Trailblazers Heading to Tiffin: The Top 6 Storylines From NCAA Regionals
North Central’s Yelena Makoyed, ranked #1 in the NCAA at 170, won the Northwest Regional last weekend. Photo courtesy of North Central Athletics.
by Emma Bruntil, AWW freelance writer
Twitter & IG: @Emaaabruntil
For the first time in history, the NCAA women had to earn their tickets to nationals by placing in the top four in their prospective weight classes at the NCWWC regional tournaments. There were four regional tournaments held around the country this weekend: the Northeast Regional, as well the Southeast, Southwest, and the Northwest Regional tournaments. With four qualifiers advancing from each region, the national tournament will consist of 16-man brackets across all 10 of the college weight classes. In another change from years past, nationals will be contested in a single day tournament on March 6th, instead of the two-day format we saw at the first NCWWC nationals in Adrian last season.
Lizette Rodriguez is the truth
All season long freshman phenom Lizette Rodriquez of McKendree has been on the short list of true freshman in contention for a national title at 101 pounds. Earlier this year, she took out returning All-American Jennesis Martinez of Colorado Mesa by tech fall at the Tornado Duals. The California native didn’t stop there, though, as she recently overwhelmed 2019 WCWA finalist Angie Gomez of Emmanuel by a decisive 8-0 victory. Rodriguez powered her way through her regional bracket this weekend, stopping Jennesis Martinez 6-2 in the semifinals before taking out her teammate and 2020 NCWWC national champion Pauline Granados. Rodriguez’s slick sweep single would prove to be the difference maker in her finals match with Granados, helping her edge her teammate in a close 4-3 bout. To win a national title Rodriguez will likely have to go through Granados again, as well as Jackie McNichols of King, and Brooke Thurber of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. 101 pounds this year will be a meat grinder of a weight class, but Lizette Rodriguez has proved she might just be up for the job.
Could we see Kayla Marano and Alara Boyd part 2?
This weekend both Kayla Marano and Alara Boyd dominated their way to Southeast and Southwest regional crowns, respectively. Back in January, the pair squared off at the Tornado Duals at King University, with Marano emerging the 6-3 victor, handing Boyd just the fourth loss of her young college career. In the Southeast Regional finals, Marano powered her way to a 5-0 victory over super freshman Viktorya Torres of King, while Boyd picked up a quick fall over Colorado Mesa’s Zoe Gress in 1:42. Last weekend we also saw Marano compete at the prestigious Captain’s Cup, where she was edged by fellow All-American Ashlynn Ortega of King 4-4. With Ortega down at 143, Boyd and Marano have separated themselves from the pack at 155 pounds, and will inevitably clash again at Nationals, this time with an NCWWC title on the line. Does Boyd have what it takes to flip the script on the NCAA #1? Can Marano hold on to the top spot? 155 will be a weight you’ll want to watch at Tiffin.
Gabby Skidmore could be a threat at 130 pounds
Last year Gabby Skidmore took out 4x All-American and 3x national finalist Nicole Depa of Simon Fraser University in the NCWWC quarterfinals. Skidmore went on to finish 6th at the national tournament, adding to her runner-up finish from the 2020 WCWA national tournament in Atlanta. This season has had its ups and downs for the Augsburg junior, as she took a loss to McKendree’s unranked freshman Hailey Cox just two weeks ago. Skidmore had built a solid 8-0 lead, when Cox flipped the script and secured the fall in a wild scramble. It appears Skidmore is back and in top form, though, as she edged 2020 NCWWC finalist Amanda Martinez of North Central 2-1 in the regional finals. To win an NCWWC crown the Augsburg sophomore will have to get through Martinez again, Allison Petix of King University, and NCAA #1, undefeated freshman Cameron Guerin.
McKendree’s murderers row
The returning NCWWC team champions have an all-around stacked line up from top to bottom, but it’s tough to see anybody topping their depth in the upper weights. McKendree’s murderers row starts at 130 pounds with 2x Junior world teamer Cameron Guerin, followed by WCWA finalist Brenda Reyna at 136 pounds, NCWWC champion Emma Bruntil at 143lbs, Cadet world silver Alara Boyd at 155, 2x All-American Joye Levendusky at 170lbs, and finishing it off with returning national champion Sydnee Kimber at 191 pounds. It is not at all unlikely that McKendree could win the last six weights of the tournament. To do so, Brenda Reyna, Alara Boyd and Joye Levendusky will have to avenge early losses to Ana Luciano, Kayla Marano, and Yelena Makoyed, respectively. Meanwhile, Guerin, Bruntil, and Kimber will have to fend off all oncomers to snag the top spot.
