Action image by Rachel Rusnak courtesy of McKendree Athletics.

You might ask what team is going to win the 2021 National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships, the annual national tournament for NCAA women’s college teams on March 6 at Tiffin University in Tiffin, Ohio.

Just do the math.

There were 22 teams which earned at least one qualifier. For the first time, there were four regional qualifiers to set the 16-athlete field in each of the 10 women’s college weight classes.

You could get a good sense of the team race, based just upon the size of their national championship roster. McKendree is the only team that qualified all 15 from their team at their regional. Tiffin and King punched in 14 qualifiers, North Central and Augsburg had 13 qualifiers, Colorado Mesa and Adrian had 12 had 12 qualifiers each.

Part of the review includes the quality of those qualifiers. McKendree swept the Southwest Regional, winning all 10 of the regional titles. King had seven regional champions, Augsburg had six regional champions and Tiffin brought home five regional champions.

You can then look at 2020 NCWWC National champions coming back this year. There are four returning champions: Pauline Granados of McKendree (101), Emily Shilson of Augsburg (109), Emma Bruntil of McKendree (136) and Sydnee Kimber of McKendree (191). Three of the four are from McKendree.

How about returning NCWWC All-Americans? There are 12 teams with at least one returning All-American: King (9), McKendree (8), Tiffin (6), Colorado Mesa (5), North Central (4), Augsburg (3), Emmanuel (3), Lindenwood (3), Presbyterian (2), UW-Stevens Point (2), Adrian (1), Gannon (1), Lakeland (1).

How about pre-seeded wrestlers? Here are the stats: McKendree (14), King (13), Tiffin (9), Colorado Mesa (9), Augsburg (8), Emmanuel (8), North Central (5), Adrian (3), Presbyterian (3), UW-Stevens Point (1), Lindenwood (1), Limestone (1), New Jersey City (1).

And then No. 1 pre-seeds? It goes McKendree (4), King (3), North Central (1), Augsburg (1), Emmanuel (1)

Add in freshmen who received a pre-seed to the equation: Colorado Mesa (4), Augsburg (3), McKendree (2), King (2), New Jersey City (1), Tiffin (1), Gannon (1), North Central (1), Emmanuel (1). There is only one freshman who received a No. 1 pre-seed: McKendree’s Cameron Guerin (130).

Seeing a pattern here?

It is not surprising that defending national champion and current No. 1 ranked team McKendree is a heavy favorite to repeat as NCWWC National team champions based upon the numbers. And a close look at who is projected to give McKendree the toughest run for the money is No. 2 ranked King.

Of course, we don’t wrestle on paper. National Championships events tend to bring out the best in many folks, and often seeds get tossed to the wind. Add in the fact that the champions earn a ticket to compete in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Fort Worth, and we can expect some big time intensity at this event.

Oh, by the way, Emily Shilson (Augsburg/50 kg), Jaslynn Gallegos of Presbyterian/53 kg), Cameron Guerin (McKendree/57 kg), Emma Bruntil (McKendree/62 kg), Zoe Nowicki (Adrian/62 kg), Ashlynn Ortega (King/68 kg), Morgan Norris (Presbyterian/68 kg) and Yelena Makoyed (North Central/76 kg) are already qualified for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials.

Luckily for those entered, if any of these folks win the NCWWC nationals, there will still be an Olympic Trials berth available at that weight class. According to the Athlete Selection Procedures for the Olympic Games in women’s freestyle, from the NCWWC, “the highest placed NCWWC Senior Women’s Freestyle athlete per weight category who has yet to qualify will qualify to enter the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Wrestling at the weight category she chooses.” That means there will be 10 Olympic Trials qualifiers coming out of the tournament.

Fans can enjoy the live stream of the event on Saturday on Trackwrestling.

