North Central leads Iowa by 3.5 points on day one of National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships

CORALVILLE, Iowa – No. 2 ranked North Central, with seven semifinalists and 13 athletes still competing, has a 3.5 point lead over defending champion and No. 1 Iowa after the first day of the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships at Xtream Arena on Friday.

At the conclusion of the second session, North Central had 111 points with Iowa at 107.5 points. No. 3 ranked McKendree was third with 103 points. Rounding out the top five was No. 4 ranked Grand Valley with 81.5 points and No. 6 ranked Presbyterian with 65.5 points.

North Central was third in the standings after the first session with six losses. However, the Cardinals rallied in session two, pushing seven of their nine quarterfinalists into the semifinals, and wrestling very well on the consolation side.

North Central semifinalists include returning national champion and No. 1 seed Amani Jones (124), a two-time age-group World medalist for Team USA. No. 2 seed Sara Sterner (131) is in the semifinals, along with three No. 3 seeds Sydney Petzinger (117), Bella Mir (145) and Shenita Lawson (180). Other Cardinals in the semifinals are No. 4 seed Kendra Ryan (110) and No. 7 Taylor Graveman (138).

Although in second place at this time, Iowa is in a strong position, with the most semifinalists with 10, and all 15 of their qualifiers still competing.

Iowa’s semifinalists include No. 1 seeds Rianne Murphy (103), Brianna Gonzalez (117), Macey Kilty (145), Kennedy Blades (160), Kylie Welker (180) and Jaycee Foeller (207). The other Iowa semifinalists are No. 2 seeds Ava Bayless (110) and Reese Larramendy (145), No. 3 seed Sterling Dias (103) and No. 4 Naomi Simon (180).  Bayless, Larramendy and Welker are returning national champions.

Iowa’s team includes three Senior National Team members, Olympic silver medalist Blades, two-time Senior World medalist Kilty and U20 World champion and Senior World Team member Welker.

McKendree, which entered with no No. 1 seeds, remains in a powerful position with seven semifinalists of their own. The Bearcats advanced three No. 2 seeds, Gabriele Tedesco (103), No. 2 Kaylynn Albrecht (160) and No. 2 Tristan Kelly (207), plus three No. 3 seeds, Shelby Moore (124), Alexandra Szkotnicki (131) and No. 3 Haylie Jaffe (138). Also reaching the semifinals is No. 5 seed Viktorya Torres (131).

All 10 No. 1 seeds in the tournament have advanced to the semifinals. However, it was a tough day for No. 2 seeds, as three were defeated during a highly competitive quarterfinal round.

At 117 pounds, No. 7 seed Karissa Turnwall of Emmanuel edged No. 2 seed Yu Sakamoto of Northern Michigan, 6-5. Sakamoto, a native of Japan, is competing in her first NCWWC.

At 124 pounds, No. 10 seed Alexandra Fitzgerald of Sacred Heart won an exciting 3-3 criteria decision over No. 2 seed Montana Delawder of King. Fitzgerald was emotional after the victory, almost missing the tournament with an illness that hospitalized her earlier in the week.

At 138 pounds, Taylor Graveman of North Central College pinned No. 2 seed Carina Giangeruso of Presbyterian in 5:59.

This is the sixth annual championships for NCAA varsity women’s wrestlers. In January, the NCAA approved women’s wrestling as its 91^st national championships, making this the last year that the coalition of wrestling organizations which developed NCAA women’s wrestling will run this competition. The 2026 NCAA Women’s Wrestling Championships will be held at a date and location to be announced.

The semifinals will be held Saturday morning starting at 10:00 a.m., The finals are set for 6:00 p.m. The tournament is broadcast live on FloWrestling.

NATIONAL COLLEGIATE WOMEN’S WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS

At Coralville, Iowa

Semifinal pairings

103

No. 1 Rianne Murphy (Iowa) vs. No. 4 Olivia Shore (Otterbein)

No. 3 Sterling Dias (Iowa) vs. No. 2 Gabriele Tedesco (McKendree University)

110

No. 1 Sage Mortimer (Grand Valley State) vs. No. 4 Kendra Ryan (North Central College)

No. 3 Samara Chavez (King University) vs. No. 2 Ava Bayless (Iowa)

117

No. 1 Brianna Gonzalez (Iowa) vs. No. 4 Clare Booe (King University)

No. 3 Sydney Petzinger (North Central College) vs. No. 7 Karissa Turnwall (Emmanuel University)

