NCWWC Preview and Predictions: 101, 170, 191
The very first exclusive NCAA women’s wrestling postseason event is happening in Adrian Michigan this weekend. HUGE #ThankYou to the Women’s Collegiate Wrestling Coalition (WCWC) and all of the working groups’ initiatives to bring the sport to full NCAA championship status.
The Cliff Keen National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships begin Friday, March 6th at 9am CT. Wrestling will be streamed live, for free, on Trackwrestling.
NWCA Tournament Team Rankings (2.17):
1. Simon Fraser 2. McKendree 3. King 4. Colorado Mesa 5. Emmanuel
Every single match and bonus point will matter. This is part 1 of a 3 part preview.
101 Pounds
Rankings: 1. Jaclyn McNichols (King) 2. Pauline Granados (McKendree) 3. Jenessis Martinez (Colorado Mesa)
Predictions: 1. Jaclyn McNichols (King) 2. Pauline Granados (McKendree) 3. Jenessis Martinez (Colorado Mesa)
#1 ranked Jaclyn McNichols (King) placed 3rd at MoVal with a 3-1 win over #2 Pauline Granados (Mckendree). McNichols beat Martinez 5-0 during NWCA National Duals and again 2-1 in the finals at the Bearcat Open. McNichols was 8th at the 2019 WCWAs.
The only ranked upper classman at 101 pounds is #4 Iesha Washington (Emmanuel). The senior from Emmanuel placed 5th at the 2018 WCWA national tournament.
170 Pounds
Rankings: 1. Korinahe Bullock (McKendree) 2. Yelena Makoyed (North Central) 3. Andrea Sennett (McKendree)
Predictions: 1. Yelena Makoyed (North Central) 2. Jessika Rottier (UW-Stevens Point) 3. Korinahe Bullock (McKendree)
170 pounds is going to be one of the most in-the-air weights of the tournament, and could have significant implications on the overall team race.
#1 ranked Korinahe Bullock (McKendree) recently won the Bearcat Open, and placed 8th at the 2019 Senior Nationals. She’s a 2 x WCWA All American with a 6th place finish in 2019, 8th in 2018. Bullock beat Makoyed at MoVal (6-3) and Rottier at the Bearcat Open (5-1).
Freshman phenom Yelena Makoyed represents the first-year program at North Central College, and her home state, in Illinois. She handily defeated Jessika Rottier at a dual vs UW-Stevens Point mid-February. Earlier in the season she bested Rottier first round at MoVal (7-5), and won by criteria (6-6) over Alyvia Fiske (SFU) at Senior Nationals. Makoyed placed 5th at Senior Nationals, taking out Bullock (McKendree) and losing by just a point to 2019 Senior National Champion and #1 NAIA ranked Precious Bell (Menlo).
#4 ranked Jessika Rottier is back on the mats this semester as part of the startup program at UW-Stevens Point. She’s been off the college scene since claiming an individual WCWA title for the University of the Cumberlands in 2017. Rottier recently placed 4th at the 2019 Senior Nationals, where she qualified for the OTT Qualifiers in April. Rottier has victories over #4 Sennett (McKendree) and Hannah Gladden (Emmanuel).
#3 Andrea Sennett and Rottier are 1-1 with head-to-head pins this season. Sennett placed 7th at MoVal and 7th at Senior Nationals. She also won the NCC Open, but it was an inj. default to Makoyed, so we don’t know how to two will match up if they meet this weekend. Sennett has to be factored into this mix.
170 pounds is going to come down to who shows up with the most grit, and it should definitely be one to watch.
191 Pounds
Rankings: Sydnee Kimber (McKendree) 2. Emily Cue (Simin Fraser) 3. Tavi Heidelberg (King)
Predictions: Sydnee Kimber (McKendree) 2. Emily Cue (Simon Fraser) 3. Tavi Heidelberg (King)
All of the ranked wrestlers at 191 are underclassman—freshman and sophomores. McKendree sophomore Sydnee Kimber outscored #2 Emily Cue 4-1 in the finals at the Bearcat Open, and 3-1 in their match-up during National Duals. Kimber won the North Central Open and placed 2nd at MoVal.
King’s #3 ranked Tavi Heidelberg-Tilotson is a 2 x CIF state champion. #4 Christina Santoyo is a 2 x CIF finalist for Emmanuel. Tavi recently secured a dominant 11-0 tech over Santoyo during a dual vs Emmanuel.
Because of how close the matches between Kimber and Cue have been, this weight will also have implications on the team scores. Each bonus point these wrestlers might collect will matter.
Tournament Information
Participating Teams
Adrian College, Augsburg University, Colorado Mesa University, East Stroudsburg University, Emmanuel College, Ferrum College, Fontbonne University, Gannon University, King University, Lakeland University, Limestone College, Lindenwood University, Lock Haven University, MacMurray College, McKendree University, North Central College, Pacific University, Presbyterian College, Schreiner University, Simon Fraser University, Tiffin University, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Westminster College
Teams can wrestle up to 15 athletes. 1 wrestler per weight can score team points, no more than two athletes can be entered at a weight, and teammates at the same weight can only score advancement points against each other. Weights are placed through top 8.
Team Points
Advancement Points: (+1) championship side; (+0.5) consolation side; points awarded for bye’s if the wrestler wins following round
Bonus Points: (+2) Fall, DQ, FF, DF; (+1.5) tech falls
Placement Points: (+16) 1st; (+12) 2nd; (+10) 3rd; (+9) 4th; (+7) 5th; (+6) 6th; (+4) 7th; (+3) 8th
This article has been updated: at 170 pounds the names Fiske and Bullock were switch for Makoyed’s criteria win at Senior Nationals.
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