NCWWC Nationals qualifiers (by team, with team ranking)
(with pre-seeds and 2020 All-Amerrican information)

No. 1 McKendree (15)
No. 2 seed - Lizette Rodriguez (1st at 101, SW qualifier)
No. 3 seed - Pauline Granados (2nd at 101, SW qualifier) – 2020 NCWWC champion (101)
No. 3 seed - Natalie Reyna (1st at 109, SW qualifier) – 7th in 2020 NCWWC (109)
No. 7 seed - Carly Valleroy (3rd at 109, SW qualifier)
No. 1 seed - Felicity Taylor (1st at 116, SW qualifier) – 2nd in 2020 NCWWC (116)
Katherine Sumner (4th at 116, SW qualifier)
No. 4 seed - Payton Stroud (1st at 123, SW qualifier) – 8th in 2020 NCWWC (123)
No. 1 seed - Cameron Guerin (1st at 130, SW qualifier)
No. 2 seed - Brenda Reyna (1st at 136, SW qualifier)
No. 5 seed - Michelle Camacho (3rd at 136, SW qualifier)
No. 1 seed - Emma Bruntil (1st at 143, SW qualifier) – 1st in 2020 NCWWC (136)
No. 2 seed - Alara Boyd (1st at 155, SW qualifier) – 2nd in 2020 NCWWC (143)
No. 2 seed - Joye Levendusky (1st at 170, SW qualifier) – 4th in 2020 NCWWC (155)
No. 1 seed - Sydnee Kimber (1st at 191, SW qualifier) – 2020 NCWWC champion (191)
No. 5 seed - Grace Kristoff (2nd at 191, SW qualifier)

No. 2 King (14)
No. 1 seed - Jaclyn McNichols (1st at 101, SE qualifier) – 4th in 2020 NCWWC (101)
No. 2 seed - Aleeah Gould (1st at 109, SE qualifier) – 5th in 2020 NCWWC (109)
Samantha Larsen (3rd at 109, SE qualifier)
No. 6 seed - Sophia Mirabella (3rd at 116, SE qualifier)
No. 4 seed - Melanie Mendoza (4th at 116, SE qualifier)
No. 1 seed - Cheyenne Sisenstein (1st at 123, SE qualifier) – 2nd in 2020 NCWWC (123)
No. 5 seed - Makayla Welch (2nd at 123, SE qualifier)
No. 2 seed - Allison Petix (1st at 130, SE qualifier) – 5th in 2020 NCWWC (130)
No. 6 seed - Phoenix Dubose (3rd at 130, SE qualifier) – 4th in 2020 NCWWC (123)
No. 1 seed - Ana Luciano (1st at 136, SE qualifier) – 4th in 2020 NCWWC (136)
No. 2 seed - Ashlynn Ortega (1st at 143, SE qualifier) – 3rd in 2020 NCWWC (143)
Np. 4 seed - Viktorya Torres (2nd at 155, SE qualifier)
No. 4 seed - Nia Crosdale (2nd at 170, SE qualifier) – 4th in 2020 NCWWC (170)
No. 2 seed - Tavi Heidelberg-Tollson (1st at 191, SE qualifier) – 2nd in NCWWC (191)

No. 7 Tiffin (14)
No. 7 seed - Shanna Morris (1st at 101, NE qualifier) – 8th in 2020 NCWWC (116)
No. 8 seed - Trinity Oredina (2nd at 101, NE qualifier) – 5th in 2020 NCWWC (101)
Brooke Richards (3rd at 109, NE qualifier)
No. 2 seed - Sugey Ceja (1st at 116, NE qualifier) – 2nd in 2020 NCWWC (109)
No. 7 seed - Trinity Berry (1st at 123, NE qualifier)
No. 8 seed - Stephanie Mondragon (2nd at 123, NE qualifier)
No. 8 seed - Eunique Davis (2nd at 130, NE qualifier) – 8th in 2020 NCWWC (130)
Paige Lenhardt (4th at 136, NE qualifier)
Nia Miranda (2nd at 143, NE qualifier)
Aliya Martin (4th at 143, NE qualifier)
No. 6 seed - Marta Ojeda (1st at 155, NE qualifier)
No. 7 seed - Taylor Hites (2nd at 155, NE qualifier) – 7th in 2020 NCWWC (155)
Morgan Davidson (2nd at 170, NE qualifier)
No. 4 seed - Jessie Lee (1st at 191, NE qualifier) – 5th in 2020 NCWWC (191)

