EAP wrestler Alli wins Grand View Women’s Open; NCAA No. 1 Iowa has five champions

DES MOINES, Iowa – Alexandria Alli (Ashley, Ohio/Elite Accelerator Program), a high school star who is training full-time at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center as part of USA Wrestling’s Elite Accelerator Program, powered to a gold-medal at 160 pounds at the Grand View Women’s Open on Saturday.

The Elite Accelerator Program (EAP) was designed to develop young athletes with Olympic potential at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center (USOPTC) in Colorado Springs, Colorado. This has included wrestlers who are still in high school, or are high school graduates who choose to train in the international styles prior to going to college.

Alli won the championship finals by forfeit over Micah Fisher of the University of the Cumberlands. On the way to the finals, Alli defeated three talented college wrestlers

Alli opened the tournament with a 9-6 win over Allyssa Johnson of the University of Jamestown. Johnson is ranked No. 11 in the NAIA at 160 pounds.

In the quarterfinals, she stopped Taydem Khamjoi of Texas Wesleyan University, 10-1. Khamjoi is ranked No. 12 in the NAIA at 160 pounds.

She defeated Caitlyn Davis of William Penn University, 8-0 in the semifinals. Davis placed 10^th in the 2024 U20 World Championships, and was a 2024 NAIA national champion at 155 pounds for Southern Oregon University.

“I am extremely proud of Alex, not just for today, but also for her months of training and discipline coming into today’s competition. The big thing is that she kept position, won the hand-fighting and showed maturity. She followed the game plan. She was prepared for today,” said Jessica Medina, USA Wrestling National Women’s Developmental Coach.

Alli is the No. 5 ranked wrestler at in the January 2025 National Girls High School Rankings at 170 pounds. Alli was a 2024 U17 Nationals runner-up and a 2023 16U Nationals runner-up.

Alli, Carissa Qureshi, along with Coach Media, are among those featured in the upcoming docuseries, Journey Through EAP, which will be launched soon on USA Wrestling’s social platforms.

Journey Through EAP trailer

The Grand View Open was loaded with top talent from all levels of women’s college wrestling, including the NCAA, NAIA and NJCAA. There were 47 college or club programs entered in the tournament.

NCAA No. 1 Iowa had a dominant performance with five individual champions: Rianne Murphy (103), Ava Bayless (110), Reese Larramendy (145), Naomi Simon (180) and Katja Osteen (207).

NAIA No. 6 William Penn had a pair of champions Christianah Ogunsanya (117) and Esther Kolawole (138). Both are Olympians from Nigeria who joined the William Penn team for the second semester.

Other individual champions were Catharine Campbell of NAIA No. 2 Grand View (124), Mercy Adekuoroye of NAIA No. 19 Wayland Baptist (131) and Valerie Smith of NJCAA No. 10 North Iowa Area CC (235). Adekuoroye is a Senior African champion from Nigeria, the third Nigerian native to win a gold medal at the Grand View Open.

The tournament also featured a Silver Division, and the results are posted below.

GRAND VIEW OPEN

At Des Moines, Iowa, February 1

Gold Division Results

103

1st - Rianne Murphy (University of Iowa) won by decision over Sterling Dias (University of Iowa) (Dec 5-0)

3rd - Alexis Miller (Oklahoma City University) won by decision over Judy Sandoval (Grand View) (Dec 7-6)

5th - Devyn Moore (Grand View) won by forfeit over Dutchess King (University of the Cumberlands) (FF)

110

1st - Ava Bayless (University of Iowa) won by decision over Valarie Solorio (University of Iowa) (Dec 7-0)

3rd - Emilie Gonzalez (University of Iowa) won by tech fall over Samantha Miller (McKendree University) (TF 11-0)

5th - Diana Gonzalez (Life University ) won by decision over Josiah Ortiz (Fort Hays State University) (Dec 10-2)

117

1st - Christianah Ogunsanya (William Penn University) won by tech fall over Camille Fournier (Texas Wesleyan) (TF 12-2)

