A Nationals to Remember: The Ultimate NCAA Women’s Preview
North Central’s Asia Nguyen-Smith will compete at 123 in Tiffin. Photo courtesy of North Central Athletics.
by Emma Bruntil, AWW freelance writer
Twitter & IG: @Emaaabruntil
TIFFIN, OHIO - It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Happy March, wrestling fans. This month is jam packed full of some amazing wrestling: we get to see some of the best female wrestlers on the planet lay it on the line at the Last Chance Qualifier and Olympic Trials. But before the Olympic qualification process begins, we get to watch the top college women battle it out at the NCAA tournament in Tiffin, Ohio—the Cliff Keen National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships. The stakes are high at this year's nationals, the highest placing wrestler from the NCAA tournament (that isn’t already qualified) will earn themselves a ticket to wrestle in the Olympic Trials in April. This field of athletes is loaded with incredible talent, exciting storylines, and a lot of upset potential.
101 pounds
Wrestlers to watch: Jackie McNichols (King), Pauline Granados (McKendree), Lizette Rodriguez (McKendree)
Dark Horse: Brooke Thurber (USWP)
101 pounds is an absolute monster of a weight! Leading the pack you have #1 ranked Jackie McNichols of King, who earned her top seed with a 6-2 win over 2020 NCWWC champion Pauline Granados of McKendree. Pauline Granados and her freshman teammate Lizette Rodriquez had a tight match at last week's Southwest regional tournament, where we saw Rodriguez walk away with the 4-3 win. With Lizette Rodriguez getting the #2 seed and Granados earning the #3 spot, we could very likely get a rematch between the pair of McKendree wrestlers in the semi-finals. Looking to spoil the fun will be University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point senior Brooke Thurber. Earlier in January, Thurber had a tight match with Granados at the North Central duals. It looked like Thurber had all but sealed the victory when Granados powered her way to the win with a big 4 in the closing seconds. However, if Thurber can flip the script on Granados and get past Rodriguez, she could very well storm her way into the finals.
109 pounds
Wrestlers to watch: Emily Shilson (Augsburg), Aleeah Gould (King), Natalie Reyna (McKendree).
Dark horse: Carly Valleroy (McKendree)
This weight is pretty much Emily Shilson versus everyone else. Shilson had an outstanding performance at Captain’s Cup a few weeks ago, handily beating multiple-time national team member Amy Fearnside and earning the tech-fall over #2 Aleeah Gould. Shilson should breeze to the finals, where she’ll likely get the winner of Aleeah Gould (King) and Natalie Reyna (McKendree). In the McKendree/King dual back in January, Gould got the better of Reyna in 5-0 match, where Gould was fairly dominant. However, Reyna owns two wins over the King senior, dating back to an 8-2 win at last year's Senior Nationals. One wild card in this weight is #7 Carly Valleroy of McKendree. Valleroy wrestled well against Shilson in early February, and has the talent to give #2 Gould some trouble in the quarterfinals.
116 pounds
Wrestlers to watch: Felicity Taylor (McKendree), Sugey Ceja (Tiffin), Jaslynn Gallegos (Presbyterian)
Dark horse: Sophia Mirabella (King)
116 pounds is an intriguing weight this year, and definitely one to keep your eye on. Felicity Taylor of McKendree is the heavy favorite here, as the 2x national finalist looks to break through and claim her first national crown. 2020 WCWA champion Jaslynn Gallegos has had a phenomenal year, and was in a tight match with Taylor in the NCWWC semi-finals before Taylor picked up the fall in a scramble. Returning NCWWC finalist Sugey Ceja is up a weight this year, and will likely have to get past Gallegos to meet Felicity Taylor in the finals. When you’re talking about upset potential, it’s impossible not to mention King’s super freshman Sophia Mirabella. Mirabella, a former MMA and boxing champion, has been on an absolute tear this year. Mirabella took out #2 (at 123) Marissa Gallegos of Colorado Mesa at the King “Tornado Duals” in January, and beat 2020 WCWA champion Julia Vidallon of Life at the Emmanuel Open this year. If Mirabella is not affected by the cut down to 116, I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see her make a deep run in this bracket.