No. 6 North Central (13)
Kate Cacho (2nd at 101, NW qualifier)
Angelina Graff (2nd at 109, NW qualifier)
Sarah Martinez (2nd at 116, NW qualifier)
Elizah Leonard (4th at 116, NW qualifier)
No. 3 seed - Asia Nguyen-Smith (1st at 123, NW qualifier) – 5th in 2020 NCWWC (123)
Mateah Roehl (2nd at 123, NW qualifier)
No. 4 seed - Amanda Martinez (2nd at 130, NW qualifier) – 2nd in 2020 NCWWC (130)
No 8 seed - Abigail Denney (3rd at 136, NW qualifier)
Raena Schledwitz (4th at 143, NW qualifier)
No. 8 seed - Malea Palahniuk (2nd at 155, NW qualifier) – 8th in 2020 NCWWC (155)
No. 1 seed - Yelena Makoyed (1st at 170, NW qualifier) – 2nd in 2020 NCWWC (170)
Hana Richter (4th at 170, NW qualifier)
Amber Latta (3rd at 191, NW qualifier)

No. 5 Augsburg (13)
Hannah Michael (3rd at 101, NW qualifier)
No. 1 seed - Emily Shilson (1st at 109, NW qualifier) – 2020 NCWWC champion (109)
No. 3 seed - Gabby Skidmore (1st at 130, NW qualifier) – 6th in 2020 NCWWC (130)
Sierra Brown Ton (3rd at 130, NW qualifier)
No. 6 seed - Autumn Flanigan (1st at 136, NW qualifier)
No. 7 seed - Savannah Vold (2nd at 136, NW qualifier)
No. 6 seed - Kya Rybachek (1st at 143, NW qualifier)
Kahlea Jolly (2nd at 143, NW qualifier)
No. 3 seed - Marlynne Deede (1st at 155, NW qualifier) – 6th in 2020 NCWWC (155)
Destynie Pacheco (4th at 155, NW qualifier)
No. 7 seed - Faith Tuttle (2nd at 170, NW qualifier)
Madison Horn (3rd at 170, NW qualifier)
No. 8 seed - Melissa Jacobs (1st at 191, NW qualifier)

No. 4 Colorado Mesa (12)
No. 5 seed - Jennesis Martinez (3rd at 101, SW qualifier) – 3rd in 2020 NCWWC (101)
No. 8 seed - Anja Tschohl (3rd at 116, SW qualifier) – 7th in 2020 NCWWC (116)
No. 2 seed - Marissa Gallegos (2nd at 123, SW qualifier) – 3rd in 2020 NCWWC (123)
Elizabeth Miller (3rd at 123, SW qualifier)
Nanen Aguilar (2nd at 130, SW qualifier)
Ja`Mae Barnes (4th at 130, SW qualifier)
No. 3 seed - Dalia Garibay (2nd at 136, SW qualifier) – 2nd in 2020 NCWWC (136)
No. 7 seed - Kaylee Lacy (2nd at 143, SW qualifier) – 8th in 2020 NCWWC (143)
No. 5 seed - Zoe Gress (2nd at 155, SW qualifier)
No. 3 seed - Tristan Kelly (2nd at 150, SW qualifier)
No. 5 seed - Caylee Collins (3rd at 170, SW qualifier)
No. 6 seed - Isabeau Schalack (3rd at 191, SW qualifier)

