Contact: Anna Fox, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, amfox@noctrl.edu
 
King Results
Iowa Results
 
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (Jan. 11, 2025) - The third-ranked North Central College women's wrestling team took home a second-place finish at the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) National Duals after defeating No. 2 King University in the semifinals but falling to No. 1 University of Iowa in the finals.
 
Before taking on Iowa, the Cardinals first had to meet King on the mat for the semifinals. The Tornados took an early 9-2 lead after winning three matches by decision, but the Cardinals took the momentum right back.
 
In the 124-pound weight division, No. 1 Amani Jones cruised past No. 2 Montana Delawder with an 11-0 technical fall. No. 1 Sara Sterner (131) shut out No. 8 Anna Dicugno by a 6-0 decision, and the Cardinals took an 11-9 lead. Seventh-ranked Emma Grimm (138) defeated Annabel Garcia with a 9-2 decision. In the 145 class, No. 4 Bella Mir found herself down 6-2 against No. 2 Aine Drury, but with 16 seconds left, Mir pinned Drury. The Cardinals dropped the 160 bout, but received five points right back in the 180 division, with No. 10 Shenita Lawson accepting a win by forfeit. Tenth-ranked Dasia Yearby (207) sent North Central into the championships with a 10-0 technical fall over Kenisha Jacsaint. The Cardinals defeated the Tornados for the second time this season (26-15) and headed to the finals to take on Iowa.
 
The Cardinals did not get the start they had hoped for against Iowa. The Hawkeyes won the first four matches with heartbreaking decision wins and jumped to a 12-3 lead. Amani Jones wrestled a class up in the 131 division and, through takedowns, comfortably won the match with a 15-3 technical fall. North Central trailed by six points (13-7).
 
The Cardinals continued to fight, but the Hawkeyes picked up the next four matches and increased their lead to 28-9. In the final match of the dual, Traeh Haynes upset No. 5 Alivia White. Haynes earned a four-point takedown followed by a two-point takedown and another four-point takedown. With a 10-0 lead, Haynes fought for a pin but could not get the call before time ran out. North Central fell to Iowa 28-13, their only loss of the season.
 
North Central will face Elmhurst University at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, in R.A. Faganel Hall in Elmhurst, Ill.
 
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