124

No. 1 Amani Jones (North Central College) vs. No. 5 Aspen Blasko (Grand Valley State)

No. 3 Shelby Moore (McKendree University) vs. No. 10 Alexandra Fitzgerald (Sacred Heart)

131

No. 1 Alexis Janiak (Aurora) vs. No. 5 Viktorya Torres (McKendree University)

No. 3 Alexandra Szkotnicki (McKendree University) vs. No. 2 Sara Sterner (North Central College)

138

No. 1 Katerina Lange (Grand Valley State) vs. No. 4 Paige Wehrmeister (Presbyterian)

No. 3 Haylie Jaffe (McKendree University) vs. No. 7 Taylor Graveman (North Central College)

145

No. 1 Macey Kilty (Iowa) vs. No. 4  Aine Drury (King University)

No. 3 Bella Mir (North Central College) vs. No. 2 Reese Larramendy (Iowa)

160

No. 1 Kennedy Blades (Iowa) vs. No. 4 Tiffani Baublitz (East Stroudsburg University)

No. 3 May Cuyler (Presbyterian) vs. No. 2 Kaylynn Albrecht (McKendree University)

180

No. 1 Kylie Welker (Iowa) vs. No. 4 Naomi Simon (Iowa)

No. 3 Shenita Lawson (North Central College) vs. No. 2 Sabrina Nauss (Grand Valley State)

207

No. 1 Jaycee Foeller (Iowa) vs. unseeded Maria Aiono (Presbyterian)

No. 3 Sara Lake (Lindenwood University) vs. No. 2 Tristan Kelly (McKendree University)

Semifinalists

10 – Iowa

7 – McKendree, North Central

4 – Grand Valley State

3 – King, Presbyterian

1 – Otterbein, Emmanuel, Sacred Heart, Aurora, East Stroudsburg, Lindenwood

NCWWC Team Standings after day one

1            North Central College        111.0

2            Iowa      107.5

3            McKendree University      103.0

4            Grand Valley State             81.5

5            Presbyterian         65.5

6            King University   53.0

7            Sacred Heart        39.0

8            Colorado Mesa University               34.0

9            Lindenwood University     31.0

10          Emmanuel University        30.0

11           Otterbein              25.0

12          East Stroudsburg University            23.5

13          Elmira College    22.5

14          Aurora   21.5

15          Fort Hays State    21.0

16          Simon Fraser University    20.5

17          Gannon University             19.5

17          Wartburg              19.5

19          Simpson               18.5

19          William Jewell College      18.5

Quarterfinal results

103

Rianne Murphy (Iowa) 30-3 won by tech fall over Avery Kibelbek (King University) 29-6 (TF-1.5 2:05 (10-0))

Olivia Shore (Otterbein) 21-1 won by fall over Mia Zuniga (King University) 22-11 (Fall 5:04)

Sterling Dias (Iowa) 21-5 won by fall over Jennesis Martinez (Colorado Mesa University) 11-1 (Fall 1:54)

Gabriele Tedesco (McKendree University) 24-4 won by tech fall over Odelia Lopez (Schreiner University) 27-7 (TF-1.5 1:37 (10-0))

110

Sage Mortimer (Grand Valley State) 18-0 won by tech fall over Dianna Holmes (King University) 19-4 (TF-1.5 1:16 (11-0))

Kendra Ryan (North Central College) 20-6 won by decision over Emilie Gonzalez (Iowa) 33-6 (Dec 7-5)

Samara Chavez (King University) 23-1 won by fall over Chloe Dearwester (Presbyterian) 23-3 (Fall 1:02)

Ava Bayless (Iowa) 32-3 won by fall over Austria Holland (Adams State ) 10-1 (Fall 0:32)

117

Brianna Gonzalez (Iowa) 37-0 won by tech fall over Alexandra Waitsman (William Jewell College) 22-7 (TF-1.5 4:16 (10-0))

Clare Booe (King University) 33-2 won by decision over Caitlyn Jackson (Lindenwood University) 28-6 (Dec 3-0)

Sydney Petzinger (North Central College) 23-3 won by tech fall over Melanie Mendoza (King University) 23-4 (TF-1.5 3:44 (10-0))

Karissa Turnwall (Emmanuel University) 6-1 won by decision over Yu Sakamoto (Northern Michigan University) 11-2 (Dec 6-5)

124

Amani Jones (North Central College) 25-0 won by tech fall over Lorianna Piestewa (Colorado Mesa University) 13-2 (TF-1.5 2:04 (10-0))