No. 9 Adrian (12)
Modestie Hitchcock (3rd at 101, NE qualifier)
No. 5 seed - Emily Mendez (1st at 109, NE qualifier)
Angela LoRusso (2nd at 116, NE qualifier)
Jaryn Strong (4th at 123, NE qualifier)
Mackenzie Tayerle (4th at 130, NE qualifier)
Elisa Cox (1st at 136, NE qualifier)
Shawna Oesterling (3rd at 136, NE qualifier)
No. 5 seed - Zoe Nowicki (1st at 143, NE qualifier) – 5th in 2020 NCWWC (136)
Megan Vondrasek (3rd at 143, NE qualifier)
Maggie Elliott (4th at 155, NE qualifier)
No. 8 seed - Jasmine Hale (1st at 170, NE qualifier)
Sienna Lejeune (3rd at 170, NE qualifier)

No. 3 Emmanuel (9)
No. 4 seed - Angelina Gomez (2nd at 101, SE qualifier)
No. 5 seed - Kasey Baynon (2nd at 116, SE Regional)
Alexandra Herle (3rd at 123, SE qualifier)
No. 5 seed - Emily Se (2nd at 130, SE qualifier) – 3rd in 2020 NCWWC (116)
No. 4 seed - Julia Padilla (2nd at 136, SE qualifier) – 6th in 2020 NCWWC (136)
No. 3 seed - Felicity Bryant (2nd at 143, SE qualifier)
No. 1 seed - Kayla Marano (1st at 155, SE qualifier)
No. 6 seed - Heaven Byrd (1st at 170, SE qualifier)
No. 3 seed - Cristina Santoyo (2nd at 191, SE qualifier) – 4th in 2020 NCWWC (191)

No. 10 Gannon (8)
Leila Garrido (4th at 101, NE qualifier)
Nikoly Dos Santos (3rd at 116, NE qualifier)
Caleeann Blarr (3rd at 123, NE qualifier)
No. 7 seed - Lana Perez (1st at 130, NE qualifier)
Lindsey Beans-Polk (2nd at 136, NE qualifier)
Annabelle Helm (3rd at 155, NE qualifier) – 5th in 2020 NCWWC (155)
Danielle Floor (4th at 170, NE qualifier)
No. 7 seed - Amara Devericks (2nd at 191, NE qualifier)

No. 12 (tie) Wisconsin-Stevens Point (7)
No. 6 seed - Brooke Thurber (1st at 101, NW qualifier) – 3rd in 2020 NCWWC (109)
Kelly Enriquez (4th at 109, NW qualifier)
Abby Nelson (1st at 116, NW qualifier)
Morgan Bethea (4th at 123, NW qualifier)
Megan Struble (4th at 136, NW qualifier) – 8tht in 2020 NCWWC (136)
Savannah Hisel (3rd at 143, NW qualifier)
Tabitha Breitrick (2nd at 191, NW qualifier)

No. 12 (tie) Lindenwood (7)
No. 6 seed - Valeriia Mamleeva (2nd at 109, SW qualifier) – 5th in 2020 NCWWC (116)
Emalie Olson (4th at 123, SW qualifier)
Jasmine Ward (3rd at 130, SW qualifier)
Natalie Cregger (4th at 136, SW qualifier)
Julianna Moreno (3rd at 155, SW qualifier) – 7th in NCWWC for MacMurray (143)
Mia Dow (4th at 155, SW qualifier) – 7th in 2020 NCWWC for MacMurray (136)
Valerie Gaytan (4th at 170, SW qualifier)

No. 8 Presbyterian (6)
Sam Miller (3rd at 101, SE qualifier)
No. 4 seed - Cassy Lopez (2nd at 109, SE qualifier)
No. 3 seed - Jaslyn Gallegos (1st at 116, SE qualifier) – 4th in 2020 NCWWC (116)
Jorie Richardson (3rd at 136, SE qualifier)
Lillian Humphries (4th at 136, SE qualifier)
No. 4 seed - Morgan Norris (3rd at 143, SE qualifier) – 5th in 2020 NCWWC (143)

Iowa Wesleyan (4)
Alaina Sunlin (3rd at 109, NW qualifier)
Ashden Welty (3rd at 116, NW qualifier)
Clara Padua-Cruz (3rd at 155, NW qualifier)
Kassandra Ayard (4th at 191, NW qualifier)