123 pounds
Wrestlers to watch: Cheyenne Sisenstein (King), Marissa Gallegos (Colorado Mesa),
Dark horse: Asia Nguyen-Smith (North Central)
The highlight of this weight is the potential finals match between #1 Cheyenne Sistenstein and #2 Marissa Gallegos. Sisenstein, a 2020 NCWWC finalist, has been dominant all year. However, at the Tornado Duals in January, we saw Sisenstein’s teammate and talented freshman Sophia Mirabella get the nod, where she upset Gallegos 5-2. Gallegos did outplace Sisenstein in a tough 2019 Senior Nationals bracket, but she has a big challenge on her hands if she wants to repeat that feat again at NCAA’s. Asia Nyguen-Smith has had an impressive season this year, at the Bearcat Scramble she avenged her previous loss against McKendree’s Shaina Murray, and tech-falled #4 Peyton Stroud. I could see Nyguen-Smith giving Gallegos some major problems in the semi-finals.
130 pounds
Wrestlers to watch: Cameron Guerin (McKendree), Allison Petix (King), Gabby Skidmore (Augsburg)
Dark horse: Phoenix Dubose (King)
Cameron Guerin leads the pack here at 130 pounds, and has been nothing short of dominant this year. The McKendree freshman ran through her regional bracket last weekend, dismantling Colorado Mesa’s Nanen Aguilar in the finals. However, we haven’t seen Guerin wrestle #2 Petix this season, as Phoenix Dubose got the nod in the McKendree-King dual back in January. Petix started off this season with a bang by winning a 55 kg U23 national title, and hasn’t looked back since. Gabby Skidmore also pulled off a big upset last weekend, topping 2020 NCWWC finalist Amanda Martinez in the Northwest regional finals by a score of 2-1. Skidmore seems to always come out on top in close matches, and definitely has the potential to upset #2 Allison Petix in the semi-finals. Don’t sleep on Phoenix Dubose of King, though! The sophomore is a hammer, and a returning All-American. Dubose may have taken a hit against #1 Cameron Guerin in January, but the King sophomore could definitely cause some trouble at 130 pounds.
136 pounds
Wrestlers to watch: Ana Luciano (King), Brenda Reyna (McKendree), Dalia Garibay (Colorado Mesa)
Dark horse: Michelle Camacho (McKendree)
136 pounds has a potential for a monster rematch between #1 Ana Luciano and #2 Brenda Reyna. Luciano shocked the crowd back in January when she tech-falled 2019 WCWA finalist Brenda Reyna. Luciano controlled the match, and walked away with a 12-2 win along with the #1 ranking to boot. However, Reyna looked outstanding at Captain’s Cup, walking away undefeated and climbing all the way to #6 in the 57kg domestic rankings. If Reyna is in top form, can she flip the script on Luciano? Next up, you have 2020 NCWWC runner up Dalia Garibay. Garibay took a loss via tech-fall to Reyna in last week's regional finals, but she looked excellent against Mckendree’s Michelle Camacho, where she picked up a first period fall. Camacho is still very much in the running at 136, though. Before falling to Garibay in a scramble, Camacho was in a tight 4-4 battle with the Colorado Mesa sophomore. Camacho made the blood rounds at the 2019 WCWA’s, and definitely has the potential to upset #4 Julia Padilla in the semi-finals.
