Contact: Taiah Gallisath, Associate Director of Athletics Communication, 630-637-5302
 
ALLENDALE, Mich. (Nov. 23, 2025) – A Sunday afternoon dual saw the fourth-ranked North Central College women's wrestling team fall in a tight battle to No. 3 Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan. The 23-21 loss moves North Central to a 5-2 record on the season, with both losses coming at the hands of top-three ranked opponents, while Grand Valley picks up the win in their first dual of the year.
 
At 103 pounds, eighth-ranked Madison Avila suffered a narrow 2-1 decision loss to No. 2 ranked Rayana Sahagun. In the 110 weight class, No. 4 Kaelani Shufeldt was pinned by Sage Mortimer, who dropped down a weight class and currently ranks second in the 117 national rankings.
 
In the 117 pound bout, eighth-ranked Mikayla Garcia took on Libby Roberts. After a battling through two rounds, Garcia was ultimately defeated in an 8-5 decision. In the 124 weight class, third-ranked Sara Sterner faced No. 6 Aspen Blasko for the second time this season. Earlier this year, Sterner defeated Blasko in the first-place match of the Adrian Invite where Sterner claimed the win by decision. This time, it was Blasko who came out with a win by pin at the 4:37 mark giving the Lakers a 16-2 lead.
 
No. 6 Yele Aycock picked up the win at 131 pounds, earning the upset win over No. 4 Hannah Palise by a 4-3 decision to add three points to the team score as the Cardinals trailed 17-5. GVSU's top-ranked Katarina Lange scored the pin over fifth-ranked Grace Stem adding five points to their team total (22-5).
 
Top-ranked at 145-pounds, Bella Mir sparked the Cardinals scoring run with a 10-0 technical fall over Margaret Buurma for four team points. At 160-pounds, No. 4 Taylor Graveman picked up another technical fall win for North Central, defeating Noelle Gaffney 12-0 as the team scores sit at 22-13 in favor of the Lakers.
 
In the 180 bout, fourth-ranked Shenita Lawson notched the upset win over second-ranked Sabrina Nauss by way of a slim 9-7 decision setting the score at 23-16 with one weight class to go. Dasia Yearby took on eighth-ranked Aaliyah Grandberry in the 207 bout, needing just 49 seconds for the pin. Despite adding five points to the board, the Cardinals ultimately fell 23-21 to Grand Valley.
 
North Central is set to host Augustana College for its first home dual of the season on Wednesday, Nov. 26 inside Gregory Arena. The College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin dual is set for a 1 p.m. start with the men's match to follow. The Cardinal wrestling programs will honor the late North Central men's cross country coach Al Carius and the cross country program by donning custom candy-striped singlets for the double feature.