Iowa sent its full line-up to watch National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, earlier this year. The Hawkeyes made the 15-minute drive north to scout the competition for their inaugural season. 

North Central — a Division III program located in Naperville, Illinois — put on quite a show at the Alliant Energy PowerHouse. The Cardinals had 15 All-Americans, six finalists, and three champions, which was 35 points better than runner-up King University. 

It was a powerhouse performance for a school that does not offer athletic scholarships. 

“We want to win national titles every single year,” North Central coach Joe Norton said following his team’s dominant victory. “We want to win all 10 weight classes every single year. That’s the goal. I don’t care what division we are or what divisions we’re competing against, whoever steps on the line across from us, we want to beat them.”

Battle Of The Birds

The national championship mountain just got steeper when the Hawkeyes added women’s wrestling. Iowa is the overwhelming favorite despite zero sanctioned competitions. 

The National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships includes NCAA teams from all divisions (I, II, and III). There are currently four D1 women’s wrestling programs (Iowa, Lindenwood, Presbyterian, and Sacred Heart) and Iowa is the only Power Five school. 

Clarissa Chun’s team flexed its muscles during opens last season, including a staggering performance at the prestigious Missouri Valley Open where seven future Hawkeyes entered unattached and five won titles. The other two finished second, losing tight matches to teammates. Iowa-Unattached combined for a 36-2 overall record.

“We want to beat them,” Norton said. “We’re going to tell our girls that we can hang with them. Our whole team is back minus Yelena unless I can squeeze a COVID year out of her. I think the team we have right now can compete with their team. 

“Our girls don’t care who they are. Our girls expect to win every time they step foot on the mat. We expect to go with Iowa. We know how good they are. They have a good coach and they have a great administration that supports wrestling, but our goal is to go toe-to-toe with them and try to beat them.” 

Will Yelena Return For A Final Season?

North Central has a squad that could contend next season. The Cardinals return 19 All-Americans (not a misprint) and two national champions. 

Can North Central win the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships? It’s a long shot, but the team’s depth could play a factor. As it stands today, Norton’s team has about a five percent chance of winning the title. 

That could move to 25 percent with the addition of one wrestler: Yelena Makoyed. 

Makoyed is the reigning three-time NCWWC champion at 170 pounds and the 2023 USA Wrestling Women’s College Wrestler of the Year. There is talk that she might return for the second semester, which would set up the showdown every wrestling fan wants: Yelena Makoyed vs Kylie Welker. 

Iowa made a statement by securing Welker as its first commitment. The Franksville, Wisconsin, native reached the 76 kg finals of the 2021 Olympic Trials and is currently on the U.S. National team. The two split matches during the domestic freestyle season but Welker dominated in their most recent meeting. 

This is a national finals match that would propel women’s wrestling forward. And, if the NCWWC is smart, it will be the last match of the tournament (if Makoyed returns). 

The drama will be heightened if Iowa and North Central are in a tight team race. Norton understands that the task is tall, but his team has a sliver of a chance to pull off the upset. 

A Division III school defeating a Power Five school in Iowa would be one for the ages. 

North Central’s 19 returning All-Americans

101 pounds
Maddie Avilla, Sophomore
2023 - NCWWC Champ at 101

109 pounds
Sydney Petzinger, Junior
2023 - NCWWC 4th at 109
2022 - NCWWC 2nd at 109

Kendra Ryan, Junior
2023 - NCWWC 5th at 109
2022 - NCWWC 6th at 116

Angelina Graff, Senior
2022 - NCWWC 8th at 109

116 pounds
Jaslynn Gallegos, Senior
2023 - NCWWC Champ at 116
2022 - NCWWC 4th at 116
2021 - NCWWC 3rd at 116
2020 - NCWWC 3rd at 116 and WCWA Champ at 116

123 pounds
Amani Jones, Junior
2023 - NCWWC 2nd at 123
2022 - NCWWC 5th at 123

Asia Nguyen Smith, Senior
2022 - NCWWC 7th at 123
2021 - NCWWC 3rd at 123
2020 - NCWWC 5th at 123

130 pounds
Sara Sterner, Sophomore
2023 - NCWWC 5th at 130

Salmone Walker, Senior
2023 - NCWWC 8th at 136

136 pounds
Yele Aycock, Junior
2023 - NCWWC 2nd at 136

143 pounds
Kendall Bostelman, Sophomore
2023 - NCWWC 6th at 143

Niya Gaines, Senior
2022 - NCWWC 2nd at 130

Sara Sulejmani, Junior
2022 - NCWWC 7th at 136

Riley Aamold, Junior
2022 - NCWWC 6th at 143

155 pounds
Tiera Jimerson, Junior
2023 - 7th at 155
2022 - 5th at 155

London Houston, Junior
2023 - NCWWC 3rd at 143

170 pounds
Brittyn Corbishley, Junior
2023 - NCWWC 3rd at 191
2022 - NAIA 4th at 170

Tatum Heikkila, Junior
2022 - NCWWC 7th at 170

191 pounds
Traeh Haynes, Junior
2023 - NCWWC 2nd at 191