Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324

Sept. 14th, 2021 - Both Yelena Makoyed and Amanda Martinez '21 of the North Central College women's wrestling team competed this past weekend at the 2021 World Team Trials as Makoyed turned in a third-place finish to secure her spot on the USA Wrestling Senior National Team, becoming the first Cardinal wrestler ever to do so while Martinez took fourth-place in the 55kg division.

Makoyed (72kg) began the two-day tournament by earning a quarterfinal 10-0 tech fall victory over Nahiela Magee of the Army World Class Athlete Program, who was a collegiate All-American this past season. After a semifinal loss, she bounced back with an 8-3 win over Alyvia Fiske, a two-time All-American. In the all-important third-place match, Makoyed faced Dymond Guilford, a collegiate national champion at Missouri Baptist University. In the battle of national champions, Makoyed prevailed with a 10-8 victory locking up her spot on the USA Wrestling Senior National Team.

Martinez kicked off her tournament with back-to-back- tech fall victories in the quarterfinals and semifinals. Facing Jacarra Winchester, who took fifth-place at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Martinez fell via tech fall in the following round. In the consolation bracket, she earned a 10-9 win over Lauren Mason, a three-time All-American to advance into the third-place match. There, Martinez fell to Marissa Gallegos, a two-time All-American to take fourth-place at the 2021 World Team Trials.

The Cardinals begin their season at the Pointer Open on Nov. 6th in an event hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

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