Contact: Taiah Gallisath, Associate Director of Athletics Communication, 630-637-5302

Elmhurst Results
Life Results

NAPERVILLE, Ill. & MARIETTA, Ga. (Jan. 15, 2026) - The North Central College women's wrestling team completed a Thursday night sweep with its College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin home win over Elmhurst University, 45-2, before defeating NAIA's top-ranked team, Life University, 28-13, in FloWrestling's Night in America match in Marietta, Georgia. North Central boasts a 12-2 overall dual record and is 4-0 in conference action.

North Central 45, Elmhurst 2

Zurri Zamora made a four-point throw to kick off the match at 103 pounds. She followed it up with another throw and tacked on the additional points for the 10-0 technical fall win. Amaya Yoshizumi claimed the 110 pound win via forfeit to extend the lead to 9-0.

Nadia Thomas (117) scored a five-point throw late in the first period to go up 11-5 over Valentina Fantoni heading into the second. She added four more to claim the 15-5 technical fall win to add four team points to the board while the Bluejays found their first point, 13-1. 

At 124 pounds, Gracie Guarino boasted a 9-2 lead over Kendall Moss-Smith before scoring the pin to up the Cardinal lead to 18-1.

Layla Morris put up an early 6-0 lead over Bella Curcuru in the 131-pound bout and eventually grew to a 10-0 technical fall win. Despite claiming a 8-0 advantage, Taylor Miess (138) splurged for the pin against Viola Pianetto with Natalie Klavetter following suit with a pin of her own over Grace Johnson at 145 pounds as North Central posted a 32-1 lead with three weight classes remaining. 

Elizabeth Rosenstiel (160) posted a 6-0 lead over Lily Avalos after the first period and padded the score with a two-point takedown and a leg lace to lock in the 10-0 technical fall. 

Mallory Winner claimed the Cardinals' fifth technical fall of the night with a 12-2 showing over Juliana Lefort at 180 pounds. Tirza TwoTeeth was awarded the win via forfeit in the 207 weight class to complete North Central's 45-2 conference win. The Cardinals move to 4-0 in conference action while the Bluejays fall to 3-6 and 1-3 in the CCIW.

North Central 28, Life 13

Both North Central and Life University are coming off of wins in their respective divisions at the NWCA National Duals as North Centrall claimed the NCAA All-Division title and Life took home the NAIA win for the third straight year, making it a battle of national champions. 

Seventh-ranked Madison Avila opened the night with a 10-0 technical fall over Alyssa Quezaire at 103 pounds to add four points to the board for North Central. In the 110 weight class, No. 4 Kaelani Shufeldt picked up the 13-2 technical fall over eighth-ranked Diana Gonzalez to extend the Cardinal lead to 8-1. 

Life's Salyna Shotwell, who ranks second at 117 pounds, claimed the first win for the Running Eagles at 117 pounds, defeating Mikayla Garcia via an 8-1 decision. Third-ranked Sara Sterner answered with a clean 10-0 technical fall at 124 pounds over fifth-ranked Anna Krejsa, building to a 13-4 advantage.

In the 131 pound bout, ninth-ranked Yele Aycock battled top-ranked Sarah Savidge. Aycock found herself trailing 4-2 with less than 10 seconds on the clock before scoring a crucial turn to win via a 4-4 decision on criteria. Claire DiCugno kept the momentum going, following it up with an 11-0 technical fall win over Olivia Mottley. 

At 145 pounds, top-ranked Bella Mir faced third-ranked Jamilah McBryde, sister to Latifah McBryde who Mir faced in an NWCA All-Star match back in November. Mir took down J. McBryde in an 8-2 decision as the Cardinals carried a 23-6 lead into the final three bouts. 

Life managed to secure the next two weight classes. Known to be a tough competitor as the top-ranked NAIA wrestler at 160 pounds, Latifah McBryde defeated No. 8 Taylor Graveman in an 11-5 decision before second-ranked Reka Busa won the 180 pound bout over fourth-ranked Shenita Lawson in a 2-2 decision win by criteria. 

Third-ranked Caroline Ward closed out the FloWrestling Night in America with a 6-1 decision over fifth-ranked Madeline Welch to lock in the 28-13 win over the top-ranked NAIA wrestling program, giving the Running Eagles their first loss of the season (8-1).

North Central is set to compete at Elmhurst University for the Elmhurst Invitational this Saturday, Jan. 18. Competition is slated for a 9 a.m. start at R.A. Faganel Hall.