The finalists have been named for the 2024 USA Wrestling Women’s College Wrestler of the Year Award.

The award will be selected by a vote from three major constituent groups: wrestling journalists, women’s college head coaches and the fans. Each of these groups will account for one-third of the vote.

The eight finalists were all college national champions in 2024: NAIA champions Tavia Heidelberg-Tillotson of Menlo College, Carolina Moreno of Southern Oregon, Adaugo Nwachukwu of William Penn and Mia Palumbo of William Penn plus NCWWC champions (NCAA institutions) Marlynne Deede of Iowa, Cameron Guerin of McKendree, Amani Jones of North Central and Kylie Welker of Iowa.

Fan vote for 2024 Women’s College Wrestler of the Year

Women’s college varsity wrestlers from all of the recognized college organizations were eligible, including NCAA, NAIA and NJCAA/junior college programs. The finalists were been selected by a committee overseeing the award program, featuring representatives of the media, college coaches and wrestling fans. These eight wrestlers were selected from a pool of 31 college national champions from the NCAA, NAIA and NJCAA.

Fan voting opens today (Thursday, March 28) and runs through 8:00 a.m. MT on Wednesday April 3. The announcement of the winner of 2024 USA Wrestling’s Women’s College Wrestler of the Year will again be announced on FloWrestling on Thursday, April 4 at 11:00 a.m. Central Time.

Fan vote for 2024 Women’s College Wrestler of the Year

The award was created in 2023 and the first winner was Yelena Makoyed of North Central College.

USA Wrestling’s goal is to elevate the new award to have the significance and impact as other college athletic awards, such as the Dan Hodge Trophy for men’s college wrestling, the Heisman Trophy for college football, the Hobey Baker Award for men’s college hockey, the Patty Kazmeier Award for women’s college hockey, the Naismith College Player of the Year in men’s and women’s basketball, the Dick Howser Trophy in college baseball, the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year and similar college awards.

The Finalists (Alphabetically)

Marlynne Deede, senior, Univ. of Iowa

2024 NCWWC champion at 155 pounds, now 2x NCWWC champion
14-0 record
6 pins and 5 technical falls
NCWWC Region V champion
Qualified for U.S. Olympic Trials by placing 2nd in 2023 U.S. Open

Cameron Guerin, senior, McKendree Univ.

2024 NCWWC champion at 130 pounds, now 4x NCWWC champion
17-1 record
9 pins and 6 technical falls
NCWWC Region V champion
Qualified for U.S. Olympic Trials by placing 5th at 2023 U.S. Open

Tavia Heidelberg-Tillotson, fifth year senior, Menlo College

2024 NAIA champion at 191 pounds
22-0 record
12 pins and 4 technical falls
Cascade Collegiate Conference champion
Qualified for U.S. Olympic Trials by winning 2024 NAIA Nationals

Amani Jones, junior, North Central College

2024 NCWWC champion at 123 pounds
24-1 record
12 pins and 9 technical falls
NCWWC Region IV champion
Qualified for U.S. Olympic Trials by winning 2023 U20 World bronze medal

Carolina Moreno, junior Southern Oregon Univ.

2024 NAIA champion at 130 pounds, now 3x NAIA champion
27-0 record
12 pins and 12 technical falls
Cascade Collegiate Conference champion
Qualified for U.S. Olympic Trials by winning 2024 NAIA Nationals

Adaugo Nwachukwu, junior, William Penn Univ.

2024 NAIA champion at 136 pounds, now 3x NAIA champion
21-0 record
6 pins and 15 technical falls
Heart of America Conference champion
Qualified for U.S. Olympic Trials by winning 2024 NAIA Nationals

Mia Palumbo, junior, William Penn Univ.

2024 NAIA champion at 109 pounds
22-0 record
3 pins and 16 technical falls
Heart of America Conference champion
Qualified for U.S. Olympic Trials by placing 5th at 2023 U.S. Open

Kylie Welker, sophomore, Univ. of Iowa

2024 NCWWC champion at 170 pounds
23-1 record (loss to post-collegian)
6 pins and 16 technical falls
NCWWC Region V champion
Qualified for U.S. Olympic Trials as 2021 Senior World Team member

PAST USA WRESTLING WOMEN’S COLLEGE WRESTLERS OF THE YEAR

2023 – Yelena Makoyed, North Central College

Women’s College Wrestler of the Year finalists; Deede, Guerin, Heidelberg-Tillotson, Jones, Moreno, Nwachukwu, Palumbo, Welker: Fan vote through April 3

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