No. 1 North Central leads No. 2 Iowa by 10.5 points after session one of NCWWC Nationals

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa  - The top three teams in NCAA women’s wrestling are already creating some separation from the field after the first session at the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships (NCWWC) at the Alliant Energy PowerHouse in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Friday morning.

No. 1 ranked North Central leads with 51.5 points, with No. 2 Iowa at 41 points and No. 3 King at 38 points.

No. 3 King

The next team, fourth-place No. 4 McKendree, is 10.5 points behind King with 27.5 points.

North Central and Iowa both came into the tournament with a full complement of 15 athletes. North Central has powered 14 athletes into the quarterfinals, while Iowa has 12 quarterfinalists and King has put 12 in the quarterfinals.

The first battle between No. 1 North Central and No. 2 Iowa came in the first preliminary round at 130 pounds. Sara Sterner of North Central jumped to a 6-0 lead over Emily Frost of Iowa, but Frost hit a headlock for four points and almost secured a fall. Sterner closed out the end of the match without allowing other points, and scored a key 6-4 win.

Iowa came back later in the session with a big win at 155 over North Central, as Bella Mir dominated Tiera Jimerson in an 11-0 technical fall, gaining bonus points as well. It was the only loss for North Central in the entire session.

All 240 entries competed in the first session, which included two preliminary rounds. Each of the No. 1 seeds and the No. 2 seeds advanced without a major upset.

All of the 2023 individual champions in the field have advanced: Maddie Avila of North Central (101), Jaslyn Gallegos of North Central (109), Cameron Guerin of McKendree, Marlynne Deede of Iowa (155) and Yelena Makoyed of North Central (170).

2021 champion Alara Boyd of North Central (143) and 2021 champion Felicity Taylor of Iowa (116) are also in the quarterfinals. The only past champion to lose this morning was 2020 champion Pauline Granados of McKendree (109).

The second session, which features the quarterfinals, will begin at 4:00 p.m. CT, live on

NATIONAL COLLEGIATE WOMEN’S WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS

At Cedar Rapids, Iowa, March 8

Quarterfinals pairings

101

Emilie Gonzalez (Iowa) vs. Avery Kibelbek (King University)

Lizette Rodriguez (McKendree University) vs. Jennesis Martinez (Colorado Mesa University)

Madison Avila (North Central (IL)) vs. Jessica Corredor (King University)

Odelia Lopez (Schreiner University) vs.  Sterling Dias (Iowa)

109

Kendra Ryan (North Central (IL)) vs. Samantha Miller (Mount Olive)

Jenavi Alejandro (Tiffin University) vs. Kaelani Shufeldt (Lock Haven University)

Jaslynn Gallegos (North Central (IL)) vs. Danielle Garcia (King University)

Isabella Morales (Colorado Mesa University) vs. Ava Bayless (Iowa)

116

Samara Chavez (King University) vs. Karissa Turnwall (Emmanuel College)

Melanie Mendoza (King University) vs. Felicity Taylor (Iowa)

Brianna Gonzalez (Iowa) vs. Abby Nelson (Wisconsin Stevens Point)

Julia Vidallon (McKendree University) vs. Sydney Petzinger (North Central (IL))

123

Shelby Moore (McKendree University) vs. Nichole Moore (McKendree University)

Alexandra Fitzgerald (Sacred Heart) vs. Virginia Foard (King University)

Montana Delawder (King University) vs. Victoria Seal (Simon Fraser University)

Mia Macaluso (East Stroudsburg University) vs. Amani Jones (North Central (IL))

130

Maria Victoria Baez Dilone (King University) vs.  Kylie Rule (Wartburg)

Cassia Zammit (Presbyterian) vs. Sara Sterner (North Central (IL))

Alexis Janiak (Aurora) vs. Salome Walker (North Central (IL))

Ngao Shoua Whitethorn (Wisconsin Stevens Point) vs. Cameron Guerin (McKendree University)

136

Yele Aycock (North Central (IL)) vs. Lilly Luft (Iowa)

Holly Beaudoin (Colorado Mesa University) vs. Jade Trolland (Simon Fraser University)

Grace Stem (Lock Haven University) vs. Viktorya Torres (McKendree University)

Taylor Graveman (North Central (IL)) vs. Claire DiCugno (King University)

143

Alara Boyd (North Central (IL)) vs. Marisa Angelos (Northern Michigan University)

Aine Drury (King University) vs. Ella Schmit (Iowa)

Erica Schroeder (Colorado Mesa University) vs. Maddie Kubicki (Presbyterian)

Zoey Lints (Elmira College) vs. Reese Larramendy (Iowa)

155

Marlynne Deede (Iowa) vs. Alex Hofrichter (Dubuque)

London Houston (North Central (IL)) vs. Dalia Garibay (Colorado Mesa University)

Nina Makem (Augsburg University) vs. Bella Mir (Iowa)

Madison Sandquist (Sacred Heart) vs. Cheyenne Bowman (King University)

170

Kylie Welker (Iowa) vs. Schyler Caringi (Gannon University)

Kami Senlycki (Wartburg) vs. Henlee Haynes (Presbyterian)

Tristan Kelly (McKendree University) vs. Cara Broadus (Sacred Heart)

Stella Steigler (Lock Haven University) vs. Yelena Makoyed (North Central (IL))

190

Traeh Haynes (North Central (IL)) vs. Sydney Manos (Aurora)

Jaycee Foeller (Iowa) vs. Sara Lake (Lindenwood University)

Sandra Guerrero (New Jersey City University) vs. Jayleen Sekona (Colorado Mesa University)

Alexa Garcia (King University) vs. Brittyn Corbishley (North Central (IL))

Team standings after session one

1             North Central (IL), 51.5

2             Iowa, 41.0

3             King University, 38.0

4             McKendree University, 27.5

5             Colorado Mesa University, 21.0

6             Presbyterian, 19.5

7             Sacred Heart, 19.0

8             Lock Haven University, 16.0

9             Wisconsin Stevens Point, 14.5