Women's College Wrestling Top 25: January 2021 Multi-Division Rankings
article by Derek Levendusky / Twitter: @AWWderek
Ranking feedback: info@americanwomenswrestling.com
This ranking was produced by a team working with AmericanWomensWrestling.com for FloWrestling & AWW. The team includes AWW staff and several coaches representing both NAIA & NCAA programs.
What is a “multi-division ranking?” It’s a ranking that combines all divisions of women’s college wrestling—the NAIA, NCAA, NJCAA & NCWA. With the emergence of 86 college programs, along with dozens of clubs, making this Top 25 list is getting harder and harder. There were a lot of very good wrestlers left off the list this round, especially at 109, 123, 130, and 143. Ranking spots 16-25 is the hardest as there’s so many you could make a case for.
These multi-division rankings take into account all women’s college national championships—the WCWA, NAIA, NCWA, and the event launched last year for NCAA programs, the National Women’s Collegiate Wrestling Championships. It also takes duals into account when information is available, and this round includes results from the Junior & U23 Nationals held in November. With the pandemic limiting the college competitive schedule, these two USAW events provided great info for college rankings as there were plenty of matchups between ranked women. Many college programs participated in this event as part of their fall college schedule.
A few more notes:
1. Canadian perennial powerhouse Simon Fraser has been taken out of the rankings as their season has been cancelled due to Covid-19. As many of their women were in the Top 25, removing them caused a lot of movement, including in some of the top spots.
2. There are six new #1’s! You’ll see the following new names in the #1 spots: Wayland Baptist’s Nina Pham at 101, McKendree’s Felicity Taylor at 116, King’s Cheyenne Sisenstein at 123, McKendree’s Alara Boyd at 143, Emmanuel’s Kayla Marano at 155, and McKendree’s Joye Levendusky at 170.
3. Returning NCAA national champion McKendree continues to show their depth and muscle, as 5 of the 10 weight classes have Bearcats in the #1 spot. 116 NCAA finalist Felicity Taylor, 136 NCAA national champ Emma Bruntil, 143 NCAA finalist Alara Boyd, 170 Junior national finalist & 2x All-American Joye Levendusky, and 191 NCAA national champion Sydnee Kimber all hold the top spot. McKendree also has several other women in the top 5, with returning national champion Pauline Granados at #2 at 101, 2020 Junior national champion Cameron Guerin #3 at 123, 2019 WCWA national finalist Brenda Reyna #4 at 136, and U23 bronze winner Kori Bullock #4 at 170.
4. This is the first ranking in this 2020-2021 season where freshmen have entered the scene. In fact, it’s loaded with new names, and some of them debuted high. Lourde’s Stefana Jelacic came in at #6 at 116. King’s Melanie Mendoza also hit the top 10 at #9 at 116 after her performance at Junior & U23 Nationals. McKendree’s Guerin, as mentioned, is #3 at 123, while Menlo freshman Nanea Estrella is #5 at the same weight. At 130, Wayland Baptist freshman Jordan Suarez is at #6 after her 3rd place finish at Junior Nationals which included a win over top-10 college wrestler Phoenix Dubose of King, while Midland freshman Waipuilani Estrella-Beauchamp debuts at #8. King’s Viktorya Torres hit the top 10 at 136 in the #10 spot, while young Colorado Mesa star Tristan Kelly, who won a Junior national title in November, comes in at #2 at 170, winning two of three matches over the previous #1 Yelena Makoyed at Junior & U23 Nationals. Expect to see more freshmen women hit the Top 25 as the season progresses, and expect to see some continue their climb closer to the top.
5. For the first time, we added wrestlers in D1 clubs or on D1 rosters into the fray. Columbia’s Bri Csontos is #8 at 136, while Arizona State’s Marlee Smith is #23 at 143.
Please note: Our rankings are not predictive. They are based on results. While we know there are many other incoming freshmen that are rank-worthy, we do not rank them until they have college results.