No. 12 (tie) Limestone (4)
No. 6 seed - Gabriela Ramos Diaz (4th at 123, SE qualifier)
Leidaly Rivera (4th at 130, SE qualifier)
Caitlyn Gilmore (3rd at 155, SE qualifier)
Destiny Baltierra (4th at 191, SE qualifier)

Ferrum (4)
Katerina Pendergrass (4th at 109, SE qualifier)
Destiny Benjamin (4th at 143, SE qualifier)
Morganne Flinkstrom (3rd at 170, SE qualifier)
Leya Deickman (3rd at 191, SE qualifier)

No. 15 New Jersey City (3)
No. 8 seed - Johnae Drumright (2nd at 109, NE qualifier)
Naomi Henry (3rd at 130, NE qualifier)
Sandra Guerrero (3rd at 191, NE qualifier)

Lakeland (2)
Maddie Ruckdashel (3rd at 123, NW qualifier) – 6th in 2020 NCWWC (116)
Kate Gunderson (4th at 130, NW qualifier)

Schreiner (2)
No. 7 seed - Alina Kinsey (2nd at 116, SW qualifier)
No. 8 seed - Jordan Johnston (3rd at 143, SW qualifier)

Westminster (1)
Taylor Reed (4th at 143, SW qualifier)

Fontebonne (1)
Kai Poux (4th at 191, SW qualifier)

Trine (1)
Riley Morrison (4th at 109, NE qualifier)

Delaware Valley (1)
Erin Murray (4th at 191, NE qualifier)

2020 NCWWC results
At Adrian, Mich.

101 pounds
1st - Pauline Granados (McKendree University) Fr. dec. Iesha Washington (Emmanuel College) Sr., 5-1
3rd - Jennesis Martinez (Colorado Mesa University) Fr. dec. Jaclyn McNichols (King University) So., 2-1
5th - Trinity Oredina (Tiffin University) So. tech. fall Alisha Elizalde (Ferrum College) Sr., 13-2, 5:37
7th - Alice Todryk (UW-Stevens Point) Fr. tech. fall Johnvanique Porter (MacMurray College) Fr. 10-0, 1:42

109
1st - Emily Shilson (Augsburg University) Fr. pin Sugey Ceja (Tiffin University) Fr., 0:43
3rd - Brooke Thurber (UW-Stevens Point) Jr. over Tatyanna Ortiz (East Stroudsburg University) 4-2, Fr. (TF-1.5 0:55 (10-0))
5th - Aleeah Gould (King University) Jr. dec. Ciara McCrae (Simon Fraser University) Jr., 12-6
7th - Natalie Reyna (McKendree University) 12-8, So. over Allicia Mahoe (Schreiner University) 12-8, Fr. (TF-1.5 5:31 (10-0))

116
1st - Karla Godinez Gonzalez (Simon Fraser University) Jr. dec. Felicity Taylor (McKendree University) So., 7-0
3rd - Emily Se (Emmanuel College) Fr. pin Jaslynn Gallegos (Presbyterian College) Fr., 3:18
5th - Valerilla Mamleeva (Lindenwood University) So. pin Maddie Ruckdashel (Lakeland University) So., 3:48
7th - Anja Tschohl (Colorado Mesa University) Fr. tech. fall Shanna Morris (Tiffin University) So. , 10-0, 0:57

123
1st Place Match
Alexandra Hedrick (Simon Fraser University) Jr. pin Cheyenne Sisenstein (King University) So., 4:53
3rd - Marissa Gallegos (Colorado Mesa University) So. tech. fall Phoenix Dubose (King University) Fr., 14-2, 4:48
5th - Asia Nguyen-Smith (North Central College) Fr. dec. Vayle Baker (Augsburg University) Fr., 8-2
7th - Theresa Rankin (McKendree University) Jr. inj. dft. Payton Stroud (McKendree University) Fr., 0:00

