Contact: Taiah Gallisath-Poklop, Associate Director of Athletics Communication, 630-637-5302
 
Oct. 20, 2026 – A trio of North Central College women's wrestling current student-athletes and alumnae competed at the U23 World Championships last week, Oct. 14-16, in Las Vegas, Nev. Sara Sterner '26, Bella Mir '26, and senior Taylor Graveman represented Team USA, as the team finished second overall in the Championships.
 
Mir and Sterner made the U23 World team by earning spots on the USA Senior National Team earlier this year. Graveman was promoted as an injury replacement for Olympic champion and two-time World champion Amit Elor. Graveman earned the spot by winning the U23 National Championships back in April.
 
At 57 kg Sterner, who was the 2026 U23 Pan-American Silver medalist in June, lost her opening bout 5-0 to the eventual Bronze medalist Bertha Rojas Chavez of Mexico. While awaiting repechage, Sterner was eliminated when Rojas lost in the semifinals and officially finished in 14th place at 57kg.
 
At 68 kg, Mir won her opening bout 10-2 over Oleksandra Rybak of Ukraine, the reigning Bronze medalist at the event. Mir then lost 7-5 to Rya Hoshino of Japan, the reigning U20 World Champion, in the quarterfinals. Mir was eliminated when Hoshino lost in the semifinals, officially finishing in 11th place at 68 kg.
 
Making her world championships debut at 72 kg, Graveman dropped her opening bout 6-6 on criteria to Haticenur Sari of Turkey. She was eliminated when Sari was defeated in the quarterfinals. Graveman officially finished in 10th place at 72 kg.
 
Team USA finished runner-up in the event with 117 points. Ukraine won the team title with 143 points and Japan was third with 108 points.