Contact: Matthew Eaker, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, mreaker@noctrl.edu
 
NAPERVILLE, Ill. (Feb. 14, 2023) - For the first time, the National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championships (NCWWC) Regional Tournament will be held in the Chicagoland Area as North Central College will be hosting the event on Sunday, Feb. 19 inside Gregory Arena.
 
Women's wrestling is one of the fastest-growing sports at the scholastic and collegiate levels and has been recognized as an NCAA Emerging sport. Until it reaches championship status at the NCAA level, the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) will continue to host the National Championships.

"It's awesome to host the regional at home in Gregory Arena! We intend to qualify all 15 women to the national championship and what better place to do that then our home mats? This is by far the toughest region in the country and we are eager to host it on our campus" said head coach Joe Norton.
 
North Central began its women's wrestling program during the 2019-2020 season under Norton, and the program has grown from a roster size of nine in the first season to 43 three years later. The Cardinals are heading into the championship as the No. 1-ranked team in the country, according to the NWCA rankings, posting a 15-1 dual meet record and claiming team titles at the Adrian Open, Ken Kraft Midlands Championships and the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Championships. The CCIW is the first NCAA Conference to sponsor women's wrestling.
 
North Central has 15 women ranked individually in their respective weight classes, including Tiera Jimerson and Yelena Makoyed who are both ranked No. 1 at 155-pounds and 170- pounds, respectively. Jimerson has posted a 18-4 record this season with four pins and five technical falls while Makoyed has a perfect 22-0 record this season with all of her wins coming in the first period. Maddie Avila heads into the regional tournament ranked fourth at 101-pounds while Sydney Petzinger is ranked second and Kendra Ryan is ranked sixth in the 109-pound weight class. Jaslynn Gallegos sits at No. 2 in the 116-pound weight class and Amani Jones was ranked third in the latest 123-pound weight class.
 
Sara Sterner ranks third at the 130-pound weight class while Yele Aycock checks in at No. 5 at the 136-pound weight class. Kendall Bostelman (fifth) and London Houston (eighth) both rank at 143-pounds, and accompanying Jimerson in the 155-pound weight class is Malea Palahniuk, seeded fourth in the latest NWCA rankings. Traeh Haynes and Brittyn Corbishley round out the rankings for the Cardinals with Haynes checking in at No. 2 while Corbishley is one spot behind her at No. 3 at the 191-pound weight class.

"We are looking for the women to go out and dominate at the regional and prove that we're the best team in the country by winning the toughest region and punching 15 tickets to nationals!" Norton said. 
 
The tournament field consists of 12 teams including five ranked teams. Following North Central in the rankings is McKendree University in third, Augsburg University fourth, Aurora University 12th and Lindenwood University ranked 15th. The other teams in Region IV include Augustana College, Eureka College, Fontbonne University, Quincy University, Simpson College, Westminster College and William Jewell College.
 
The Region IV Championship will host 30 ranked athletes, including six of the ten No. 1-ranked wrestlers in the nation. Third-ranked McKendree has eight women ranked in their respective weight classes including three No. 1-ranked wrestlers (Payton Stroud, Cameron Guerin, and Sydnee Kimber). Lizzette Rodriguez is ranked second at the 101-pound weight class while Pauline Grandos is the eighth-ranked wrestler at 109-pounds. Jennifer Soto and Alara Boyd rank fifth in the 130 & 143-pound weight classes, respectively, and Alexandra Castillo is the eighth-ranked wrestler at 170-pounds. Emily Shilson, currently unranked, is the defending 109-pound champion.
 
Fourth-ranked Augsburg heads into the regional tournament with five ranked women including Nina Makem, the No. 1-ranked wrestler at 136-pounds. Gabby Skidmore is eighth in the 123-pound weight class while Katie Lange is the third-ranked wrestler at 143-pounds. Marlynne Deede is the second-ranked wrestler at 155 pounds while Ashley Lekas is the final Auggie ranked, checking at No. 3 in the 170-pound weight class.
 
12th-ranked Aurora University and 15th-ranked Lindenwood University both have one ranked wrestler on the roster. Alexis Janiak of Aurora ranks fourth at the 130-pound weight class and Sara Lake of Lindenwood is fifth at 191-pounds.
 
North Central will host the Region IV Championship inside Merner Fieldhouse and Gregory Arena on Sunday, Feb. 19 at 10 am. For more information about the tournament, click HERE.
 
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