomez (#13 P4P).

This is an interesting development as head coach Alexio Garcia has built a formidable line-up that will continue to contend for national team championships. The Bearcats are currently 5-4 this season after placing third at the NWCA Multidivisional National Duals.

"Leaving King wasn't a decision that came lightly, and it isn't a decision I made with ease," Mirabella said. "Choosing McKendree didn't come on a whim, either. My decision boiled down to something my family and I had to be satisfied with, because where I go doesn't and shouldn't just benefit me and my goals, but my family, too.

"Alexio, in all of this, was persistent but patient. He understood what I needed to do for the long term. There's beauty in starting over, as long as you never lose sight of and fully intend to follow through on your goals."