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TIFFIN, Ohio (Mar. 6th, 2021) - Yelena Makoyed was crowned the program's first individual National Champion in just their second season, as the North Central College women's wrestling team earned sixth-place while boasting six All-Americans at the 2021 National Cliff Keen Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championships (NCWWC).

Wrestlers that finished within the top eight of their respective weight-class earned the title of All-American. Makoyed, Amanda Martinez, Asia Nguyen-Smith, and Malea Palahniuk each secured their second straight All-American honor while freshmen Mateah Roehl and Abbey Denney captured the first All-American accolade of their young careers.

Makoyed (170) made quick work of her round one opponent as she recorded her fourth pin of the season, before notching a 10-0 tech fall to advance to the semifinals. Facing the fourth-ranked Nia Crosdale (King University), Makoyed stood her ground and earned another tech fall. In the championship match, she maintained her dominance by beating second-ranked Joye Levendusky of McKendree via a 12-2 tech fall victory. Makoyed finishes the year at a perfect 13-0 and a National Champion.

Martinez (130) started off the event on a high note as she won by a 7-0 decision in round one. In the quarterfinals, she rolled No. 7 Lana Perez into a tech fall (16-5) to move into the semifinals where Martinez beat No. 2 Allison Petix by decision,11-3. Wrestling in the championship match, Martinez found herself up early but ultimately fell to No. 1 Cameron Guerin (McKendree) via a 9-6 decision to earn a second-place finish.

Nguyen-Smith (123) earned a round one tech fall to move onto the next stage. She then grinded out a 5-3 decision in the quarterfinals over Gabriela Ramos Diaz (Limestone). Nguyen-Smith fell in the semifinals but wrestled her way back to earn a third-place finish.

Palahniuk edged out her first-round opponent by decision, 7-6. She then upset No. 4 Viktorya Torres with a 4-1 decision to move into the semifinal matchup. After losing in the semifinals, she rebounded and took down No. 7 Taylor Hites (Tiffin) to take fourth-place in the country at 155-pounds.

Roehl (123) kicked off her day by pinning No. 8 Caleenn Blarr of Gannon College in one minute and three seconds. She fell in the quarterfinal matchup but came back strong by winning two matches to earn sixth-place. 

After falling in the first round, Denney bounced back with a pin and a 5-1 decision. She lost via pin before beating Elisa Cox (Adrian) by a dominating 10-0 tech fall to finish in seventh place in the 136-pound division.

McKendree University won the event with 209 points followed by King University, Emmanuel College, Colorado Mesa, and Augsburg University to round out the top five. This is the second straight season that the Cardinals finished in sixth-place at the National Championship meet.

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