North Central wins NCWWC; McKendree’s Shilson and Kimber earn 4th titles

Photo: North Central College from Naperville captured its first-ever National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championship, March 4 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (photo by Justin Hoch)

From North Central

The second-ranked North Central College women’s wrestling team’s historic two-day performance propelled them past the 37-team field at the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships as they claimed the programs first ever National Title. The Cardinals set a program record for All-Americans with 15 while three women won National Titles in their respective weight classes.

The Cardinals posted a staggering 198 points, outscoring runner-ups, King University (163) by 35 points to claim their first ever National Championship. McKendree University finished in third place with 147.5 points while Colorado Mesa University (108) turned in a fourth-place finish while Augsburg University (87.5) rounded out the top-five.

Top-ranked Yelena Makoyed at 170 pounds faced Cheyenne Bowman of King in the championship bout, Bowman defeated Makoyed at the 2021 National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) which was Makoyed’s last loss in college. Makoyed had a 9-0 lead in the second period and would put Bowman on her back to claim the 170-pound crown. Makoyed becomes the first Cardinals in history to earn three national titles and earn All-American status for the fourth-straight year.

“Out of all of the wins that I have, nothing has compared to the connections and memories that I have made with my team. Every year out of the four years I’ve been here, it has been a different journey. Coach Joe and all of our coaches work so hard and I am so grateful for everyone including the parents, teammates, training partners and god. Without God, I would have not chosen to come to North Central or wrestle at all” said Makoyed.

In the 101-pound weight class, fourth-ranked Maddie Avila took on top-ranked Jessica Corredor of King University in the semifinals. Avila, a freshman from Madera, Calif, dominated Corredor on her way to a 9-0 decision win to punch her ticket to the National finals. Avila squared off with Jenavi Alejandro of Tiffin University in the 101-pound championship bout and after a late takedown, Avila defeated Alejandro by a 5-3 decision to claim the 101-pound crown. Avila is the second Cardinal in program history to win a National Championship and earned All-American honors for the first time in her young career.

In the 116-pound weight class, third-ranked Jaslynn Gallegos found herself against second-ranked Payton Stroud of McKendree in the semifinals. Gallegos punched her ticket to the National finals with a dominating 10-0 technical fall win. Gallegos would face top-ranked Samara Chavez of King for the National Title and after falling to an 8-1 deficit, Gallegos flipped the script and pinned Chavez to win her first national title and earn All-American honors for the fourth time in her career.

From McKendree

McKendree University women’s wrestling claimed three individual national titles during its run to third place at the 2023 National Collegiate Womens Wrestling Championship as senior 109 Emily Shilson, senior 191 Sydnee Kimber, and junior 130 Cameron Guerin each defended their individual championships.

It marked the fourth NCWWC titles for both Shilson, who earned three at Augsburg before transferring to the Illinois school, and Kimber, who announced that she would make the cut to 167.5 (the heaviest weight in international wrestling) for a shot at the 2024 Olympics.

National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships

March 3-4 • Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Final Team Scores

Individual Placement Matches

101 pounds

1st — Madison Avila (North Central) dec. Jenavi Alejandro (Tiffin), 5-3;

3rd — Lizette Rodriguez (McKendree)  won by TF over Jennesis Martinez (Colorado Mesa), 11-1;

5th — Samantha Miller (Presbyterian) dec. Jessica Corredor (King), 10-8)

7th — Isabella Morales (Colorado Mesa) won by TF over Aaliyah Payne-Parris (Sacred Heart), 11-0

109 pounds

1st — Emily Shilson (McKendree) pinned Sage Mortimer (King), 3:46;

3rd — Dianna Holmes (King) dec. Sydney Petzinger (North Central) 19-12;

5th — Kendra Ryan (North Central) won by TF over Kaelani Shufeldt (Lock Haven), 15-4;

7th — Cassy Lopez (Presbyterian) pinned Pauline Granados (McKendree), 1:53

116 pounds

1st — Jaslynn Gallegos (North Central) pinned Samara Chavez (King), 3:35;

3rd — Victoria Seal (Simon Fraser) won by TF over Danielle Garcia (King), 11-0;

5th — Payton Stroud (McKendree) won by TF over Emily Klein (East Stroudsburg), 10-0;

7th — Rose Ann Marshall (Wisconsin Stevens Point) won by TF over Samantha Larsen (Gannon), 12-0

123 pounds

1st — Marissa Gallegos (Colorado Mesa) dec. Amani Jones (North Central), 7-2;

3rd — Mia Macaluso (East Stroudsburg) pinned Jennifer Soto (McKendree), 2:05;

5th — Vayle-rae Baker (King) dec. Sofia Macaluso (East Stroudsburg), 11-11;

7th — Naomi Henry (New Jersey City) dec. Gabby Skidmore (Augsburg), 3-2

130 pounds

1st — Cameron Guerin (McKendree) dec. Alexis Janiak (Aurora ), 9-0;

3rd — Marquesis Haintz (Simon Fraser) won by TF over Montana Delawder (King), 12-2;

5th — Sara Sterner (North Central) dec. Hailey Chapman (Colorado Mesa), 6-0;

7th — Alexandra Fitzgerald (Sacred Heart) pinned Lillian Sherer (Lock Haven), 5:41

136 pounds

1st — Ana Luciano (King) dec. Yele Aycock (North Central), 8-8;

3rd — Paige Wehrmeister (Presbyterian) dec. Diana Dzasezeva (Northern Michigan), 7-0;

5th — Nina Makem (Augsburg) won by TF over Holly Beaudoin (Colorado Mesa), 13-2;

7th — Viktorya Torres (King) pinned Salome Walker (North Central), 5:52

143 pounds

1st — Katie Lange (Augsburg) dec. Ashlynn Ortega (King), 8-6;

3rd — London Houston (North Central) won by TF over Grace Stem (Lock Haven), 10-0;

5th — Lili Ujfalvi (Gannon) pinned Kendall Bostelman (North Central), 4:02;

7th — Zoe Gress (East Stroudsburg) pinned Clarissa Agostini (Adrian), 1:49

155 pounds

1st — Marlynne Deede (Augsburg) dec. Dalia Garibay (Colorado Mesa), 6-2;

3rd — Tiffani Baublitz (King) pinned Malea Palahniuk (North Central), 1:23;

5th — Lydia Krauss (Northern Michigan) won by TF over Nyla Burgess (Adrian), 10-0;

7th — Tiera Jimerson (North Central) dec. Madison Sandquist (Sacred Heart), 9-4

170 pounds

1st — Yelena Makoyed (North Central) pinned Cheyenne Bowman (King), 3:49;

3rd — Emily Cue (Simon Fraser) pinned Cara Broadus (Sacred Heart), 0:48;

5th — Alexandra Castillo (McKendree) won by injury default over Brooklyn Hays (Augsburg);

7th — Jewel Gonzalez (Gannon) dec. Annabelle Helm (Gannon), 2-1.

191 pounds

1st — Sydnee Kimber (McKendree) pinned Traeh Haynes (North Central), 5:27;

3rd — Brittyn Corbishley (North Central) pinned Sara Lake (Lindenwood) (no time given)

5th — Jayleen Sekona (Colorado Mesa) won by injury default over Katja Osteen (Simon Fraser)

7th — Jacklyn Smith (Sacred Heart) pinned Jada Arnold (Mount Olive), no time given