Keep your eyes on 170 pounds at NCWWC Nationals
170 pounds could quite possibly be the most intriguing weight class at Tiffin this year. Leading the way you have #1 ranked returning finalist Yelena Makoyed of North Central. The Cardinal bested #2 Levendusky on two occasions, by a score of 5-2 at North Centrals home duals, and 6-2 at the Bearcat Scramble. However, the matches were much closer than the scores may indicate. Second period takedowns for Makoyed were the difference makers in both matches, forcing Levendusky to try to get some scores of her own late in the matches. Tristan Kelly is also in the conversation at this weight, as the 2020 Junior Nationals champion and #3 ranked freshman has looked incredible this season. Kelly has been in two absolute barn burners with Levendusky, where the McKendree junior emerged the victor in close 7-4 and 2-1 bouts. 170 pounds at the NCWWC tournament appears to be a game of inches, where we could see either of the top 3 wrestlers earn the top spot on the podium in March.
The team race is as good as ever
Without Simon Fraser in the picture this year, it appears the team race is between the returning champions in McKendree, and last year’s third place finisher King. In the last NWCA team rankings McKendree and King held the #1 and #2 spots with a 129 to 114 advantage for the Bearcats. Both teams ran through their competition at regionals this weekend, with both McKendree and Mckendree qualifying all 15 women for the national tournament. McKendree swept the Southwest Regional, winning all 10 weights and outscoring second place Colorado Mesa by 60 points. King had an equally successful weekend at the Southeast regional as well, winning 7 of the 10 weight classes and besting second place Emmanuel by over 30 points. The team race will be determined by several key King versus McKendree match-ups. We will likely get a rematch of the King quad duals finals between McKendree’s Pauline Granados and Jackie McNichols, where McNichols walked away in the 6-2 winner. #1 Cameron Guerin and King’s Allison Petix will likely meet at 130 pounds, and Brenda Reyna and Ana Luciano could clash up at 136. Last go around we saw Luciano best Reyna by way of a 12-2 tech-fall, but since then Reyna went on to go 3-0 at Flowrestling’s Captain’s Cup, beating tough senior level talent in Koral Sugiyama, Gracie Figueroa, and Lauren Mason. Ashlynn Ortega and Emma Bruntil should collide at 143lbs, in a potential rematch of the King and McKendree dual where Bruntil earned a solid 5-0 win. Even without our northern neighbors at this year’s national tournament, the King and McKendree rivalry is filled with plenty of fireworks and upset potential
Results by Region:
Northwest Regional
101
1st Place Match - Brooke Thurber (Wisconsin Stevens Point) won by fall over Kate Cacho (North Central College) (Fall 0:49)
3rd Place - Hannah Michael (Augsburg University)
109
1st Place Match - Emily Shilson (Augsburg University) won by tech fall over Angelina Graff (North Central College) (TF 10-0)
3rd Place Match - Alaina Sunlin (Iowa Wesleyan) won by fall over Kelly Enriquez (Wisconsin Stevens Point) (Fall 2:24)
116
1st Place Match - Abby Nelson (Wisconsin Stevens Point) won by tech fall over Sarah Martinez (North Central College) (TF 14-2)
3rd Place Match - Ashden Welty (Iowa Wesleyan) won by injury default over Elizah Leonard (North Central College) (Inj. 0:00)
123
1st Place Match - Asia Nguyen-Smith (North Central College) won by tech fall over Mateah Roehl (North Central College) (TF 10-0)
3rd Place Match - Maddie Ruckdashel (Lakeland University) won by fall over Morgan Bethea (Wisconsin Stevens Point) (Fall 2:17)
130
1st Place Match - Gabby Skidmore (Augsburg University) won by decision over Amanda Martinez (North Central College) (Dec 2-1)
3rd Place Match - Sierra Brown Ton (Augsburg University) won by tech fall over Kate Gunderson (Lakeland University) (TF 10-0)
