Contact: Anna Fox, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, amfox@noctrl.edu
 
NWCA Regional Wrestler of the Month
 
Jan. 9, 2024 - For the second month in a row, a member of the North Central College women's wrestling program has been named the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) NCAA Regional Wrestler of the Month. For December, junior Amani Jones was the recipient of the award.

Jones follows Kendra Ryan as the NWCA Regional Wrestler of the Month as Ryan was named the recipient in November (Dec. 7). Jones is automatically nominated for National Wrestler of the Month which will be released Thursday, Jan. 11.
 
Jones, a dominating wrestler in the NCAA and the country, has received this award after continuing her perfect record throughout December. She went 8-0 in December to make her overall record 12-0 and prove why she has been ranked No. 1 in the 123-pound weight class since the preseason polls.
 
The beginning of December started off strong for Jones at the North Central College Invitational with a 5-0 record. The first round for Jones went pretty fast as she pinned University of Providence's Kivah Caballero in only 21 seconds. The next round was almost equally as fast as she defeated Karla Topete (Carthage College) with a pin in 50 seconds. In the quarterfinals, Jones took down Isabelle Silva (Indiana Tech) with a 10-0 technical fall. Jones picked up her third pin of the day after conquering University of Iowa's Cali Leng (2:35). In the finals, Jones saw her second University of Iowa opponent, this time Ava Rose. Jones earned first place by taking down Rose with a 10-0 technical fall.
 
At the Ken Kraft Midlands Championship, Jones took home first place after dominating three respected opponents. After a bye in the first round, she defeated Aurora University's Bethany Regione with a 10-0 technical fall. The semifinals consisted of Jones taking on No. 10 Alyssa Mahan (Presbyterian College). She took down Mahan with a 10-0 technical fall. In the finals, Jones met Carissa Qureshi (Unattached) on the mat. Jones pinned Qureshi in two minutes and four seconds to take home first place.
 
Additionally, in December Jones won the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Wrestler of the Week Award (Dec. 12).
 
Jones and the Cardinals will travel to Stevens Point, Wis. to take on the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Tuesday, Jan. 23. Matches are set to begin at 7 pm inside the Quandt Fieldhouse.
 
Please note the Bearcat Open that was scheduled to take place Jan. 23 has been canceled. To view their full schedule, click HERE.
 
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