NCAA College Preview Series: #1 North Central
North Central at the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships last year. Photo courtesy of MatFocus.com
by Derek Levendusky
Twitter: @AWWderek
NAPIER, ILLINOIS - After placing 3rd at NWCA National Duals last season and 4th at the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships, North Central is looking for more this year. With the #3 ranked recruiting class by InterMat, including some elite transfers, and a lineup full of All-American and national champ contenders, North Central has established themselves as one of the top programs in the NCAA. Here’s a conversation with head coach Joe Norton about the upcoming season.
1. What are your reflections on last season?
Last season was a fun one for our team. Our 12 All-Americans tied King and McKendree for the most at the NCWW Championships. We placed 3rd at the National Duals which was our first time placing at that event, and we finished the season 14-2 in duals overall. Our team grew from good to great and proved that we are going to be one of the forces in NCAA Women’s Wrestling.
2. Talk about your returning class. Who are some of the women you have high expectations for this year?
We return 12 All-Americans from last year, along with 2x All-American Malea Palahniuk who missed last year due to injury. We are very excited to bring each of these women back as they pursue higher spots on the podium. Yelena Makoyed will also be chasing her third straight national title.
After a remarkable offseason on the USAW international circuit, 170-pound Yelena Makoyed is back & aiming for her third college national title. Photo courtesy of North Central Athletics/USAW.
3. Talk about your incoming freshmen class and/or transfers. Who are you excited about and what are some of the names that you expect an immediate contribution from?
We added six freshmen and five transfers to the squad this year. Two of the freshmen to keep an eye on are Kendall Bostelman and Maddie Avila. Both were multiple-time Fargo All-Americans and finished their senior seasons in the national rankings. Our transfer class is extremely exciting as well. Jaslynn Gallegos comes to us from Presbyterian College where she was a 3x All-American. Brittyn Corbishley comes from Texas Wesleyan. She was 4th at the NAIA Championships last year as a freshman. London Houston is a transfer from King who missed the end of last season due to injury, but was ranked 5th in the nation in January. Sara Sterner is a transfer from Cuesta Community College and finished as the U23 runner-up last May in Texas.
4. How do you feel about your preseason?
Our team has done a lot of team bonding activities in the fall the get to know each other and has worked hard in the weight room to prepare their bodies for the grind of another long wrestling season!
5. Talk about some of your team's goals this season. Are there any specific events you're excited about?
Our team’s goals are to win the NWCA National Duals in January and the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships in March.
6. What are some things you've built into your program that you credit for the success you've had so far?
Everything in our program is team first. We value every member of the team the same whether they’re winning national titles or still just learning to wrestle freestyle. It’s a culture of girls who support each other and love being in the wrestling room!
7. Who are some of the personalities in the room that are providing leadership and shaping your culture?
Yelena Makoyed has been the model student-athlete to build a program around. She does everything right. She carries a 3.7 GPA and spends hours in the wrestling room every day. She lives a life of faith and service to others, and she helps her teammates at every turn. She brings a positive energy to the wrestling room every day and inspires confidence in everyone around her.
North Central’s season begins on November 1st at home vs. Aurora University.
Photo courtesy of North Central Athletics.