3rd - Cailin Campbell (Grand View) won by fall over Shammilka Miranda (University of the Cumberlands) (Fall 1:27)

5th - Alena Williams (Bull Trained) won by forfeit over Mayangelie Colon (Grand View) (FF)

124

1st - Catharine Campbell (Grand View) won by decision over Mateah Roehl (Askren Wrestling Academy ) (Dec 6-2)

3rd - Presley Anderson (University of the Cumberlands) won by tech fall over Estefany Garcia (Life University ) (TF 10-0)

5th -  Tess Barnett (Wayland Baptist University) won by tech fall over Markayla Lottie (Avila University) (TF 12-1)

131

1st - Mercy Adekuoroye (Wayland Baptist University) won by decision over Xochitl Mota-Pettis (Missouri Valley College) (Dec 6-3)

3rd - Jumoke Adekoye (Dickinson State University) won by forfeit over Viktorya Torres (McKendree University) (FF)

5th - Emmily Patneaud (University of Iowa) won by decision over Karlee Brooks (University of Iowa) (Dec 8-0)

138

1st - Esther Kolawole (William Penn University) won by tech fall over Haylie Jaffe (McKendree University) (TF 10-0)

3rd - Jordan Suarez (Wayland Baptist University) won by decision over Samantha Barragan (Texas Wesleyan) (Dec 14-8)

5th - Nanea Estrella (University of Iowa) won by decision over Nichole Moore (Fort Hays State University) (Dec 6-2)

145

1st - Reese Larramendy (University of Iowa) won by decision over Krista Warren (Grand View) (Dec 10-5)

3rd - Anastasia Hardin (Missouri Baptist University) won by decision over Ella Schmit (University of Iowa) (Dec 6-4)

5th - Sofia Delgado (Grand View) won by fall over Alivia Ming (University of the Cumberlands) (Fall 1:07)

160

1st - Alexandria Alli (Elite Accelerator Program) won by forfeit over Micah Fisher (University of the Cumberlands) (FF)

3rd - Allyssa Johnson (University of Jamestown) won by tech fall over Rose Cassioppi (University of Iowa) (TF 16-5)

5th - Taydem Khamjoi (Texas Wesleyan) won by forfeit over Caitlyn Davis (William Penn University) (FF)

180

1st - Naomi Simon (University of Iowa) won by tech fall over America Lopez (William Penn University) (TF 10-0)

3rd - Lydia Krauss (McKendree University) won by forfeit over Nile Jernigan (Unattached - Cumberlands) (FF)

5th - Isabella Renfro (Fort Hays State University) won by forfeit over Naomi Duenas (Unattached - Cumberlands) (FF)

207

1st - Katja Osteen (University of Iowa) won by decision over Alivia White (University of Iowa) (Dec 9-1)

3rd - Leilani Sanchez (Wayland Baptist University) won by fall over Samantha Calkins (University of Iowa) (Fall 5:06)

5th - Faith Wooley (Wayland Baptist University) won by fall over Bella Porcelli (Grand View) (Fall 2:49)

235

1st - Valerie Smith (North Iowa Area Community College) won by fall over Gabby Watson (Carl Albert State College) (Fall 1:25)

3rd - Kennedi Washington (Indian Hills Community College) won by tech fall over Breanna Salgado (Iowa Central Community College) (TF 10-0)

5th - Makenna Fetters (Hawkeye Community College) won by fall over Rayanne Mutchler (University of Jamestown) (Fall 4:06)

EAP athlete performances

160 - Alexandria Alli, Ashley, Ohio (Elite Accelerator Program), gold medal

WIN Alyssa Johnson (University of Jamestown), 9-6

WIN Taydem Khamjoi (Texas Wesleyan), 10-1

WIN Caitlyn Davis (William Penn), 8-0

WIN Micah Fisher (Univ. of the Cumberlands), forfeit

Silver Division results

103

1st - Melonie Barillas (Ellsworth Community College) won by forfeit over Chasey Karabell (Indian Hills Community College) (FF)