5th Place - Addison Young (Wisconsin Stevens Point)
136
1st Place Match - Autumn Flanigan (Augsburg University) won by decision over Savannah Vold (Augsburg University) (Dec 10-2)
3rd Place Match - Abigail Denney (North Central College) won by decision over Megan Struble (Wisconsin Stevens Point) (Dec 8-3)
5th Place - Daisy Scholz (Iowa Wesleyan)
143
1st Place Match - Kya Rybachek (Augsburg University) won by tech fall over Kahlea Jolly (Augsburg University) (TF 11-0)
3rd Place Match - Savannah Hisel (Wisconsin Stevens Point) won by fall over Raena Schledwitz (North Central College) (Fall 0:51)
155
1st Place Match - Marlynne Deede (Augsburg University) won by tech fall over Malea Palahniuk (North Central College) (TF 10-0)
3rd Place Match - Clara Padua-Cruz (Iowa Wesleyan) won by decision over Destynie Pacheco (Augsburg University) (Dec 4-2)
170
1st Place Match - Yelena Makoyed (North Central College) won by fall over Faith Tuttle (Augsburg University) (Fall 1:27)
3rd Place Match - Madison Horn (Augsburg University) won by tech fall over Hana Richter (North Central College) (TF 14-4)
191
1st Place Match - Melissa Jacobs (Augsburg University) won by decision over Tabitha Breitrick (Wisconsin Stevens Point) (Dec 7-4)
3rd Place Match - Amber Latta (North Central College) won by tech fall over Kassandra Ayard (Iowa Wesleyan) (TF 10-0)
4th Place Match
Kassandra Ayard (Iowa Wesleyan) won by fall over Alondra Aguayo (North Central College) (Fall 1:35)
5th Place - Alondra Aguayo (North Central College)
Team Standings
1. North Central College, 156.0
2. Augsburg University, 146.0
3. Wisconsin Stevens Point, 115.0
4. Iowa Wesleyan , 65.5
5. Lakeland University, 27.0
Northeast Regional
101
1st Place Match - Shanna Morris (Tiffin University) won by decision over Trinity Oredina (Tiffin University) (Dec 11-4)
3rd Place Match - Modestie Hitchcock (Adrian College) won by fall over Leila Garrido (Gannon University) (Fall 0:46)
109
1st Place Match - Emily Mendez (Adrian College) won by decision over Johnae Drumright (New Jersey City University) (Dec 9-4)
3rd Place Match - Brooke Richards (Tiffin University) won by fall over Riley Morrison (Trine) (Fall 1:26)
5th Place - Kennedy Javier (Gannon University)
116
1st Place Match - Sugey Ceja (Tiffin University) won by tech fall over Angela LoRusso (Adrian College) (TF 10-0)
3rd Place - Nikoly Dos Santos (Gannon University)
123
1st Place Match - Trinity Berry (Tiffin University) won by fall over Stephanie Mondragon (Tiffin University) (Fall 3:36)
3rd Place Match - Caleeann Blarr (Gannon University) won by decision over Jaryn Strong (Adrian College) (Dec 20-12)
4th Place Match - Jaryn Strong (Adrian College) won by decision over Janice Dykes (Gannon University) (Dec 11-7)
5th Place Match - Janice Dykes (Gannon University) won by forfeit over Elizabeth Palmer (Davenport University) (FF)
130
1st Place Match - Lana Perez (Gannon University) won by decision over Eunique Davis (Tiffin University) (Dec 7-2)
3rd Place Match - Naomi Henry (New Jersey City University) won by tech fall over Mackenzie Tayerle (Adrian College) (TF 10-0)
4th Place Match - Mackenzie Tayerle (Adrian College) won by fall over Bridgette Schoultz (Delaware Valley University) (Fall 0:28)
5th Place Match - Bridgette Schoultz (Delaware Valley University) won by fall over Abbi Montgomery (Tiffin University) (Fall 1:14)
136
1st Place Match - Elisa Cox (Adrian College) won by fall over Lindsey Beans-Polk (Gannon University) (Fall 3:27)
3rd Place Match - Shawna Oesterling (Adrian College) won by tech fall over Paige Lenhardt (Tiffin University) (TF 12-0)
5th Place Match - Cole Schield (Davenport University) and Megan Bird (Davenport University) (DFF)
143
1st Place Match - Zoe Nowicki (Adrian College) won by fall over Nia Miranda (Tiffin University) (Fall 2:35)