Rankings are never perfect and though we try to base them primarily on results, there is always some subjectivity along with difficult scenarios where a number of common opponents have mixed results. Think we missed something? Let us know! Email: info@americanwomenswrestling.com
101
1. Nina Pham, SR (Wayland Baptist) (6 at 109)
2. Pauline Granados, SO (McKendree) (2)
3. Angelina Gomez, JR (Emmanuel) (7 at 109)
4. Jennesis Martinez, SO (Colorado Mesa) (3)
5. Jaclyn McNichols, JR (King) (4)
6. Esthela Trevino, JR (Southern Oregon) (7)
7. Jolie Lucas, SO (McKendree) (8)
8. Alaura Couch, SR (Grand View) (10)
9. Esther Walker, SO (Midland) (11)
10. Ira Navarro, SR (Southwestern Oregon) (12)
11. Faye Cherrier, JR (Life) (13)
12. Madison Brown, SO (Texas Wesleyan) (14)
13. Valerie Carreon, SO (McKendree) (9)
14. Trinity Oredina, JR (Tiffin) (15)
15. Cecelia Saavedra, SR (Grays Harbor) (16)
16. Tianna Fernandez, SO (Menlo) (18)
17. Johnvanique Porter, SO (Lindenwood) (21)
18. Tory Marrufo, SR (Grand View) (24)
19. Kayla Rogers, SO (Big Bend) (20)
20. Chrystal Raine, SO (Gannon) (22)
21. Devyn Gomez, FR (Life) (NR)
22. Katelin Barnett, JR (Campbellsville) (25)
23. Unity Cordova, FR (Life) (NR)
24. Elizabeth Dosado, FR (Cumberlands) (NR)
25. Modestie Hitchcock, SO (Adrian) (NR)
109
1. Emily Shilson, SO (Augsburg) (1)
2. Alleida Martinez, JR (Menlo) (2)
3. McKayla Campbell, SR (Campbellsville) (3)
4. Maria Vidales, RS-SR (Emmanuel) (5 at 116 in 2019-2020)
5. Sugey Ceja, RS-SO (Tiffin) (4)
6. Brooke Thurber, SR (UW-Stevens Point) (5)
7. Alleah Gould, RS-SR (King) (8 in 2019-2020)
8. Tatyanna Ortiz, SO (East Stroudsburg) (8)
9. Macie Stewart, JR (Southern Oregon) (10)
10. Natalie Reyna, SR (McKendree) (11)
11. Asia Ray, SR (Wayland Baptist) (1 at 101)
12. Carly Valleroy, JR (McKendree) (12)
13. Emma Cochran, SO (Grand View) (18)
14. Samantha Weeks, SO (Jamestown) (20)
15. Allicia Mahoe, SO (Schreiner) (17)
16. Cassy Lopez, RS-SO (Presbyterian) (14)
17. Brianna Ribucan-Leong, SR (Lyon) (15)
18. Aylen Vivar, SO (Texas Wesleyan) (24)
19. Lizette Rodriguez, FR (McKendree) (NR)
20. Katalina Bartelt, JR (Life) (19)
21. Kory Phillips, SO (Life) (25)
22. Tehani Soares, FR (Indiana Tech) (NR)
23. Jaine Stephens, SO (Cumberlands) (NR)
24. Serenity Durham Goree, FR (Midland) (NR)
25. Jessica Corredor, FR (Missouri Baptist) (NR)
116
1. Felicity Taylor, JR (McKendree) (2)
2. Jaslynn Gallegos, SO (Presbyterian) (4)
3. Peyton Prussin, SO (Life) (6)
4. Katlyn Pizzo, SR (Campbellsville) (5)
5. Charlotte Fowler, RS-SR (Campbellsville) (6 in 2019-2020)
6. Stefana Jelacic, FR (Lourdes) (NR)
