Contact: Anna Fox, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, amfox@noctrl.edu

AMMAN, Jordan (Aug. 17, 2023) - North Central College women's wrestler Amani Jones earned a bronze medal in the U20 World Championships for Team USA on Thursday. She overcame a quarterfinal loss to take home third place.

Jones started by defeating Lina Nita of Moldova with a dominating 11-1 win by technical fall. Jones fell to eventual gold medalist Aryna Martynava from Belarus in the quarterfinals. Looking to stay alive in the consolation round, Jones took on Aysanem Kuraneva of Uzbekistan. After an even playing field early in the match, Jones pulled ahead and came out victorious with a 7-4 win. 

In a nail-biting finish, Jones overcame Albina Rilla, from Ukraine, in a 5-5 criteria finish, claiming her first World Championship bronze medal. Jones earned her spot on the World Championship team earlier this spring in Spokane, Wash. after being crowned USA National Champion at 55 kilograms. 

"I feel like I have gotten more mentally tough after coming back from a loss and the overall experience of the tournament: staying up late, weight-ins, and learning a different style of wrestling," Jones said in a post-match interview with Richard Immel of USA Wrestling,

Jones credits her parents and grandma for supporting her throughout her career, "I couldn't do anything without them." As well as her coaches from back home in Georgia and her coaches from North Central, including head coach Joe Norton. Finally, she credits anyone who has supported her throughout her wrestling career. 

To follow Jones and her teammates throughout their season, click HERE for the team's 2023-2024 season schedule. 

You can view Jones' interview with USA Wrestling HERE. 

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