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

KENOSHA, Wis. (Dec. 7, 2024) - The second ranked North Central College women's wrestling team ruled the Carthage Classic today, with 18 wrestlers placing in the top three of their respective weight classes, including eight first-place finishes.
 
Brianne Graves received byes in the 103-pound weight class in the first and quarterfinal rounds. Stepping on the mat for her first match of the day in the semifinals, Graves pinned Iowa Central Community College's Myah Rausch in two minutes and 56 seconds. In the championship match, Graves faced off against teammate Zurri Zamora. Graves defeated Zamora with a 12-2 technical fall. Graves took home first place with a record of 2-0.
 
In the 117 division, Eden Hernandez received a bye in the first round. In the second round, Hernandez worked hard to pin Natalie Majer from Carthage College in two minutes and three seconds. Hernandez met teammate Mikayla Garcia in the semifinals. Hernandez edged out Garcia in a nail-biting match with a 10-9 decision. Hernandez met Nadia Thomas, another Cardinal wrestler, in the championship match. Hernandez entered the match with momentum and pinned Thomas in 55 seconds. Hernandez took first place while tallying a perfect 3-0 record.
 
Aroma Marrufo began her day with a commanding 10-0 technical fall over Elmhurst University's Itzel Rodriguez before receiving a bye in the second round. In the next two rounds, Marrufo picked up two 10-0 technical falls, one over teammate Bella Bolek and one over Margaret Gillmore of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Marrufo controlled the championship match to pick up her fourth 10-0 technical fall of the day over Alaina Hollendoner (Carthage). Marrufo finished in first place and recorded a spotless 4-0 record at the tournament.
 
In the 131 class, freshman Eliana White-Vega continued to show her dominance. White-Vega took down Evaenly Nielsen (Iowa Central) with a pin in one minute and 44 seconds. Then, in the second round, White-Vega needed just 18 seconds to pin Joliet Junior College's Katie Ramirez-Quintero. White-Vega met teammate Gracie Guarino on the mat in the semifinals. In an evenly fought match, White-Vega edged out Guarino with a 6-2 decision. In the championship match, White-Vega was barely on the mat, pinning Natallie Tobuk of Eureka in only eight seconds. White-Vega finished the day in first place, picking up four pins and a decision win.
 
Sydney Perry (145) earned two technical falls in the first two rounds. First defeating Jaylah Dalton from Eureka (10-0) and then Iowa Central's Kammie Schanz (11-0). Perry met fellow Cardinal teammate Riley Aamold in the semifinals. Perry defeated Aamold with a 6-2 decision. In the finals, Perry took on another teammate, Clare Waite. Perry used the momentum from her previous matches to take down Waite with a 7-2 decision. Perry earned first place with a perfect 4-0 record.
 
In the 160 division, Elizabeth Raleigh received a bye in the first round. Raleigh pinned Alexandra Grow (Iowa Central) in one minute and 10 seconds. In the semifinals, Raleigh ruled Elmhurst's Clara Rice in 26 seconds. Raleigh earned first place in the weight class by defeating teammate Alondra Morales with a 9-2 decision.
 
Fiona McConnell, the lone Cardinal wrestler in the 180 class, received a bye to begin her day. In the quarterfinals, McConnell pinned Teagan McKinne (Wisconsin Stevens Point) in one minute and 40 seconds. Then, in the semifinals, McConnell pinned Eureka's Alez Park in three minutes and 38 seconds. McConnell took first place by defeating Madi Zube (Wisconsin Stevens Point) with a 9-0 decision in the championship match.
 
In the 207-pound weight class, Dasia Yearby defeated Cynthia Ellis (Iowa Central) by a 10-0 technical fall. Yearby picked up her fastest pin of the day in the second round over Fernanda Miranda (Joliet Junior) in just 10 seconds. Yearby received a bye in the third round before pinning Julianna Onate (Joliet Junior) in only 18 seconds. Yearby needed just 28 seconds in the final round to earn first place by pinning Kate Riege (Wisconsin Stevens Point).
 
The No. 2 Cardinals have a quick turnaround as they host No. 4 Grand Valley State University tomorrow, Dec. 8, for what Flowrestling is calling "The Biggest Women's College Dual of the Year." Matches are set to begin at 5 p.m. in Gregory Arena in Naperville, Ill.

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