7. Ashley Gooman, SO (Midland) (9)
8. Kasey Baynon, JR (Emmanuel) (7)
9. Melanie Mendoza, FR (King) (NR)
10. Josie Bartishofski, SO (Jamestown) (8)
11. Aliyah Rollins, SO (McKendree) (10)
12. Valerie Mamleeva, SO (Lindenwood) (19)
13. Tara Othman, JR (Southern Oregon) (11)
14. Anja Tschohl, SO (Colorado Mesa) (12)
15. Jamayia Blackston, JR (Jamestown) (13)
16. Alexandra Magana, SO (Texas Wesleyan) (15)
17. Maddie Ruckdashel, JR (Lakeland) (16)
18. Sophia Mirabella, FR (King) (NR)
19. Abby Nelson, SO (UW-Stevens Point) (17)
20. Mia Rodriguez, JR (Campbellsville) (NR)
21. Carolina Johnson, JR (Southern Oregon) (18)
23. Alice Todryk, SO (UW-Steven’s Point) (NR)
24. Jazlyn Ruelas, SO (Schreiner) (22)
25. Aleena Gomez, SO (Colorado Mesa) (23)
123
1. Cheyenne Sisenstein, JR (King) (3)
2. Tiana Jackson, SR (Menlo) (2)
3. Cameron Guerin, FR (McKendree) (NR)
4. Marissa Gallegos, RS-SO (Colorado Mesa) (4)
5. Nanea Estrella, FR (Menlo) (NR)
6. Jasmine Hernandez, JR (Lyon College) (5)
7. Adrianna Lopez, SO (Campbellsville) (6)
8. Julia Vidallon, JR (Life) (7)
9. Phoenix Dubose, SO (King) (8)
10. Asia Nguyen-Smith, SO (North Central) (9)
11. Vayle Baker, SO (Augsburg) (10)
12. Theresa Rankin, RS-SR (Lourdes) (11)
13. Payton Stroud, SO (McKendree) (12)
14. Makayla Welch, JR (King) (7 in 2019-2020)
15. Niya Teresita Gaines, SO (Emmanuel) (13)
16. Autumn Flanigan, FR (Augsburg) (NR)
17. Glory Konecny, JR (Southern Oregon) (14)
18. Savannah Stacks, SR (Tiffin) (15)
19. Camille Fournier, FR (Texas Wesleyan) (NR)
20. Allie Mahoe, JR (Schreiner) (16)
21. Alexandra Herle, SR (Emmanuel) (23)
22. Karoline Ortiz, SO (Missouri Baptist) (NR)
23. Jasmine Ward, SO (Lindenwood) (NR)
24. Isabella Badon, SO (Presbyterian) (17)
25. Kamille Begeal, SO (Schreiner) (18)
130
1. Gracie Figueroa, JR (Menlo) (1)
2. Amanda Martinez, SR (North Central) (3)
3. Allison Petix, SR (King) (4)
4. Emily Se, SO (Emmanuel) (3 at 116)
5. Cindy Zepeda, SO (Menlo) (6)
6. Jordan Suarez, FR (Wayland Baptist) (NR)
7. Gabby Skidmore, SO (Augsburg) (7)
8. Waipuilani Estrella-Beauchamp, FR (Midland) (NR)
9. Alyssa Aceval, RS-JR (King) (9)
10. Andrea Schlabach, SO (Cumberlands) (12)
11. Briana Kellin, SR (Life) (12 at 136)
12. Alana Vivas, SO (Menlo) (10)
13. Macy Higa, JR (Eastern Oregon) (11)
14. Eunique Davis, JR (Tiffin) (15)
15. Shaina Murray, SO (McKendree) (18)
16. Sophia Smith, FR (Oklahoma City) (NR)
17. Mia Macaluso, FR (East Stroudsburg) (NR)
18. Tanalei Louis, SR (Midland) (20 in 2019-2020)
19. Mattison Parker, SO (Oklahoma City) (19)
20. Isabella Gonzalez, SO (Grand View) (14)
