Contact: Matthew Eaker, Sports Information Graduate Assistant,
mreaker@noctrl.edu
Team Scores
Brackets
Results
CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA (Mar. 4, 2023) - The second-ranked North Central College women's wrestling team's historic two-day performance propelled them past the 37 team field at the National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championships as they claimed the programs first ever National Title. The Cardinals set a program record for All-Americans with 15 while three women won National Titles in their respective weight classes.
The Cardinals posted a staggering 198 points, outscoring runner-ups, King University (163) by 35 points to claim their first ever National Championship. McKendree University finished in third place with 147.5 points while Colorado Mesa University (108) turned in a fourth place finish and Augsburg University (87.5) rounded out the top-five.
In the 101-pound weight class, fourth-ranked Maddie Avila took on top-ranked Jessica Corredor of King University in the semifinals. Avila, a freshman from Madera, Calif, dominated Corredor on her way to a 9-0 decision win to punch her ticket to the National finals. Avila squared off with Jenavi Alejandro of Tiffin University in the 101-pound championship bout and after a late takedown, Avila defeated Alejandro by a 5-3 decision to claim the 101-pound crown. Avila is the second Cardinal in program history to win a National Championship and earned All-American honors for the first time in her young career.
"It feels amazing. It still hasn't hit me yet but I'm trying to soak everything in and enjoy the moment. It's not too bad of a freshman year if you ask me" said Avila.
In the 109-pound weight class, Sydney Petzinger turned in a fourth place finish to earn All-American honors for the second-time in her career. Petzinger faced second-ranked Sage Mortimer of King University in the semifinals but would fall by a 12-2 technical fall to put her on the backside of the bracket. In the consolation semifinals, Petzinger took down fifth-ranked Kaelani Shufeldt of Lock Haven University by a 13-0 technical fall to move into the third place match. Petzinger would fall in the third place match to fourth-ranked Dianna Holmes of King University in a high scoring 19-12 decision. Seventh-ranked Kendra Ryan kicked off day two with a 10-0 technical fall win over Pauline Granados of McKendree University to punch her ticket into the consolation semifinals. Ryan would fall to Holmes of King University by a narrow 8-6 decision before taking home fifth-place and All-American honors for the second time in her career.
In the 116-pound weight class, third-ranked Jaslynn Gallegos found herself against second-ranked Payton Stroud of McKendree in the semifinals. Gallegos punched her ticket to the National finals with a dominating 10-0 technical fall win. Gallegos would face top-ranked Samara Chavez of King for the National Title and after falling to an 8-1 deficit, Gallegos flipped the script and pinned Chavez to win her first National title and earn All-American honors for the fourth time in her career.
"It is unreal but I have work to do so I can do it again. When I got into the corner, the coaches reminded me that all it takes is one move. I went back out there with that on my mind and I said I'm not going out like this" said Gallegos.
Amani Jones faced third-ranked Vayle-rae Baker of King in the 123-pound semifinals and after Baker tallied three cautions, Jones would head to the championship bout. Jones would square off with top-ranked Marissa Gallegos of Colorado Mesa University and in a back and forth battle, Jones would fall to Gallegos by a 7-2 decision. Jones finishes the season as the National Runner-up, earning All-American honors for the second time in her young career while tying the single season wins record (35) that she set one year ago.
In the 130-pound weight class, fourth-ranked Sara Sterner fell to top-ranked Alexis Janiak in the semifinals bout and looked to bounce back in the consolation semifinals but would go to the fifth-place match after falling to seventh-ranked Marquesis Haintz of Simon Fraser University. Sterner would claim fifth-place and earn All-American honors for the first time after defeating fifth-ranked Hailey Chapman of Colorado Mesa by a 6-0 decision.
Third-ranked Yele Aycock would square off with second-ranked Nina Makem of Augsburg University for the sixth time this season in the 136-pound semifinals. With just seconds remaining, Aycock forced Makem out of bounds earning the 5-4 decision win to punch her ticket to the National finals. Aycock would face top-ranked Ana Luciano of King in the championship bout and seemed to claim the 136-pound crown with a four point takedown but after a review, it was ruled a two-point takedown and Luciano would win on criteria. Aycock finishes her season as the National Runner-up and earns All-American status for the first time in her career. Salome Walker fought her way through the backside of the 136-pound bracket and in the consolation fifth round, she would fall to sixth-ranked Holly Beaudoin by fall to put her in the seventh place match against fourth-ranked Viktorya Torres of King. Walker would turn in an eighth place finish after falling to Torres and would earn All-American status for the first time in her career.
