Yele Aycock gets control over opponent at NCC Invite
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Women's Wrestling

Women’s Wrestling Wins Two to Advance to NWCA National Dual Semifinal

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

Dual vs. Emmanuel Results
Dual vs. Quincy Results

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (Jan. 9, 2026) - The North Central College women's wrestling team opened day one of the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) National Duals with a two-match sweep after defeating eighth-ranked Emmanuel University 31-13 and toppling Quincy University in a 42-2 showing on Friday, Jan. 9. The Cardinals advance to the semifinals tomorrow morning, where they will meet top-ranked University of Iowa.

North Central 31, Emmanuel 13

Seventh-ranked Madison Avila set the tone early in the 103-pound bout, securing an 11–1 technical fall over Rebekah Jean-Baptiste to put four points on the board for North Central in the day's first dual. Wrestling the 110-pound match was Eliana Paramo, who battled Haley Zinninger for a 4-4 decision win by criteria to move the Cardinals ahead 7-2. Emmanuel picked up the next two matches as third-ranked Karissa Turnwall claimed the win at 117 pounds over Riley Rayome in a 9-2 decision, and Kalayah Edwards defeated Bella Bolek via technical fall at 124 pounds to take the 9-8 lead. 

No. 9 Yele Aycock flipped the script with an upset win over second-ranked Janida Garcia in a 2-1 decision at 131 pounds. Claire DiCugno padded the Cardinals' score with a 10-0 technical fall win against Aaliyah Pineda as North Central carried a 15-10 advantage into the final four matches.

At 145 pounds, Lynn Horn secured the 5-5 decision win by criteria over Alexandra Ford for three more team points, while Sydney Perry was awarded the win by forfeit at 160 pounds. Jael Miller picked up her 11th win by technical fall – a team lead this season – over Vida Beckel (13-2) for a 27-12 lead heading into the final match. Third-ranked Caroline Ward closed out the dual with an 11-1 technical fall over Gemma Templeman to secure the 31-13 win and send the Cardinals to the quarterfinal, where they met Quincy University. 

North Central 42, Quincy 2

Quincy notched the upset win over No. 5 King University to advance to the quarterfinal against North Central. 

Back in the lineup at 103 pounds, Avila picked up her eighth technical fall win of the season against Quincy's Trinity Pendergrass (10-0) for the Cardinals' first four points of the match. Kaelani Shufeldt (110) and Mikayla Garcia (117) recorded back-to-back pins to pad the Cardinals' 14-0 lead. Fourth-ranked Shufeldt took down Alexandra Tchekounova in 4:49 before Garcia notched her pin of Sereena Baca in just 19 seconds of action. Bolek was awarded the forfeit at 124 pounds.

Grace Stem, who currently ranks fifth at 138 pounds, wrestled down at the 131 weight class for today's action, where she produced a 10-0 technical fall win over Madeline Barton to extend North Central's lead to 23-0. Claire DiCugno mounted a major comeback win over Xochitl Mota-Pettis after being down 8-0, DiCugno battled back for a narrow 9-8 decision win at 138 pounds, allowing Quincy's first point of the match but still leading 26-1 in team scoring. 

Top-ranked Bella Mir took on Siobhan Rogers at 145 pounds, defeating Rogers in a 13-2 technical fall to continue the Cardinals' reign. In the 160-pound weight class, Sydney Perry notched her 20th win of the season with a 10-0 technical fall over Lillian Baynes. Fourth-ranked Shenita Lawson followed suit with a 10-0 technical fall win at 180 pounds while Dasia Yearby did the same in the 207-pound bout to solidify the Cardinals' 42-2 win.

North Central advances to the semifinal match against the top-ranked University of Iowa tomorrow, Saturday, Jan. 10 at 10:30 a.m.
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Players Mentioned

Madison Avila

Madison Avila

103
Senior
Yele Aycock

Yele Aycock

131
Graduate Student
Bella Bolek

Bella Bolek

124
Junior
Mikayla Garcia

Mikayla Garcia

117
Sophomore
Shenita Lawson

Shenita Lawson

180
Senior
Bella Mir

Bella Mir

145
Junior
Eliana Paramo

Eliana Paramo

110
Sophomore
Sydney Perry

Sydney Perry

145
Sophomore
Kaelani Shufeldt

Kaelani Shufeldt

110
Senior
Caroline Ward

Caroline Ward

207
Junior
Dasia Yearby

Dasia Yearby

207
Senior
Claire DiCugno

Claire DiCugno

138
Graduate Student

Players Mentioned

Madison Avila

Madison Avila

Senior
103
Yele Aycock

Yele Aycock

Graduate Student
131
Bella Bolek

Bella Bolek

Junior
124
Mikayla Garcia

Mikayla Garcia

Sophomore
117
Shenita Lawson

Shenita Lawson

Senior
180
Bella Mir

Bella Mir

Junior
145
Eliana Paramo

Eliana Paramo

Sophomore
110
Sydney Perry

Sydney Perry

Sophomore
145
Kaelani Shufeldt

Kaelani Shufeldt

Senior
110
Caroline Ward

Caroline Ward

Junior
207
Dasia Yearby

Dasia Yearby

Senior
207
Claire DiCugno

Claire DiCugno

Graduate Student
138