Contact: Anna Fox, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, amfox@noctrl.edu
 
Bracket
Quarterfinal Results
Semifinal Results
Championship Results
 
CEDAR FALLS, IOWA (Jan. 6, 2024) - The North Central College women's wrestling program competed in the NWCA National Duals. The Cardinals saw success by defeating University of Lindenwood (No. 22) and McKendree University (No. 5), but in the end, suffered a heartbreaking 21-20 loss to No. 1 University of Iowa in the championships.
 
After a first-round bye Friday (Jan. 5), the North Central wrestlers were itching to put their skills on display. The quarterfinals consisted of North Central taking on No. 22 University of Lindenwood. No. 4 Maddie Avila put the Cardinals on the board after defeating Megan Valdez with a 10-0 technical fall in the 101-pound weight class. Next was No. 1 in the 109-pound weight class, Kendra Ryan, who hit the mat for North Central. Ryan took down Sienna Caruso with a 10-0 technical fall before Sydney Petzinger (No. 2) defeated Caitlyn Thorne (No. 7) with a 7-2 decision in the 116-pound weight class. Then, No. 7 in the 123-pound weight class, Asia Nguyen-Smith picked up the Cardinals first pin of the tournament in one minute and 25 seconds against McKenzie Gilreath.
 
Sara Sterner (130 lbs.) picked up her own pin over Cayden Condit in two minutes and 18 seconds. Taylor Graveman (No. 9) increased the Cardinals lead with a 13-2 technical fall win against Hayley Gilson in the 136-pound match. In the 143-pound weight class, No. 5 Kendall Bostelman beat Rebecca Strong with a 10-0 technical fall. Tiera Jimerson (No. 7) represented the Cardinals in the 155-pound weight class. Jimerson overpowered Alana Duggan with an 8-2 decision.
 
Yelena Makoyed picked up her fourth win of the season by conquering Emma Thomas with a pin one minute and 20 seconds into their match. Brittyn Corbishley showed why she is ranked No. 1 in the 191-pound weight class by putting an end to the dual with an astounding 42 second pin against Makayla Riveria. North Central defeated Lindenwood with a team score of 42-3 and ended day 1 of the NWCA National Duals for the Cardinals.
 
The semifinals on day 2 consisted of North Central taking on their foe, No. 5, McKendree University. In a close first match, Avila prevailed, defeating Lizette Rodriguez (No. 9) with a 5-4 decision. Ryan continued her domination in the 109-pound weight class by taking down No. 10 Pauline Granados with a 10-0 technical fall. Petzinger dismantled Julia Vidallon with a 16-6 technical fall. In the 123-pound weight class, Amani Jones fell to No. 5 Shelby Moore by an 8-5 decision. Salome Walker (No. 6) wrestled at the 130-pound weight class for the Cardinals but fell to Cameron Guerin (No. 1) by an 11-3 decision.
 
Yele Aycock picked the team back up with a close 5-4 decision win over Estella Gutches in the 136-pound weight class. Alara Boyd (143 lbs.) earned herself another win with the Cardinals by taking on her alma mater. She defeated No. 7 Viktorya Torres with a 10-0 technical fall. In the 155-pound weight class, London Houston (No. 4) took down Destiny Rodriguez (No. 9) with a 10-0 technical fall.
 
Jimerson (170) picked up her second win of the weekend by defeating Ruby Rios with a 10-0 technical fall. In the final weight class (191 lbs.), Makoyed dominated Tristan Kelly with an 11-0 technical fall to finish off the dual. North Central defeated McKendree 32-9 to move them into the championship match.
 
In the championship match, No. 2 North Central took on their biggest opponent of the season, No. 1 University of Iowa. Maddie Avila took on her third match of the day in the 101-pound weight class. After a tough battle, Sterling Dias (No. 2) was able to act and rack up points fast. Ultimately, Dias took the win over Avila by an 11-0 technical fall. Jaslynn Gallegos faced Ava Bayless in the 109-pound weight class. After a stalemate, attacking first was Gallegos who racked up five points before Bayless was able to capitalize. Bayless was able to tie up the score and won the match by a 5-5 decision.
 
Sydney Petzinger, in the 116-pound weight class, lifted the Cardinals' hopes. Brianna Gonzalez (No. 3) picked up two points from a takedown, but Petzinger gained four points from a takedown of her own and took the lead (6-2). Gonzalez received two more points from a takedown, however, which was not enough to take down Petzinger. She gave the Cardinals their first win against the Hawkeyes with a 6-4 decision.
 
Amani Jones took on No. 2 Felicity Taylor in the 123-pound weight class. Taylor opened up the match by earning one point from a step out by Jones, still Jones racked up four points from two takedowns. After another two-point takedown from Taylor, Jones received a four points takedown of her own. Gaining momentum, Jones concluded the match with a 12-3 technical fall win.
 
The 130-pound match featured North Central's Salome Walker and Iowa's Emily Frost (No. 10). Walker obtained a six-point lead fast, after three two-point takedowns. An injury stoppage for Frost came early in the second period, but it did not take any of Walker's momentum. She was like a wall in the last 30 seconds of the match, not allowing Frost any points. Walker defeated Frost with an 8-2 decision win and tied the team's scores to 10 apiece.
 
Next up was Yele Aycock and Lilly Luft in the 136-pound weight class. In the first period, Luft earned a point off a step out from Aycock before Aycock received a two-point takedown. Aycock obtained four points for a takedown in the second period to increase her lead to 6-1. In the last seconds of the match Luft gained one point from a step out but it was not enough to get the win. Aycock ended the match with an 8-2 decision win.
 
Alara Boyd took on Reese Larramendy (No. 1) in the 143-pound weight class. Boyd gained momentum quickly with three two-point takedowns. Larramendy was able to get one two-point takedown, but Boyd countered with another takedown (two points). The first period ended with Boyd having an 8-2 lead. In the second period, Boyd earned one point from a step out from Larramendy. Each wrestler got two-points from a takedown before time was up. Boyd closed out the match with a 9-4 decision.
 
London Houston was up again for the Cardinals in the 155-pound weight class to take on No. 1 Marlynne Deede. Houston earned two points from a takedown followed by a two-point take down from Deede. Deede gained momentum from the takedown by following up with a pin over Houston (1:38).
 
In the 170-pound weight class, Yelena Makoyed squared up against Iowa freshman Kylie Welker. Welker picked up three points from three step outs from Makoyed. Makoyed was able to pick up a point (step out) before the first period ended. The second period consisted of a stalemate with both wrestlers trading off points. As time ticked down Makoyed was unable to make a move and fell to Welker by an 11-3 technical fall.
 
With Iowa leading 20-17 it was time for the final match of the championships. In the 191-pound weight class, Traeh Haynes represented North Central while Jaycee Foeller was up for Iowa. Haynes picked up a two-point takedown in the first period but the rest of the time was a stalemate. In the second period, Haynes received points for takedowns while Foeller only earned one point from a step out. Haynes defeated Foeller with a 6-1 decision. The win for Haynes was not enough to give the Cardinals the lead. North Central lost to Iowa in a heartbreak 21-20 finish.
 
With Iowa taking home first-place and North Central receiving second-place, McKendree finished in third-place. King University finished in fourth-place followed by Sacred Heart (No. 5), Lindenwood (No. 6), Presbyterian (No. 7), and Colorado Mesa (No. 8).
 
North Central will have an almost two week break in action before competing at the Bearcat Open hosted by McKendree University Jan. 20, in Lebanon, Ill. Matches are set to start at 9 am.
 
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