Contact: Matthew Eaker, Sports Information Graduate Assistant,
mreaker@noctrl.edu
Colorado Mesa Results
King Results
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Jan. 7, 2023) - Competing in the second day of the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) National Duals, the North Central College women's wrestling team advanced to the championship match with a win over Colorado Mesa but was on the wrong side of a tightly contested match as they lost to King University (Tenn.) 23-21 in Saturday's championship match inside the Kentucky Exposition Center.
The Cardinals (14-1) needed to defeat third-ranked Colorado Mesa University in the semifinals to advance to their first ever championship match. Maddie Avila kicked off the action at 101-pounds and put the Cardinals in front after defeating Isabella Morales by a 3-0 decision. Fifth-ranked Kendra Ryan defeated Isabella Richards in the 109-pound weight class before second-ranked Jaslynn Gallegos pinned Carisa Epling in the 116-pound bout to give the Cardinals a 12-0 lead. Third-ranked Amani Jones picked up another pin for the Cardinals in the 123-pound match as she defeated Hania Halverson before Sara Sterner made it three straight pins as she defeated fourth-ranked Hailey Chapman. The Cardinals would drop the 136-pound match but fourth-ranked Kendall Bostelman put the Cardinals up 26-6 as she defeated Erica Schroeder by a 10-0 technical fall. In the 155-pound weight class, fourth-ranked Tiera Jimerson defeated second-ranked Dalia Garibay by a 6-4 before sixth-ranked Malea Palahniuk defeated Celina Cooke by an 11-0 technical fall. The Cardinals headed into the 191-pound match with a 33-6 lead and Traeh Haynes would secure the 38-6 win for the Cardinals as she pinned Melana Jones.
The Cardinals advanced to the national championship dual for the first time in program history and they would take on top-ranked King University. King defeated McKendree University 34-12 to advance to the championship and they would strike first in the 101-pound match as second-ranked Jessica Corredor would defeat Avila by a 6-4 decision. In the 109-pound weight class, second-ranked Sydney Petzinger battled her way back from a 12-4 deficit but fell to top-ranked Sage Mortimer by a 15-14 decision. Gallegos gave the Cardinals a 7-6 lead as she pinned top-ranked Samara Chavez in the 116-pound match before Amani Jones put another five points on the board for the Cardinals as she pinned fourth-ranked Vayle-rae Baker in the 123-pound bout. King would take the next three matches, having a 19-12 lead prior to the 155-pound match where Jimerson defeated fifth-ranked Tiffani Baublitz by a 3-1 decision. Yelena Makoyed would receive a forfeit in the 170-pound match, tying the score at 20 with just the 191-pound match to go. Haynes would square off with second-ranked Cheyenne Bowman for the championship and would fall in a 5-1 decision.
North Central finished in second, their highest finish in program history, after taking down three ranked opponents and compiling a 3-1 record over the weekend while outscoring their opponents 142-38. The second-ranked Cardinals are idle until Jan. 24 when they welcome University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point to Gregory Arena for a dual meet at 6 pm.
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