21. Clarissa Archuleta, SO (Texas Wesleyan) (21)
22. Serena Cervantes, JR (Schreiner) (17)
23. Riley Dalrymple, FR (Life) (NR)
24. De`anna Prince, JR (Wayland Baptist) (NR)
25. Shelley Avelino, SR (Menlo) (13)
136
1. Emma Bruntil, SO (McKendree) (1)
2. Desiree Zavala, SR (Wayland Baptist) (2)
3. Dalia Garibay, SO (Colorado Mesa) (4)
4. Brenda Reyna, SR (McKendree) (3)
5. Ana Luciano, JR (King) (5)
6. Bridgette Duty, SR (Cumberlands) (7)
7. Zoe Nowicki, JR (Adrian) (6)
8. Aliyah Yates, SO (Big Bend) (10)
9. Brianna Csontos, SO (Columbia) (NR)
10. Viktorya Torres, FR (King) (NR)
11. Paige Respicio, FR (Midland) (NR)
12. Angela Peralta, SR (Menlo) (8)
13. Jaqueline Parks, JR (Jamestown) (9)
14. Destiny Lyng, JR (Oklahoma City) (11)
15. Julissa Taitano, JR (Southern Oregon) (13)
16. Salome Walker, SO (McKendree) (16)
17. Julianna Padilla, JR (Emmanuel) (14)
18. Diana Dzasezeva, JR (Waldorf) (15)
19. Mia Dow, SR (Lindenwood) (17)
20. Randi Robison, SO (Campbellsville) (18)
21. Adelyhda Perez, SO (Presbyterian) (19)
22. Megan Struble, SO (UW-Stevens Point) (20)
23. Desiree Estrada, JR (Jamestown) (21)
24. Gabrielle Malinowski, SO (Gannon) (22)
25. Rory Coscia, JR (Campbellsville) (24)
143
1. Alara Boyd, SO (McKendree) (2)
2. Ashlynn Ortega, JR (King) (3)
3. Felicity Bryant, SR (Emmanuel) (4)
4. Sienna Ramirez, SR (Southern Oregon) (5)
5. Morgan Norris, SO (Presbyterian) (7)
6. Gabby Garcia, JR (Campbellsville) (8)
7. Alma Mendoza, JR (Colorado Mesa) (9)
8. Michelle Camacho, RS-JR (McKendree) (10)
9. Sydney Freund, SR (Oklahoma City) (11)
10. Erin Redford, JR (Eastern Oregon) (13)
11. Emmily Patneaud (McKendree) (NR)
12. Lexie Basham, TX (Texas Wesleyan) (NR)
13. Samantha Snow, FR (Indiana Tech) (NR)
14. Megan Vondrasek, SO (Adrian) (14)
15. Hailey Finn, JR (Life) (NR)
16. Julianna Moreno, SO (North Central) (24)
17. Candice Corralejo, JR (Wayland Baptist) (17)
18. Grace Miller, SO (Umpqua) (18)
19. Kaylee Lacy, JR (Colorado Mesa) (15)
20. MacKenzie Matta, SR (Adrian) (19)
21. Adriana Orozco, JR (Southwestern Oregon CC) (22)
22. Cierra Foster, RS-JR (Oklahoma City) (20)
23. Marlee Smith, JR (Arizona State) (NR)
24. Mhina Oseitutu, SO (Campbellsville) (23)
25. Brook-Lynn Rush, SO (Missouri Valley) (21)
155
1. Kayla Marano, JR (Emmanuel) (3)
2. Jayden Laurent, JR (Lakeland) (1)
3. Gladdys Palma, RS-SR (Southern Oregon) (6)
4. Annabell Helm, SO (Gannon) (7)
5. Alexia Foca, SR (Campbellsville) (8)
6. Marlynne Deede, SO (Augsburg) (9)
7. Alexis Gomez, RS-FR (Grand View) (10)
8. Hunter Robinson, SO (Grand View) (11)
9. McKenzie Cook, SO (McKendree) (12)