3rd Place Match - Megan Vondrasek (Adrian College) won by fall over Aliya Martin (Tiffin University) (Fall 2:11)
5th Place Match - Stephanie Floor (Gannon University) won by forfeit over Lockslea Mayers (New Jersey City University) (FF)
155
1st Place Match - Marta Ojeda (Tiffin University) won by decision over Taylor Hites (Tiffin University) (Dec 6-1)
3rd Place Match - Annabelle Helm (Gannon University) won by decision over Aspen Dodge (Adrian College) (Dec 10-6)
4th Place Match - Maggie Elliott (Adrian College) won by tech fall over Aspen Dodge (Adrian College) (TF 10-0)
5th Place Match
Maggie Elliott (Adrian College) won by fall over Ana Gomez Lima (New Jersey City University) (Fall 0:54)
170
1st Place Match - Jasmine Hale (Adrian College) won by fall over Morgan Davidson (Tiffin University) (Fall 3:24)
3rd Place Match - Sienna Lejeune (Adrian College) won by fall over Danielle Floor (Gannon University) (Fall 1:35)
191
1st Place Match - Jessie Lee (Tiffin University) won by fall over Amara Devericks (Gannon University) (Fall 2:00)
3rd Place Match - Sandra Guerrero (New Jersey City University) won by fall over Erin Murray (Delaware Valley University) (Fall 0:38)
5th Place - Caira Jaynes (Delaware Valley University)
Team Scores
1. Tiffin University, 190.5
2. Adrian College , 159.5
3. Gannon University, 131.5
4. New Jersey City University, 61.0
5. Delaware Valley University, 22.0
6. Davenport University, 14.5
7. Trine University, 11.5
Southwest Regional
101
1st Place Match - Lizette Rodriguez (McKendree University ) won by decision over Pauline Granados (McKendree University ) (Dec 4-3)
3rd Place - Jennesis Martinez (Colorado Mesa University )
109
1st Place Match
Natalie Reyna (McKendree University ) won by tech fall over Valeriia Mamleeva (Lindenwood University ) (TF 12-1)
3rd Place - Carly Valleroy (McKendree University )
116
1st Place Match - Felicity Taylor (McKendree University ) won by tech fall over Alina Kinsey (Schreiner University) (TF 12-1)
3rd Place Match - Anja Tschohl (Colorado Mesa University ) won by tech fall over Katherine Sumner (McKendree University ) (TF 14-4)
123
1st Place Match - Payton Stroud (McKendree University ) won by injury default over Marissa Gallegos (Colorado Mesa University ) (Inj. 0:00)
3rd Place Match - Elizabeth Miller (Colorado Mesa University ) won by tech fall over Emalie Olson (Lindenwood University ) (TF 12-2)
5th Place Match - Alexis Altamira (Lindenwood University ) won by fall over Jazelyn Ruelas (Schreiner University ) (Fall 1:28)
130
1st Place Match - Cameron Guerin (McKendree University ) won by tech fall over Nanen Aguilar (Colorado Mesa University ) (TF 10-0)
3rd Place Match - Jasmine Ward (Lindenwood University ) won by decision over Ja`Mae Barnes (Colorado Mesa University ) (Dec 10-2)
5th Place Match - Karina De La Torre (Schreiner University ) won by fall over Sydney Ward (Lindenwood University ) (Fall 0:31)
4th Place Match - Ja`Mae Barnes (Colorado Mesa University ) won by fall over Karina De La Torre (Schreiner University ) (Fall 5:17)
136
1st Place Match - Brenda Reyna (McKendree University ) won by tech fall over Dalia Garibay (Colorado Mesa University ) (TF 11-0)
3rd Place Match - Michelle Camacho (McKendree University ) won by fall over Natalie Cregger (Lindenwood University ) (Fall 0:23)
143
1st Place Match - Emma Bruntil (McKendree University ) won by fall over Kaylee Lacy (Colorado Mesa University ) (Fall 1:22)
3rd Place Match - Jordan Johnston (Schreiner University ) won by tech fall over Taylor Reed (Westminster University ) (TF 14-3)
5th Place - Madeline Frick (Colorado Mesa University )
155
1st Place Match - Alara Boyd (McKendree University ) won by fall over Zoe Gress (Colorado Mesa University ) (Fall 1:42)
3rd Place Match - Julianna Moreno (Lindenwood University ) won by decision over Mia Dow (Lindenwood University ) (Dec 6-4)
