King Quad Preview: 4 NCAA Powerhouse Programs to Battle in Bristol on January 17th

King’s #1 college-ranked Cheyenne Sisenstein scores at U23 Nationals in November. Photo courtesy of Tony Rotundo / WrestlersAreWarriors.com

by Emma Bruntil, AWW freelance writer
Twitter & IG: @Emaaabruntil

At this point in the season in years past, the top college teams in women’s wrestling would be gearing up to square off at the NWCA National Duals. Last year in the NCAA division, we saw McKendree and Simon Fraser battle it out in the finals, resulting in a nail biter of a 19-19 criteria win for the Bearcats. With the uncertainty surrounding this season for wrestling as a whole, it would be easy to assume we wouldn’t get the clash-of-the-titan like duals we would normally watch on the big stage in Louisville, Kentucky. Not to fear! Women’s wrestling fans are in for a treat when four of the top NCAA teams meet at King University on January 17th.

In attendance we have the now #1 ranked McKendree Bearcats (previous NWCA #1 Simon Fraser University elected not to compete this season), followed by #2 Emmanuel, #3 King, and #6 Colorado Mesa. The excitement doesn’t stop there, we also have a host of electric individual match-ups that could go down in Bristol. In a potential rematch of NCWWC national semifinals, we have #1 Alara Boyd of McKendree squaring up with #2 Ashlynn Ortega of King University at 143 lbs. We could also see #1 Cheyenne Sisenstein face off with the always-exciting #4 Marissa Gallegos at 123 lbs. Keep your eyes out for another potential NCWWC finals rematch at 191 lbs, where #1 ranked McKendree junior Sydnee Kimber looks to retain the top spot against King’s #5 ranked Tavi Heidelberg-Tillotson. While it’s unclear if the event will be in dual format or round-robin like pools at each weight class, there’s no question that these match-ups have intriguing storylines and firepower that’s sure to deliver.

Probable line-ups include:

101 lbs
#2 Pauline Granados (McKendree)
#3 Angelina Gomez (Emmanuel)
#4 Jennesis Martinez (Colorado Mesa)
#5 Jaclyn McNichols (King)
#7 Jolie Lucas (McKendree)
#13 Valerie Carreon (McKendree)

Get ready, because this weight class packs some serious heat! In the mix we have 2020 national champion Pauline Granados, who looks to cement herself as the top dog of this weight class after a stellar freshman campaign. Insert 2019 WCWA national finalist Gomez and NCWWC 3rd placer Jennesis Martinez of Colorado Mesa, and this weight class becomes one of the deepest at this event. In perhaps the most intriguing match-up, we could have a rematch between Granados and Kings #5 Ranked Jaclyn McNichols. McNichols bested Granados 3-1 in the 3rd place match at the 2019 Missouri Valley Invitational. Granados then went on to capture the NCWWC crown in March, but it begs the question: Can McNichols pull off the upset yet again?

109 lbs
#4 Maria Vidales (Emmanuel)
#7 Alleah Gould, RS-SR (King)
#10 Natalie Reyna, SR (McKendree)
#12 Carly Valleroy (McKendree)
#19 Lizette Rodriguez (McKendree)
(UR) Dulce Maldonado (Colorado Mesa)

While this weight doesn’t pack quite the punch as 101 lbs, keep your eyes out for #4 Maria Vidales of Emmanuel. The redshirt senior recently wrestled Erin Golston on December 14th Wisconsin RTC card, losing 7-1. Still, the ability to compete against seasoned Senior level vet like Golston is notable. Natalie Reyna is coming off her first All-American season for the Bearcats, and she’ll be tested right away with Vidales and King’s Alleah Gould.

116 lbs
#1 Felicity Taylor (McKendree)
#8 Kasey Baynon (Emmanuel)
#9 Melanie Mendoza (King)
#11 Aliyah Rollins (McKendree)
#14 Anja Tschohl (Colorado Mesa)
#18 Sophia Mirabella (King)
#25 Aleena Gomez (Colorado Mesa)

This one is Felicity Taylor's—next topic—for me. The McKendree junior is coming off her second national finals appearance last season, and is looking to break through this year to come away with her first national title in March. Emmanuel’s Kasey Baynon could also clash with King’s Melanie Mendoza in a #8 vs #9 match-up.

123 lbs
#1 Cheyenne Sisenstein (King)
#4 Marissa Gallegos (Colorado Mesa)
#9 Phoenix Dubose (King)
#13 Payton Stroud (McKendree)
#14 Makayla Welch (King)
#15 Niya Teresita Gaines (Emmanuel)
#21 Alexandra Herle (Emmanuel)

123 lbs packs the HEAT! Right off the bat we could see #1 Cheyenne Sisenstein of King face off with #4 Marissa Gallegos at 123 lbs. Sisenstein is fresh off her NCWWC finals appearance last season, while Gallegos snagged 3rd place in the 123 lb bracket. However, Gallegos outplaced Sisenstein in last year’s Senior Nationals, where she beat Menlo’s WCWA champion Gracie Figueroa along the way. Insert King All-American Phoenix Dubose and McKendree’s sophomore All-American Stroud, and you have a weight class that is sure to impress.