130
1st - Alexia Ward (McKendree University) Sr. dec. Amanda Martinez (North Central College) Jr., 4-2
3rd - Nicole Depa (Simon Fraser University) Sr. tech. fall Cindy Zepeda (Colorado Mesa University) Fr., 12-2, 4:47
5th - Allison Petix (King University) Jr. dec. Gabby Skidmore (Augsburg University) Fr., 8-2
7th - Alyssa Aceval (King University) So. dec. Eunique Davis (Tiffin University) So., 8-6

136
1st - Emma Bruntil (McKendree University) Fr. tech. fall Dalia Garibay (Colorado Mesa University) Fr., 10-0, 3:31
3rd - Lauren Mason (Simon Fraser University) Jr. dec. Ana Luciano (King University) So., 6-2
5th - Zoe Nowicki (Adrian College) So. pin Julia Padilla (Emmanuel College) So., 5:33
7th - Mia Dow (MacMurray College) Jr. dec. Megan Struble (UW-Stevens Point) Fr., 6-0

143
1st - Ana Godinez Gonzalez (Simon Fraser University) Jr. tech. fall Alara Boyd (McKendree University) Fr., 10-0, 4:06
3rd - Ashlynn Ortega (King University) So. dec. Sara Brinkac (Simon Fraser University) So., 7-0
5th - Morgan Norris (Presbyterian College) Fr. dec. Alma Mendoza (Colorado Mesa University) So., 5-3
7th - Julianna Moreno (MacMurray College) Fr. pin Kaylee Lacy (Colorado Mesa University) So., 3:15

155
1st - Alexandria Glaude (McKendree University) 8-1, RS Sr. over Jayden Laurent (Lakeland University), So., 3-1
3rd - Alyvia Fiske (Simon Fraser University) Jr. dec. Joye Levendusky (McKendree University) So., 5-0
5th - Annabelle Helm (Gannon University) Fr. pin Marlynne Deede (Augsburg University) Fr., 2:00
7th - Taylor Hites (Tiffin University) So. dec. Malea Palahniuk (North Central College) Fr., 8-0

170
1st - Jessika Rottier (University Of Wisconsin At Stevens Point) 13-2, RS Jr. over Yelena Makoyed (North Central College) 26-3, Fr. (TF-1.5 2:40 (11-0))
3rd - Emily Cue (Simon Fraser University) So. tech. fall Nia Crosdale (King University) So., 14-1, 3:13
5th - Korinahe Bullock (McKendree University) Jr. inj. dft. Andrea Sennett (McKendree University) Jr., 0:00
7th - Rebekah Trudel (Simon Fraser University) Jr. over Mikayla Mata (Schreiner University) 14-10, Fr. (TF-1.5 1:16 (10-0))

191
1st - Sydnee Kimber (McKendree University) 14-1, So. over Tavi Heidelberg (King University) 2-1, Fr. (TF-1.5 2:23 (10-0))
3rd - Serena Woldring (Simon Fraser University) So. tech. fall Cristina Santoyo (Emmanuel College) Fr., 11-0, 4:05
5th - Jessie Lee (Tiffin University) Jr. pin Kendall McGarity (Gannon University) Fr., 2:54
7th - Kaylee Seabolt (Emmanuel College) So. pin Angelina Kirkpatrick (North Central College) Fr., 0:13

2020 Team Standings
1 McKendree University, 191.0
2 Simon Fraser University, 178.5
3 King University, 123.0
4 Colorado Mesa University, 92.5
5 Emmanuel College, 86.0
6 North Central College, 70.0
7 Tiffin University, 69.0
8 University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point, 68.0
9 Augsburg University, 65.0
10 Presbyterian College, 52.0
11 Gannon University, 34.5
12 Lakeland University, 30.5
13 Adrian College, 28.0
14 Lindenwood University, 25.0
15 MacMurray College, 24.0
16 Ferrum College, 23.0
17 East Stroudsburg University, 22.0
18 Schreiner University, 17.0
19 Limestone College, 8.5

NCWWC preview: McKendree women heavily favored to repeat as champion among NCAA schools at Tiffin, March 6

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