Women’s College Notebook: North Central tops Life in cross-division showdown, Iowa stops Lehigh in premier DI dual

There was probably no better scene in the sport last week than the one inside Life University’s ‘Upper Gym’ on Thursday evening – and for good reason, too.

It marked the first dual for the Running Eagles since the program won its fourth National Duals title (NAIA division) in five years. And the opponent traveling to Marietta, Georgia, to face them just so happened to be fellow 2026 National Duals champ, North Central (NCAA).

Both teams entered this cross-division showdown loaded for bear – featuring a combined 17 wrestlers ranked in the top-10 of the latest NCAA/NAIA polls.

And in the end, it was the visiting Cardinals who prevailed, 28-13.

Wins at five of the first six weights helped North Central to build an insurmountable lead – none of which was more dramatic than the finish at 131.

In a battle between a pair of two-time national runners-up, it was NCAA #5 Yele Aycock who secured a come-from-behind victory in the waning moments over NAIA #1 Sarah Savidge.

Among numerous must-see matchups, 145 and 180 stood out as well.

Returning NCWWC finalist Bella Mir (North Central) used a four-point sequence just before the break to extend a lead she wouldn’t relinquish against 2024 NAIA national champ Jamilah McBryde (Life).

The 8-2 victory also cemented the dual for North Central with three bouts remaining – one of which produced another notable result.

At 180, it was NAIA #2 Reka Busa (Life) who drove a late single leg out of bounds to earn herself a 2-2 criteria victory over Shenita Lawson (North Central) – the newly-minted NCAA #1 at 207 pounds.

Just days before, Lawson earned that national ranking with an upset victory that won her team the National Duals title.

(Talk about an unforgiving sport.)

Following its first dual loss in program history, #1 Iowa began a new streak on Sunday with wins over #9 Lehigh and Otterbein University (OH) at historic Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

One of just seven Division I NCAA programs (along with Iowa), Lehigh suffered its own first-ever defeat at the hands of the home team, 37-7.

But the Mountain Hawks did win two of the three marquee matchups of the dual – as 2025 Senior World Team member Audrey Jimenez teched 2024 national champ Ava Bayless at 110 pounds and #3 Aubre Krazer topped #1 Karlee Brooks in a back-and-forth 15-6 decision at 131.

In between, Iowa earned a big result of its own, as true freshman Harlee Hiller overcame an early 7-0 deficit to U20 World Team member Abbi Cooper with a throw/pin that electrified the home crowd.

The Hawkeyes also cruised past Otterbein (42-1) to conclude Senior Day in Iowa City.

Lehigh defeated Otterbein, 32-11, in the other leg of Sunday’s tri-dual meet.

Elsewhere around the country, open tournaments were all the rage. And in many instances, there were elite teams showcasing their strength and depth.

In Illinois at the Elmhurst Invite, aforementioned NCAA #3 North Central won seven individual titles despite sending a reserve-heavy lineup.

Meanwhile, over in the Volunteer State, NCAA #5 King University led its home Tornado Open with a quartet of champions.

Among them, #2 Virginia Foard took top honors at 124 pounds – capped by a hard-fought 7-3 win over Delaware State’s Juliana Diaz, a former NAIA national champ.

Trek to Nebraska for the York University Women’s Open, and it was NAIA #2 Grand View whose four champions outpaced that of NCAA #7 Colorado Mesa, who sported two champions.

And in keeping with the Midwest, #1 Iowa and #2 McKendree both put together dominant performances at the Cliff Keen Mike Duroe Open and Missouri Baptist Open, respectively.

The Hawkeyes won titles at all eight weight classes in which they had an official entry, plus another by redshirting Naomi Simon (a 2025 All-American and U20 World bronze medalist).

Among the five different all-Iowa finals were the following results:

• 103 – #1 Valarie Solorio dec. Sterling Dias, 4-4
• 110 – #3 Nyla Valencia tech. fall Emilie Gonzalez, 11-0
• 131 – #1 Karlee Brooks dec. Bella Williams, 4-2
• 145 – #1 Reese Larramendy fall Cadence Diduch, 5:51
• 207 – Katja Osteen dec. #5 Jaycee Foeller, 7-0

As for McKendree, Alexio Garcia’s squad put a half-dozen wrestlers atop the podium – plus freshman Katie Valdez (unattached), who pinned second-ranked teammate Heather Crull in the final at 103.

Highly ranked Bearcats #2 Gabriele Tedesco (110), #4 Haylie Jaffe (138), #2 Savannah Gomez (160) and #3 Tristan Kelly (207) all won titles.

Jaffe blanked #5 Jacinda Espinosa (Lindenwood) via 10-0 tech. fall to cap her tournament. And for Gomez, a 6-2 final over U20 World champion (and fellow Bearcat) Jasmine Robinson showed just how much depth McKendree has at the 160-pound weight class.

Turning our attention forward, there are several events this weekend that wrestling fans should highlight on the calendar.

On Friday/Saturday (Jan. 23-24) the Warrior Women’s Open returns for what has annually become one of the strongest in-season tournaments.

Hosted by NAIA’s eighth-ranked Indiana Tech, expect a collection of hammers from the NCAA, NAIA and non-collegiate ranks to be on hand.

And on the dual scene, a pair of multi-team events will feature top-five matchups on Saturday.

Up in Allendale, Michigan, #4 Grand Valley State plays host to the second half of the GLVC (Great Lakes Valley Conference) Duals.

Among multiple teams competing to determine a conference champion, in addition to the Lakers, are #2 McKendree, #14 Northern Michigan and #24 Quincy (IL).

But the marquee dual is GVSU against McKendree – a rematch of an entertaining National Duals semifinal won 25-13 by the Bearcats two weeks ago.

Also on Saturday, four ranked teams will take part in the Journeymen College Duals out in Albany, New York.

#1 Iowa, #5 King, #16 Elmira (NY) and #21 Gannon (PA) will be joined by Sacred Heart (CT) as part of a five-team round robin format – one that should produce no shortage of great individual matchups as well.