Contact: Matthew Eaker, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, mreaker@noctrl.edu 

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ADRIAN, Mich. (Mar. 5, 2022) - Competing in the Cliff Keen National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championships (NCWWC) National Championships, the North Central College women's wrestling team took home fourth place while having a program record 12 All-Americans. Yelena Makoyed won her second consecutive title and earned All-American status for the third consecutive year. 

The Cardinals in just their third year as a program, placed in the top four for the first time in program history for both men's and women's wrestling. The Cardinals took home fourth place with 128 points from 12 All-Americans and a National Champion. McKendree University claimed the 2022 National Title with 188 points followed by King University in second with 166 points and Simon Fraser University in third with 145.5 points. 

"This is our first time ever winning a trophy at the men's or women's National Tournament, it's really cool to do it in our third year. It is a testament to Jim Miller and the way he supports us and what we have in coaching and resources. We know how fortunate we are and we know we have been given a lot so we know we are expected to produce" said Norton. 

In the 109-pound weight class, Junior Angelina Graff for the first time in her career earned All-American honors as she took home eighth place after falling to Julianne Moccia of Gannon University in the seventh place match. Freshman, Sydney Petzinger faced off against No. 1 Emily Shilson of Augsburg in the Championship match, Petzinger would fall to Shilson by a 10-0 technical fall. Petzinger would take home second place as well as All-American honors.

In the 116-pound weight class, Mateah Roehl would defeat Ainslie Lane of Presbyterian College by an 11-1 technical fall, earning herself seventh place and an All-American for the second consecutive season. Kendra Ryan would fall to No. 4 Sage Mortimer of King University in the consolation semifinals and would fall in the fifth place match to Gabriela Ramos Diaz of Limestone College earning All-American honors and a sixth place finish. 

In the 123-pound weight class, Freshman Amani Jones would fall to No. 2 Marissa Gallegos of Colorado Mesa by a 12-1 technical fall before defeating No. 7 Melanie Mendoza of King University 7-6. Jones would finish in fifth place, earning All-American honors. Asia Nguyen-Smith was named an All-American for the third time in her career as she defeated Gabby Skidmore of Augsburg by a 10-6 decision in the seventh place match. 

In the 130-pound weight class, Niya Teresita Gaines faced off against No. 2 Cameron Guerin of McKendree University in the Championship match. Gaines would fall to Guerin, placing second and earn All-American honors. Freshman Sara Sulejmani took home seventh place as she pinned Lana Perez of Gannon University earning All-American honors for the first time in her young career. In the 143-pound weight class, Kim Nunez would defeat Khadijah Sanusi of Sacred Heart University in the seventh place match 3-1, taking home seventh place and being named an All-American for the first time. 

Riley Aamold would face Kaylee Lacy of Colorado Mesa University in the consolation semifinals, Aamold would fall to Lacy putting her in the fifth place match against Avia Bibeau of East Stroudsburg University. Aamold would fall in the fifth place match, taking home sixth place and All-American honors in the 143-pound weight class. Tiera Jimerson took on Nyla Burgess of Adrian College in the consolation semifinals match, Jimerson would fall to Burgess by a 5-2 decision putting her in the fifth place match. Jimerson would defeat No. 8 Taylor Hites of Tiffin University by an 8-0 decision, earning fifth place and All-American Honors. 

Makoyed defended her 170-pound title with a 11-0 technical fall win over McKendree's Joye Levendusky earning her second consecutvie National Championship and third consecutive season as an All-American. Makoyed is the first two time National Champion for the Cardinals and the second three time All-American. 

"It's a breath of fresh air getting this one, I was a little bit nervous because last year's Nationals were less challenging because of COVID, I feel like there was less competition. This year the 170-pound weight class was stacked, it was wild but I had to tell myself that I earned it and I deserved it. I worked really hard for this and I have what I need to win so I just have to be confident with myself" said Makoyed 

In addition to 12 All-Americans and their first ever top four finish at the National Tournament, head coach Joe Norton was named National Coach of the Tournament. Norton has coached the Cardinals to a 20-9 record, 23 All-Americans, and a two time National Champion in just their third year. Norton was named National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Northwest Regional Coach of the Year and now NCWWC Coach of the Tournament. When asked about the award, he looks past himself and to his Associate head coach and the rest of his staff. 

"Yea it's cool, we work really hard. It's not me, it's those three, it shows the hard work that we put in each day. I think Zach Cook is the best wrestling coach in America. He is the best wrestling coach I've been around and I've been around wrestling coaches since I was five years old. We had a good team before he got here three years ago and now we have two great teams." said Norton

"Grant Zamin is just like Cook, we are super lucky that Cook had a relationship with him to get him in here as the men's graduate assistant. Amanda Martinez fits really well because she knows what we expected, having wrestled for us. Both of them accept the Graduate assistant role perfectly. It's not glorious, they didn't get to sit in the corner today for the national finals but all the extra workouts, filling the coolers, checking weights and getting the singlets out are thing you don't want to do as a GA but they do a great job of that" said Norton. 

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