Contact: Taiah Gallisath, Associate Director of Athletics Communication, 630-637-5302
 
July 15, 2026 – North Central College women's wrestler Jael Miller closed out a successful weekend in Brazil by winning gold for Team USA at the U20 Pan-American Championships held at the Physical Education Center Admiral Adalberto Nunes. Miller earned a 4-0 record at 76 kg, helping Team USA to the team title as the women compiled 230 points with a 34-3 individual match record.
 
Miller dominated in her first match of the round-robin tournament, defeating Sophia Perez Bassino of Brazil by a 12-2 technical fall. A medical forfeit win in the second round pitted Miller against Paola Mia Rodriguez Guzman of Puerto Rico, where Miller won via a 2-0 decision. Perez Bassino eventually won silver while Rodriguez Guzman earned bronze. Miller locked in gold and a 4-0 record with a pin at 1:46 against Clara Smithanik of Canada.
 
The next competition featuring a North Central wrestler will be on Sept. 25 when Bella Mir competes for Cardinal Wrestling Club against Olympic silver medalist Kennedy Blades in a rescheduled Final X wrestle-off series. A best-of-three series in Columbus, Ohio, will determine who takes the 68 kg world team spot.