143 pounds
Wrestlers to watch: Emma Bruntil (McKendree), Ashlynn Ortega (King), Morgan Norris (Presbyterian)
Dark Horse: Zoe Nowicki (Adrian)
The premier match up at this weight is a potential Bruntil-Ortega final. Both athletes are already qualified for the 2021 Olympic Trials in Dallas, and have had success on the Senior level. At Captains Cup we saw Bruntil beat #6 Jen Page 2-2 and tech-fall U23 national champion Xochi Mota-Pettis 13-2. Ortega took losses to Alex Glaude and Alyvia Fiske, but earned the 4-4 win over #1 (at 155) Kayla Marano. Back at the Tornado Duals, Bruntil shut out Ortega by a score of 5-0. Add into the mix 2020 WCWA champion Morgan Norris of Presbyterian, who could likely meet Bruntil in the semi-finals. Norris, who is qualified for Olympic Trials, also finished 5th at last year's NCWWC tournament. Looking to make some noise at this weight is 2020 WCWA champion (at 136) Zoe Nowicki. Nowicki makes four athletes at this weight who are already qualified for Trials, and the Adrian junior definitely has the talent to challenge Norris for a chance to take on Bruntil in the semis.
155 pounds
Wrestlers to watch: Kayla Marano (Emmanuel), Alara Boyd (McKendree), Marlynne Deede (Augsburg)
Dark Horse: Victoria Torres (King)
In perhaps the best potential rematch of the tournament, we could get a final between #1 Kayla Marano, and #2 Alara Boyd. Back at the Tornado Duals, Marano got the win over the McKendree sophomore 6-3, but the match was a lot closer than the score indicated. Alara Boyd is one of the best hand fighters in the country, and could definitely win a potential rematch with Marano at Nationals. However, Marano has a world class two-on-one, which propelled her to victory in her last match up with Boyd in January. Maralynn Deede won her regional bracket last weekend, and is a returning All-American from last season. One of the most intriguing wrestlers at this weight is freshman Victoria Torres of King, who gave #1 Marano all she could handle in a 5-3 match earlier this season. Torres has several losses this year, but the U23 national finalist is slick, and has the technique to put up big points.
170 pounds
Wrestlers to watch: Yelena Makoyed (North Central), Joye Levendusky (McKendree), Tristan Kelly (Colorado Mesa)
Dark Horse: Heaven Byrd (Emmanuel)
Man, 170 pounds is FUN! Leading the way you have 2020 NCWWC finalist Yelena Makoyed, who owns two wins over #2 Joye Levendusky. However, the top three at this weight are extremely close, and any one of them could easily walk away with the 170 pound title at Tiffin this weekend. In the Southwest regional finals, we saw #2 Levendusky win a calculated 2-1 match over #3 Tristian Kelly, her third victory over the Colorado Mesa freshman this year. At the Tornado Duals, Levendusky bested Kelly with a 7-2 win in a tight match. Levendusky was actually losing in the last minute, and pulled out some late match heroics for a hard fought win. Looking to stir the pot at 170 you have Emmanuel freshman Heaven Byrd. Last weekend, Byrd took out #4 Nia Crosdale in the Southeast regional finals, besting the King junior on criteria by a score of 8-8.
191 pounds
Wrestlers to watch: Syndee Kimber (McKendree), Tavi Heidelburg (King), Jessie Lee (Tiffin)
Dark horse: Grace Kristoff (McKendree)
Last, but certainly not least, we have 191 pounds. 2020 NCWWC champion Syndee Kimber is the clear favorite at this weight. The McKendree junior has a dynamic offense and great leg attacks, something you don’t always see in the upper weights. Looking to challenge Kimber is King’s Tavi Heidelburg, who was a finalist at the NCWWC tournament last year. Kimber and Heidelburg did not meet at the King-McKendree dual, as #4 (at 170 pounds) Nia Crosdale got the nod against Kimber. Kimber ended up beating Crosdale in a quick first period fall. Next up, you have Northeast Regional champ Jessie Lee of Tiffin. Lee is a returning All-American, and should prove to be a tough challenge for #5 Grace Kristoff in the quarterfinals. #5 Grace Kristoff is the dark horse at this weight for several reasons. Kristoff is one of the few 191 pounders who have kept #1 Kimber to a decision, something that is not easy to do. Kristoff also has a 6-0 win over #6 Isabeau Schalack of Colorado Mesa, and her low leg attacks are especially threatening in the upper weights.