130 lbs
#3 Allison Petix (King)
#3 Cameron Guerin (McKendree) (#3 at 123lbs)
#4 Emily Se (Emmanuel)
#9 Alyssa Aceval (King)
#15 Shaina Murray (McKendree)
(UR) Holly Beaudoin (Colorado Mesa)

Along with U23 champ #3 Allison Petix, this weight has the much anticipated college debut of McKendree freshman Cameron Guerin. Guerin is ranked at 123 lbs, but recently wrestled Junior and U23 nationals up at 57kg, where she won a Junior national title. Guerin is a multiple-time age group world teamer, as well as finishing 3rd at last year’s Senior Nationals. Last year’s NCWWC 3rd placer at 116 lbs, Emily Se, is up two weight classes, and should be a good test for Petix, Guerin, Aceval, Murray, and Beaudoin.

136 lbs
#1 Emma Bruntil (McKendree)
#3 Dalia Garibay (Colorado Mesa)
#4 Brenda Reyna (McKendree)
#5 Ana Luciano (King)
#10 Viktorya Torres (King)
#16 Salome Walker (McKendree)
#17 Julianna Padilla (Emmanuel)

Buckle up, we got another monster of a weight! In a potential rematch of last year’s NCWWC finals we have #1 Emma Bruntil vs #2 Dalia Garibay. Ana Luciano of King will also be in the mix, recently coming off her runner-up finish at U23 Nationals. #4 Brenda Reyna returns after redshirting last season. Reyna was a 2018 WCWA Finalist, as well as a two-time Junior World teamer. Also in the mix is #10 Viktorya “Tory” Torres, a freshman that made the U23 finals at 65 kg.

143 lbs
#1 Alara Boyd (McKendree)
#2 Ashlynn Ortega (King)
#3 Felicity Bryant (Emmanuel)
#7 Alma Mendoza (Colorado Mesa)
#8 Michelle Camacho (McKendree)
#11 Emmily Patneaud (McKendree)
#19 Kaylee Lacy (Colorado Mesa)

If you watch one weight class at this event, it should be this one. Leading the pack we have multiple-time Cadet World medalist Alara Boyd, who returns this year after her NCWWC finals appearance last season. #2 Ashlynn Ortega of King gave Boyd a close match in last year’s NCWWC semifinals with a 7-1 score, and also added a U23 National title to her resume this fall. Not to be forgotten is 2018 WCWA national finalist Felicity Bryant of Emmanuel, who returns after redshirting last season. Colorado Mesa’s returning All-American Alma Mendoza also has big upside potential. All in all, this is a weight you don’t want to miss.

155 lbs
#1 Kayla Marano (Emmanuel)
#9 McKenzie Cook (McKendree)
#10 Hailey Cancelleri (King)
(UR) Gabriela Burgos (Colorado Mesa)

Similar to 116 lbs, this weight is pretty much Kayla Marano's…next topic. #1 Marano is a past Cadet world medalist, multiple time All-American, and won a tough Missouri Valley Invitational bracket during her redshirt season last year. A potential #9 vs #10 match-up between Cook of McKendree and Cancelleri of King is notable, although I don’t see either of the wrestlers being able to keep up with #1 Marano.

170 lbs
#1 Joye Levendusky (McKendree)
#2 Tristan Kelly (Colorado Mesa)
#4 Korinahe Bullock (McKendree)
#7 Andrea Sennett (McKendree)
#8 Nia Crosdale (King)
#22 Grace Kristoff (McKendree) (#22 at 155)
#24 Elvira Arevalo (Emmanuel)

The real highlight of this weight is a potential rematch of the U23 consolation rounds between #1 Joye Levendusky and #2 Tristan Kelly. In Omaha we saw Levendusky best Kelly with a convincing 14-4 win. King’s Nia Crosdale had a stellar showing at nationals last season, finishing 4th and notching a win over #1 seed Korinahe Bullock of McKendree.

191 lbs
#1 Sydnee Kimber (McKendree)
#5 Tavi Heidelberg-Tillotson (King)
#8 Christina Santoyo (Emmanuel)
#10 Kaylee Seabolt (Emmanuel)
#15 Caylee Collins (Colorado Mesa) (#15 at 170)

Rounding out the pack at 191 lbs, we have 2020 national champion Sydnee Kimber of McKendree. Last season, we saw Kimber dominate #5 Heidelberg in the NCWWC finals with a convincing technical fall. #10 Kaylee Seabolt is not to be underestimated, though. The Emmanuel junior was a 2018 WCWA finalist, and returns to Emmanuel's star-studded line-up after redshirting last season. And don’t forget #8 Christina Santoyo, a sophomore who had some big wins last season.

Team implications
At Junior and U23 Nationals we saw Colorado Mesa and McKendree tie in ‘points’ in the Junior division, had the event been scored. Meanwhile, King ran away with the U23 division, outscoring 2nd place Emmanuel. However, it should be noted that McKendree was missing some of their heavy hitters in #2 Pauline Granados, freshman Hailey Cox, #1 Emma Bruntil, #1 Alara Boyd, and #1 Sydnee Kimber. Colorado Mesa crowned a Junior National champion in freshman Tristan Kelly, but was missing 2020 NCWWC finalist Dalia Garibay at 62 kg. King had several great individual performances at U23’s, with Luciano, Ortega, Torres, Sisenstein, and Petix all making it to the finals.

Due to very few events scheduled for this season, the event this weekend is likely to serve as a preview to what we will see at nationals in March. With SFU out of the picture this year, can anyone stop McKendree from going back-to-back? Will Emmanuel's returning redshirt squad catapult them to the top of the podium? Can King break through and win its first team title since 2017? Tune in January 17th for a first look at these insanely loaded teams!