Fourth-ranked London Houston fell in the 143-pound semifinals bout to top-ranked Ashlynn Ortega of King by a 10-0 technical fall but would bounce back with a 10-0 technical fall win over seventh-ranked Lily Ujfalvi of Gannon University in the consolation semifinals. In the third place bout, Houston would dominate second-ranked Grace Stem of Lock Haven to secure a third place finish and earn All-American honors for the first time in her career. Fifth-ranked Kendall Bostelmman kicked off day two by pinning Zoe Gress of East Stroudsburg in the 143-pound consolation fifth round. In the consolation semifinals, Bostelman would lose to second-ranked Stem by an outrageous 20-14 decision to fall into the fifth place match. Bostelman would finish in sixth place as she fell to Ujfalvi and would earn All-American honors for the first time in her career.
Fifth-ranked Malea Palahniuk defeated eighth-ranked Madison Sandquist of Sacred Heart by a 9-0 decision in the 155-pound consolation fifth round. Palahniuk would punch her ticket to the third palace match with a 4-1 decision win over seventh-ranked Nyla Burgess of Adrian College. Palahniuk would fall to Tiffani Baublitz of King in the third place match to take home fourth place and become the third three-time All-American in program history. Second-ranked Tiera Jimerson fell to Lydia Krauss of Northern Michigan University in the consolation fifth round, putting her in the seventh place match. Jimerson would bounce back with a 9-4 decision win over Sandquist to earn seventh place and All-American honors for the second-straight year.
Top-ranked Yelena Makoyed faced Brookyln Hays of Augsburg in the semifinals and after an aggressive single lead attempt by Hays, Makoyed flipped the script and put Hays on her back to earn the pin. Makoyed would face Cheyenne Bowman of King in the championship bout, Bowman defeated Makoyed at the 2021 National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) which was Makoyed's last loss in college. Makoyed had a 9-0 lead in the second period and would put Bowman on her back to claim the 170-pound crown. Makoyed becomes the first Cardinals in history to win three National Titles and earn All-American status for the fourth-straight year.
"Out of all of the wins that I have, nothing has compared to the connections and memories that I have made with my team. Every year out of the four years I've been here, it has been a different journey. Coach Joe and all of our coaches work so hard and I am so grateful for everyone including the parents, teammates, training partners and god. Without God, I would have not chosen to come to North Central or wrestle at all" said Makoyed.
The 191-pound semifinal featured second-ranked Traeh Haynes and third-ranked Brittyn Corbishley. Haynes would take out Corbishley on criteria to advance to the championship bout against three-time National Champion Sydnee Kimber of McKendree. Despite having a 6-4 lead, Haynes found herself on the wrong side of a headlock and was pinned by Kimber. Haynes finishes the season as the 191-pound runner-up and earns All-American status for the first time in her career. Corbishley took down Jayleen Sekona of Colorado Mesa by a 7-2 decision in the consolation semifinals after falling to Haynes. In the third place match, Corbishley would throw Sara Lake of Lindenwood to her back and earn the fall to secure third place and All-American honors for the second time in her career and the first time in the NCAA.
Following the Tournament, Makoyed was awarded the Most Outstanding Wrestler as well as earning the Manuel Gorriaran Award which is the most falls in the least amount of time. Makoyed tallied four pins in just seven minutes and 48 seconds. Head coach Joe Norton was named the National Tournament Coach of the Year for the second-straight year.
"It's good, it feels really good. We checked a box, it was a goal we set when we created the program. It is a relief that we got to this point. We put a lot of effort into our girls and we are glad that their hard work has paid off" said head coach Joe Norton.
The Cardinals finish the season with a dominant 15-1 dual meet record while claiming titles at the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) and the NCWWC Region IV Championship.
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