3rd - Mackenzie Graves (Quincy University) won by fall over Kirsten Cortez (Carthage College) (Fall 4:00)

5th - Vianey Hernandez (Quincy University) won by forfeit over Alycia Perez (Indian Hills Community College) (FF)

110

1st - Keana Bush (Grand View Wrestling Club) won by tech fall over Rocio Chavez-fuentes (York University) (TF 11-0)

3rd - Alissa Cowing (Wayland Baptist University) won by fall over Andrea Karagiannis (Missouri Baptist University) (Fall 0:29)

5th - Myriam Riley (Dickinson State University) won by forfeit over Hinda Doucoure (Indian Hills Community College) (FF)

117

1st - Jasmine Luedtke (Wartburg College) won by fall over Kailyn Younger (Unattached) (Fall 3:44)

3rd - Alexandra Tchekounova (Quincy University) won by fall over Larhae Whaley (Dickinson State University) (Fall 1:20)

5th - Ella McNamee (Simpson College) won by decision over Rebekah Anderson (Dickinson State University) (Dec 6-4)

124

1st - Mia Goodwin (Unattached - Iowa) won by tech fall over Audrey Scherer (Grand View) (TF 10-0)

3rd - Ayane Jasinski (Wartburg College) won by tech fall over Lainie Burkhart (Simpson College) (TF 14-4)

5th - Zoey Freeman (Baker University) won by forfeit over Chanelle Alburg (Carl Albert State College) (FF)

131

1st - Nicole Redmond (Avila University) won by decision over Zoey Kessler (Baker University) (Dec 10-2)

3rd - Jasmine Hopkins (Quincy University) won by forfeit over Amaria Ridgner (Indian Hills Community College) (FF)

5th - Aileya Sath (Baker University) won by forfeit over Alexandra Baudhuin (University of Iowa) (FF)

138

1st - Paige Gershmel (Simpson College) won by fall over Leighanna Patz (Baker University) (Fall 1:32)

3rd - Natalia Posada (Oklahoma City University) won by decision over Danni Swihart (University of Iowa) (Dec 5-0)

5th - Lindsay Henggeler (Betterman Elite Wrestling Academy) won by fall over Rachel Fode (Wartburg College) (Fall 1:52)

145

1st - Trinity Donovan (Quincy University) won by decision over Ann Meiman (University of Jamestown) (Dec 9-2)

3rd - Noa Arnold (Simpson College) won by decision over Makena Schramm (Midland University) (Dec 7-2)

5th - Savannah Brehm (Dickinson State University) won by forfeit over Iasiah Turrentine (Unattached - ICCC) (FF)

160

1st - Amaya Fairley Vasquez (Iowa Central Community College) won by decision over Nicole Olson (Grand View) (Dec 9-7)

3rd - Izzy Strickert (Wartburg College) won by decision over Erika Peterson (Wartburg College) (Dec 4-0)

5th - Jaida Johnson (Wartburg College) won by fall over Abby Piper (William Woods University) (Fall 0:51)

180

1st - Kali Hayden (Indian Hills Community College) won by fall over Hayla Hoffman (Dickinson State University) (Fall 0:20)

3rd - Paola Rodriguez (Indian Hills Community College) won by tech fall over Brylie Schaub (Iowa Central Community College) (TF 11-1)

5th - Johanna Carrasco (Baker University) won by fall over Savanna Rickter (Dickinson State University) (Fall 1:59)

207

1st - Mariyah Brumley (William Woods University) won by fall over Alyson Krum (Hawkeye Community College) (Fall 2:05)

3rd - Madilyn Schuck (Minot State University) won by forfeit over Ileen Castrejon (Indian Hills Community College) (FF)

5th - Grace Todhunter (University of Jamestown) won by fall over Nevaeh Hast (Morningside University) (Fall 1:55)