10. Hailey Cancelleri, JR (King) (13)
11. Taylor Hites, JR (Tiffin) (15)
12. Malea Palahniuk, SO (North Central) (17)
13. Maggie Elliot, RS-SR (Adrian) (14)
14. Jackie Font, FR (Life) (NR)
15. Ginamarie Santiago Ayala, FR (Indian Hills) (NR)
16. Dempsi Talkington, SR (East Oregon) (16)
17. Megan Thomas, SR (Schreiner) (18)
18. Randi Scoon, JR (Ottawa) (20)
19. Mariya Gaither, SR (Lindenwood) (21)
20. Destinee Rivera, JR (Life) (22)
21. Bella Ricchiazzi, JR (Cumberlands) (NR)
22. Grace Kristoff, JR (McKendree) (19)
23. Sierra Talmadge, JR (Jamestown) (25)
24. Caitlyn Gilmore, SO (Limestone) (24)
25. Taylor Cutler, SO (Adrian) (NR)
170
1. Joye Levendusky, JR (McKendree) (4 at 155)
2. Tristan Kelly, FR (Colorado Mesa) (NR)
3. Yelena Makoyed, SO (North Central) (1)
4. Korinahe Bullock, SR (McKendree) (3)
5. Kaylynn Albrecht, SO (Wayland Baptist) (5 at 155)
6. Kenya-Lee Sloan, JR (Campbellsville) (4)
7. Andrea Sennett, RS-SR (McKendree) (5)
8. Nia Crosdale, JR (King) (6)
9. Jordan Nelson, SR (Life) (7)
10. Faith Tuttle, SO (Augsburg) (9)
11. Jade Piper, JR (Southern Oregon) (10)
12. Kelani Corbett, SO (Lyon) (11)
13. Jennifer Curry, SO (Baker) (12)
14. Breanna Jennings, JR (Brewton-Parker) (13)
15. Caylee Collins, FR (Colorado Mesa) (NR)
16. Chamira Cooper, SO (Cumberlands) (NR)
17. Amara Devericks, SO (Gannon) (14)
18. Ashley Molina, SO (Texas Wesleyan) (15)
19. Mikayla Mata, SO (Schreiner) (19)
20. Issa Salgado, SO (Limestone) (25)
21. Anastasia Hardin RS-SO (University of Providence) (NR)
22. Sienna Lejeune, JR (Adrian) (20)
23. Ivory Ayers, SR (Providence) (21)
24. Elvira Arevalo, SR (Emmanuel) (24)
25. Shania Gowan, RS-FR (Missouri Baptist) (NR)
191
1. Sydnee Kimber, JR (McKendree)
2. Alexandra Castillo, JR (Campbellsville)
3. Agatha Andrews, JR (Jamestown)
4. Chi Chi Nwankwo, JR (Oklahoma City)
5. Tavi Heidelberg-Tillotson, SO (King)
6. Gabby Hamilton, SO (Life)
7. Jessie Lee, SR (Tiffin)
8. Christina Santoyo, SO (Emmanuel)
9. Kendall McGarity RS-SO (Gannon)
10. Kaylee Seabolt, JR (Emmanuel)
11. Sara Aguilar, SR (Menlo)
12. Jesse Kirby, JR (Cumberlands)
13. Angela Buenrrostro, SO (Cumberlands)
14. Emily Sandoval, RS-SO (Menlo)
15. Madlyen Navarro, SO (Central Methodist)
16. Catherine Palmieri, SO (Life)
17. Katie Moore, FR (Life)
18. Alyandina Bushe, JR (Missouri Valley)
19. Marissa Patterson, JR (York)
25. Kayvette Osorio, SO (Southern Oregon)
20. Christine Marquez, RS-SO (Providence)
21. Kamila Montenegro, SO (Gray’s Harbor)
22. Joanna “Jojo” Hendricks, SO (Waldorf)
24. April Penn, SO (University of St. Mary)
25. Angelina Kirkpatrick, SO (North Central)