Aspen Blasko (Grand Valley State) 32-7 won by tech fall over Cali Leng (Iowa) 38-12 (TF-1.5 5:45 (15-2))

Shelby Moore (McKendree University) 30-4 won by decision over Alyssa Mahan (Presbyterian) 24-8 (Dec 8-4)

Alexandra Fitzgerald (Sacred Heart) 30-9 won by decision over Montana Delawder (King University) 36-5 (Dec 3-3)

131

Alexis Janiak (Aurora) 27-1 won by fall over Cayden Condit (Lindenwood University) 36-11 (Fall 1:20)

Viktorya Torres (McKendree University) 25-10 won by tech fall over Jaclyn Dehney (New England College) 30-1 (TF-1.5 5:38 (10-0))

Alexandra Szkotnicki (McKendree University) 41-4 won by decision over Emmily Patneaud (Iowa) 22-9 (Dec 6-0)

Sara Sterner (North Central College) 25-4 won by tech fall over Piper Cadden (Fort Hays State) 14-4 (TF-1.5 1:56 (10-0))

138

Katerina Lange (Grand Valley State) 17-0 won by fall over Nina Makem (Augsburg University) 18-4 (Fall 2:35)

Paige Wehrmeister (Presbyterian) 32-7 won by decision over Nanea Estrella (Iowa) 26-4 (Dec 8-7)

Haylie Jaffe (McKendree University) 22-5 won by tech fall over Alissa Caltagirone (Northern Michigan University) 20-5 (TF-1.5 5:43 (12-2))

Taylor Graveman (North Central College) 26-9 won by fall over Carina Giangeruso (Presbyterian) 30-4 (Fall 5:59)

145

Macey Kilty (Iowa) 25-0 won by tech fall over Sydney Perry (North Central College) 33-5 (TF-1.5 3:44 (10-0))

Aine Drury (King University) 21-1 won by tech fall over Madeline Kubicki (Presbyterian) 21-4 (TF-1.5 4:22 (10-0))

Bella Mir (North Central College) 23-2 won by tech fall over Savannah Gomez (McKendree University) 31-9 (TF-1.5 4:57 (11-1))

Reese Larramendy (Iowa) 28-2 won by tech fall over Zoey Lints (Elmira College) 30-4 (TF-1.5 3:59 (11-0))

160

Kennedy Blades (Iowa) 21-0 won by tech fall over Gretchen Donally (Colorado Mesa University) 27-7 (TF-1.5 2:07 (10-0))

Tiffani Baublitz (East Stroudsburg University) 18-0 won by tech fall over Nyla Burgess (Gannon University) 23-7 (TF-1.5 5:16 (10-0))

May Cuyler (Presbyterian) 26-2 won by fall over Alexandra Hofrichter (Dubuque) 29-6 (Fall 3:58)

Kaylynn Albrecht (McKendree University) 8-1 won by tech fall over Keeley Kehrli (Simpson) 34-7 (TF-1.5 4:27 (12-2))

180

Kylie Welker (Iowa) 25-0 won by tech fall over Lydia Krauss (McKendree University) 21-6 (TF-1.5 1:09 (10-0))

Naomi Simon (Iowa) 37-3 won by decision over Brittyn Corbishley (North Central College) 26-8 (Dec 9-6)

Shenita Lawson (North Central College) 29-5 won by decision over Madison Sandquist (Sacred Heart) 39-9 (Dec 7-3)

Sabrina Nauss (Grand Valley State) 25-2 won by fall over Paige Maher (Simon Fraser University) 17-3 (Fall 1:30)

207

Jaycee Foeller (Iowa) 25-2 won by decision over Julia Richey (Simon Fraser University) 14-2 (Dec 3-0)

Maria Aiono (Presbyterian) 27-8 won by injury default over Alyssa Favara (Lock Haven University) 26-2 (Inj. 2:10)

Sara Lake (Lindenwood University) 29-6 won by decision over Esther Peters (Chadron) 17-9 (Dec 8-1)

Tristan Kelly (McKendree University) 12-1 won by tech fall over Alivia White (Iowa) 26-9 (TF-1.5 4:44 (10-0))

Remaining 2025 NCWWC Schedule

Saturday, March 8

10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. - Championship Semifinals, Fourth and Fifth Wrestleback, Consolation Semifinals, and 3rd/5th/7th Placement Matches

6:00 p.m. - Championship Finals