Contact: Anna Fox, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, amfox@noctrl.edu
 
LAS VEGAS, Nev. (Apr. 28, 2025) - The Cardinal Wrestling Club (CWC), featuring members of the North Central College women's wrestling team wrestlers and Cardinal assistant coaches, sent 13 wrestlers to Las Vegas for the 2025 U.S. Open Wrestling Championships. Amanda Martinez and Brandon Precin won their respective weight classes, and nine other wrestlers finished within the top six of their weight classes.
 
Martinez received a bye before defeating Gabriell Weyhrich (MWC Wrestling Academy) with an 11-0 technical fall in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, Martinez won a 9-0 decision over Lorianna Piestewa of Colorado Mesa Wrestling Club (CMWC). Martinez was crowned the 57 kg champion after her opponent had a medical forfeit. Martinez's win qualifies her to compete at the Final X tournament on Saturday, June 14, in Newark, N.J. Martinez will face three-time Olympic champion Helen Maroulis.
 
Sara Sterner was also in the 57 kg weight class. Sterner entered the tournament with a bye in the first round but fell to Haley Narahara (Menlo Wrestling Club) in a nail-biting 3-1 decision. In the consolation bracket, Sterner earned a dominating 10-0 technical fall over Mya Crespo (California) before pinning Carissa Qureshi (USOPTC Women's Resid) (3:40). Sterner fell in the next round by a heartbreaking 10-6 decision to end her time in the tournament. However, with Sterner's second-place finish at the NCWWC National Tournament (Mar. 9), she has qualified for the Senior World Team Trials on Friday, May 16, and Saturday, May 17, in Louisville, Ky.
 
The only Cardinal representative in the 65 kg division was Bella Mir. Mir had a bye in the first round before pinning Jolynn Harris (CMWC) (4:33). In the quarterfinals, Mir edged out Marily Garcia (Beat the Streets Los) in a nail-biting 3-0 decision. Mir's semifinal match against Katherina Lange (Laker Wrestling Club) was a rollercoaster of emotions. Mir was down 3-1 with less than 20 seconds left of the match. Mir earned a four-point takedown, leading her to pin Lange (5:52). Unfortunately, Mir suffered heartbreak in the finals, falling to Aine Drury (NYAC) by an 8-7 decision. Mir's finish put her on the U23 World Team and qualified her for the Senior World Team Trials in May.
 
The 76 kg weight class saw Yelena Mayoked, Shenita Lawson, and Larissa Gallo. Mayoked received a bye in round one before picking up two consecutive wins by 10-0 technical falls. The first technical fall was over America Lopez (California), while the second was against Ashley Lekas (Texas Wesleyan). Makoyed fell to rival Kylie Welker in the finals to finish in second place. Makoyed will compete in the World Team Trials.
 
Lawson began the first round with a 10-0 technical fall over Kimberly Carlin (CMWC) but fell to Welker in the quarterfinals. In the consolation bracket, Lawson defeated teammate Gallo with a 10-0 technical fall. Lawson moved to the next round to defeat Liliana Vergara (California) with a 7-3 decision but fell to Dymond Guilford (UTMW). Lawson fell in the fifth-place match in a heartbreaking 2-1 decision. Lawson's sixth-place finish qualified her for the World Team Trials.
 
Gallo picked up a pin against Lillian Gradillas (Southern Oregon) in one minute and seven seconds in the first round. Gallo fell to Guilford (UTMW) in the quarterfinals before pinning Maeli Howard (Utah) in just 46 seconds. Gallo defeated Katelyn Lewis (Fox Valley Elite Wrestling) with a 14-2 technical fall before falling to Lawson.
 
