Contact: Anna Fox, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, amfox@noctrl.edu
 
Results
Brackets
 
STEVENS POINT, Wis (Nov. 2, 2024) - The North Central College women's wrestling team had a busy season opener at the Pointer Open with 44 wrestlers competing in the tournament. Sara Sterner, Bella Mir, Shenita Lawson, and Caroline Ward all took home first place finishes in their respective weight classes. Meanwhile, five Cardinal wrestlers finished in second place in their respective weight classes.
 
Maddie Avila received a bye in the first round in the 103-pound weight class before taking down Manchester University's Kyleigh Honaker by a 11-0 technical fall. In the quarterfinals, Avila only needed a minute and two seconds to pin Carissa Hersom from Wartburg College. Avila stayed motivated in the semifinals, defeating teammate Zurri Zamora with a technical fall (10-0). In a nail-biting finish, Avila fell to Rayana Sahagun of Grand Valley State by a decision (8-6). Avila finished in second place with a record of 3-1 on the day.
 
In the 110 class, freshman Leeana Mercado opened up her first collegiate tournament with a bye before taking down Augsburg University's Gisele Gallegos by a 12-2 technical fall. Mercado edged out Savannah Danielson (Wisconsin-Oshkosh) by a 2-0 decision. Mercado continued to see success on the mat, pinning Wartburg's Jasmine Luedtke in the semifinals (5:14). In the first-place match, Mercado fell to Taylor Whiting (Unattached) by a 6-2 decision. Mercado ended the tournament in second place with a 3-1 record.
 
Sterner represents the Cardinals in the 131-pound weight class for the second season. Sterner opened the day off with a bye. Sterner's waiting paid off, pinning Wartburg's Khylie Wainwright in one minute and 14 seconds. In the next round, Sterner once again pinned her opponent, this time it was Grand Valley's Hannah Palise in one minute and 10 seconds. In a nail-biting semifinal match, Sterner edgeout teammate Elianna White-Vega with a 3-2 decision. Sterner earned first place and a perfect record (4-0) after pinning Ngao Shoua Whitethorn (Wisconsin Stevens Point) in two minutes and 19 seconds.
 
Mir wrestled for the first time in a Cardinals singlet in the 145-pound weight class. Mir received a bye in the first round before pinning Kaleigh Herrick (Unattached) in just 37 seconds. Next, Mir pinned Wartburg's Dana Cleveland in one minute and 17 seconds. In the semifinals, Mir continued her pinning record by taking down teammate Riley Aamold in one minute and 36 seconds.
 
Also seeing success in the 145 class for the Cardinals was Sydney Perry. Perry defeated Annabell Blanchard from Wartburg with a 10-0 technical fall before defeating Carthage College's Madison Cook with another 10-0 technical fall. In the quarterfinals, Perry took down Harlow Skenandore by a 6-0 decision. In a nail-biting semifinal match, Perry took down Arisa Angelos (Unattached) with a 2-1 decision.
 
North Central teammates, Mir and Perry met in the 145-pound finals. During the match, Mir defeated Perry with a 10-0 technical fall. Mir took first place with a perfect 4-0 record. Perry finished in second place with a 4-1 record.
 
In the 180-pound weight class, Brittyn Corbishley started the day off with a bye in the first round. Corbishley met Ellie Poulette (Wartburg) on the mat, where she only needed 56 seconds to pin Poulette. In the quarterfinals, Corbishley pinned Augsburg's Katie Whelan in just 43 seconds. Next, Corbishley pinned teammate Tatum Heikkila in one minute and 10 seconds in the semifinals.
 
Lawson also wrestled for North Central in the 180 class. After a bye in the first round, Lawson needed only 33 seconds to pin the University of Dubuque's Brianna Seixas. Lawson then took down Kami Senlycki from Wartburg with a 7-1 decision. In the semifinals, Lawson defeated Aurora University's Mackenzie Konanz by a technical fall (10-0).
 
Cardinal teammates, Corbishley and Lawson met in the 180 finals. Lawson defeated Corbishley with a 11-4 decision. Lawson earned a first-place finish with a perfect 4-0 record. Corbishley took second place with a record of three wins and one loss.
 
Ward opened her day on the mat with a pin in one minute and 14 seconds over University of Sioux Falls' Zoe Adam in the 207-pound weight class. Ward was barely on the mat in the quarterfinals, pinning University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point's Teagan McKinnie in just 18 seconds. In the semifinal, Ward just edged out Rewa Chababo (Wartburg) in a 6-6 decision.
 
Also in the 207 class was Dasia Yearby. Yearby began the meet by pinning Aaliyah Grandberry (Grand Valley) in one minute and 14 seconds. In the quarterfinals, Yearby only needed 50 seconds to pin Augsburg's Brantajia Loggins. Yearby picked up her third pin of the day in one minute and 48 seconds against Jade Herzer (Wisconsin Stevens Point).
 
Ward and Yearby met on the mat for the 207-pound first place match. In the finals, Ward defeated Yearby with a 5-0 decision. Ward took home a first-place finish and a 4-0 record. Yearby finished in second place, taking home a 3-1 record.
 
North Central will host Carthage College Wednesday, Nov. 6, inside Merner Field House. The first match will begin at 6 p.m.
 
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