Contact: Anna Fox, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, amfox@noctrl.edu
 
Jan. 14, 2025 - The National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) has named Sydney Petzinger of the North Central College women's wrestling the NWCA National Wrestler of the Month for December.
 
The second-ranked wrestler received the NWCA December Wrestler of the Month for Region 5, allowing her to qualify for the NWCA National Wrestler of the Month. This is her second time receiving Wrestler of the Month honors.
 
This is only the fifth time a Cardinal wrestler has earned this distinction, and Petzinger is just the fourth wrestler. Sara Sterner received this distinction earlier this season in November.
 
Petzinger was flawless on the mat in December, tallying a 10-0 record, including three pins and four technical falls. Petzinger finished first in the 117 division in the North Central College Invitational and the Ken Kraft Midlands Championships. To earn both titles, Petzinger had to defeat top-ranked opponents, including No. 5 Clare Booe (King University), No. 10 Mikayla Garcia, and No. 4 Caityln Jackson (Lindenwood University), who she took down twice.
 
Petzinger and her Cardinal teammates will return to the mat at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, in a dual meet against the Elmhurst University Bluejays in Elmhurst, Ill.
 
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