5th Place Match - Kayla Munoz (Colorado Mesa University ) won by fall over Hailey Shuman (Fontbonne University ) (Fall 4:32)
170
1st Place Match - Joye Levendusky (McKendree University ) won by decision over Tristan Kelly (Colorado Mesa University ) (Dec 2-1)
3rd Place Match - Caylee Collins (Colorado Mesa University ) won by tech fall over Valerie Gaytan (Lindenwood University ) (TF 10-0)
191
1st Place Match - Sydnee Kimber (McKendree University ) won by decision over Grace Kristoff (McKendree University ) (Dec 8-0)
3rd Place Match - Isabeau Shalack (Colorado Mesa University ) won by fall over Kai Poux (Fontbonne University ) (Fall 1:47)
5th Place Match - Kaycee Fitero (Lindenwood University ) won by fall over Melena Jones (Lindenwood University ) (Fall 2:32)
Southeast Regional
101
1st Place Match - Jaclyn McNichols (King University) won by decision over Angelina Gomez (Emmanuel College) (Dec 4-0)
3rd Place - Sam Miller (Presbyterian University)
109
1st Place Match - Aleeah Gould (King University) won by decision over Cassy Lopez (Presbyterian University) (Dec 6-0)
3rd Place Match - Samantha Larsen (King University) won by fall over Katerina Pendergrass (Ferrum College) (Fall 5:03)
5th Place Match - Angelica Angeles (Emmanuel College)
116
1st Place Match - Jaslyn Gallegos (Presbyterian University) won by tech fall over Kasey Baynon (Emmanuel College) (TF 10-0)
3rd Place Match - Sophia Mirabella (King University) won by decision over Melanie Mendoza (King University) (Dec 2-2)
5th Place Match - Trynadii Rocha (Emmanuel College) won by fall over TaQwai Seburn (Limestone University) (Fall 2:40)
123
1st Place Match - Cheyenne Sisenstein (King University) won by tech fall over Makayla Welch (King University) (TF 11-0)
3rd Place Match - Alexandra Herle (Emmanuel College) won by forfeit over Gabriela Ramos Diaz (Limestone University) (FF)
5th Place - Sadie Tackett (Emmanuel College)
130
1st Place Match - Allison Petix (King University) won by fall over Emily Se (Emmanuel College) (Fall 3:40)
3rd Place Match - Phoenix Dubose (King University) won by tech fall over Leidaly Rivera (Limestone University) (TF 10-0)
5th Place Match - Haven Pennington (Presbyterian University) won by decision over Isabella Badone (Presbyterian University) (Dec 11-6)
136
1st Place Match - Ana Luciano (King University) won by fall over Julia Padilla (Emmanuel College) (Fall 0:26)
2nd Place Match - Julia Padilla (Emmanuel College) won by decision over Jorie Richardson (Presbyterian University) (Dec 10-1)
3rd Place Match - Jorie Richardson (Presbyterian University) won by decision over Lillian Humphries (Presbyterian University) (Dec 6-2)
143
1st Place Match - Ashlynn Ortega (King University) won by decision over Felicity Bryant (Emmanuel College) (Dec 4-1)
3rd Place Match - Morgan Norris (Presbyterian University) won by tech fall over Skylar Novak (King University) (TF 10-0)
4th Place Match - Destiny Benjamin (Ferrum College) won by fall over Skylar Novak (King University) (Fall 2:54)
5th Place Match - Destiny Benjamin (Ferrum College) won by fall over Amalani Latu (Limestone University) (Fall 2:20)
155
1st Place Match - Kayla Marano (Emmanuel College) won by decision over Viktorya Torres (King University) (Dec 5-0)
3rd Place Match - Caitlyn Gilmore (Limestone University)
170
1st Place Match - Heaven Byrd (Emmanuel College) won by decision over Nia Crosdale (King University) (Dec 8-8)
3rd Place - Morganne Flinkstrom (Ferrum College)
191
1st Place Match - Tavi Heidelberg-Tollson (King University) won by decision over Cristina Santoyo (Emmanuel College) (Dec 8-0)
3rd Place Match - Leya Deickman (Ferrum College) won by fall over Destiny Baltierra (Limestone University) (Fall 2:14)
5th place - Kalani Rivas (Limestone University)
Team Standings
1. King University, 160.5
2. Emmanuel College, 129.5
3. Presbyterian University, 66.0
4, Limestone University, 56.0
5. Ferrum College, 46.5