The 50 kg weight class was represented by Kendra Ryan and Kaelani Shufeldt. Ryan earned a 10-0 technical fall over Natalie Reyna-Rodrug (Oregon) in the first round but fell to Emillie Gonzalez (Iowa Women's Wrestling Club - IWWC) in the quarterfinals. Ryan dominated the consolation bracket, picking up a 10-4 decision over Arelys Valles (Grand View Wrestling Club). Then, Ryan earned a technical fall over Avery Kibelbek (Team Tornado Wrestling Club) (11-0) before defeating Mia Palumbo (ILLI) with a 6-2 decision. Ryan gained momentum to pin Ava Bayless (IWWC) in one minute and 33 seconds before taking down Heather Crull (Northeastern Wrestling Club) with a 10-0 technical fall. In the third-place match, Ryan earned a 10-4 win over Emily Shilson (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club - TMWC).
 
Shufeldt started her day off with a pin over Kayla McKinkley-Joh (Menlo Wrestling Club) (4:33) but fell to Anaya Falcon (TMWC) in a heartbreaking 6-6 criteria decision. In the consolation bracket, Schufeldt picked up consecutive pins, taking down Diana Acors (Curby) in one minute and 10 seconds, followed by a one-minute and 54-second pin over Mariah Anderson (Air Force Regional Team). Shefeldt's day ended after falling to Bayless (IWWT) in the next round.
 
Amani Jones started her day with a bye in the 55 kg class. Jones picked up a 9-0 decision over Malia Welch (Southern Oregon) before falling to Everest Leydecker (Thorobred Wrestling). Jones bounced back with two pins following her loss. Jones pinned Montana DeLawder (TTWC) in four minutes and 50 seconds before pinning C Campbell (GVWC) in three minutes and 59 seconds. Jones earned a 5-1 decision, defeating Louisa Schwab (MWC), but fell to Areana Villaescusa (Army) in the third-place match. Jones's fourth-place finish qualified for the World Team Trials.
 
The 53 kg division was represented by Sydney Petzinger and Cardinal assistant coach Jasylnn Gallegos. Petzinger had a bye in the first round and quickly wrapped up the next round, earning a 10-0 technical fall over Zeta Lee (Ford Dynasty Wrestling) in one minute and 10 seconds. In the quarterfinals, Petzinger defeated Elena Ivaldi (California) with a 7-4 decision. Petzinger fell in the semifinals to Felicity Taylor and lost to Katie Gomez (TMWC) in the semifinals of the consolation bracket. Petzinger took fifth place and qualified for the World Team Trials after defeating Gallegos with a 9-3 decision.
 
Gallegos started the tournament with a bye in the first round but fell to Brianna Gonzalez (IWWC) in the second round. Gallegos earned consecutive 10-0 technical falls in the consolation bracket. First, Gallegos defeated Sofia De Jesus (California), then Dianna Holmes (TMWC). Gallegos won the next match by a medical forfeit from her opponent before pinning Ivaldi (California) in two minutes and 15 seconds. Unfortunately, Gallegos fell to Sage Mortimer (TMWC) and then fell to Petzinger. Gallegos took sixth place to qualify for the World Team Trials.
 
Alara Boyd wrestled in the 62 kg weight class for the CWC. Boyd received a bye in the first round and then pinned Emme Velasco (Devils Women's Wrestling Club) in one minute and 22 seconds. Boyd earned a 9-3 decision win over Nanea Estrella (IWWC) before falling to Adaugo Nwachukwu (Army). Boyd fell to Bridgett Duty (Army) in the consolation bracket and then fell to Hanna Errthum (USOPTC) in a heartbreaking 6-5 decision in the fifth-place match. Boyd took home a sixth-place finish and qualified for the World Team Trials.
 
Meanwhile, in the men's Master B tournament, assistant coach Precin showed out for the club. After a bye in the first round, Precin earned an 11-0 technical fall win over Jon Schiewe (Chicago Wrestling Club). In the championships, Precin won a nail-biting 4-2 decision over Tler Graff (TMWC).
 
The Cardinal Wrestling Club is back on the mats for the Senior World Team Trials on Friday, May 16, and Saturday, May 17, in Louisville, Ky., hoping to qualify for the Final X tournament in June.
 
Download the free North Central Cardinals app, available for iOS and Android devices, to receive up to the minute news, scores and updates on your favorite North Central teams. Click HERE for more information.