Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, 630-637-5302 

Team Results
Brackets

LEBANON, Ill. (Feb. 8, 2020) - In their final tournament action before the Women's Collegiate National Championships in March, the North Central College women's wrestling team competed in the McKendree University Bearcat Open on Saturday. Yelena Makoyed and Amanda Martinez each earned second-place in their respective weight classes.

Makoyed (170) began her day by defeating Kelani Corbett (Lyon College) via a 12-2 tech fall. She then earned her second tech fall by beating her round two opponent 10-0. In the quarterfinal, Makoyed pinned Ophelia Lara of Emmanuel College to advance to the semifinal where she earned a 12-8 decision to advance to the championship match. There, she faced the No. 2-ranked wrestler Korinahe Bullock. The two have split their matches so far this season, but Bullock prevailed as she won by a 8-6 decision as Makoyed took second-place.

Martinez earned two 10-0 wins via tech fall to move into the semifinal where she would face the No. 5-ranked wrestler in the 130-pound division, Sierra Brown Ton (Colorado Mesa University). Martinez would end up winning by decision, 6-0 to advance to the championship match. She would fall to the No.1-ranked wrester, Lauren Mason of Simon Fraser University by a 10-0 tech fall to claim second-place.

Asia Nguyen-Smith took the mat at 123-pounds for the first time this season as she defeated Aidan Coughlin (Ferrum College) 10-0 in her first action of the day. In the quarterfinal, Nguyen-Smith earned another tech fall victory to move onto the semifinal match. There, she was defeated by No. 2 Alexandra Hedrick (Simon Fraser) via a 11-1 tech fall. Nguyen-Smith would then fall to Jasmine Hernandez (Lyon) by a 10-6 decision to take her to the fifth-place match. She took down Glory Konecny (Southern Oregon University) via a 13-5 decision to take fifth-place in the 123-pound division.

Malea Palahniuk (155) pinned her first opponent in just 1 minute and 18 seconds to advance to the quarterfinal. There, she would lose via tech fall to Nahiela Magee of host McKendree. In the consolation bracket, Palahniuk earned her eighth pin of the season as she took down Randie Scoon (Ottawa University) in four minutes and 18 seconds. In her final match of the day, Palahniuk lost via tech fall as her day was concluded.

Abby Eisenbeis (116) earned her second pin of the year as she took down Morgan Betha of University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point for her lone win of the tournament.

The Cardinals travel to UW-Stevens Point on Tuesday, Feb. 18th for their final dual meet of the season. The meet is set to begin at 7:00 pm in Berg Gymnasium.

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