This Week in Women's Collegiate Wrestling (1/29/2025)
There was a lot to cover across collegiate women’s wrestling this week. Here are some of the highlights:
Warrior Open highlights NAIA Talent
The Warrior Open is a bright spot for amazing competition each year in the women’s collegiate calendar with around 40 teams in attendance, and this year was no different. #1 Life University flexed some depth in their lineup and scored the top number of team points. All-American Sarah Savidge tore through the 131 lbs bracket in the Maximus division, blazing her way to the finals with four tech falls and capping things off with another 11-0 tech against #6 William Penn’s Devin Patton in the finals. Another champ for the Running Eagles was Anetra Witherspoon at 180 lbs in the pancake division.
Life already has the #1 and #7 ranked 180 lb wrestlers, so seeing a dominant performance from freshman Witherspoon just speaks to the depth there for this team. A few notable individual wins were #7 Maggie Graham who had a big win in the third place match in the Maximus division over #2 (at 207 lbs) Kelani Corbett of #10 Missouri Valley. There was also a potential 138 lbs NAIA Championship finals preview in this tournament’s third-place match with #1 Zaynah McBryde of Life getting a 10-0 tech fall over #2 Waipuilani Estrella-Beauchamp of #5 Providence.
#6 William Penn finished within 11 team points of Life led by recent transfers freshman Christianah Ogunsanya and Esther Kolawole. Both wrestlers competed for Nigeria in the Paris Olympics and started their journey as Statesmen with titles at 117 lbs and 138 lbs respectively. Both wrestlers faced top competition with Ogunsanya walking away with 4 tech falls including one against her teammate #2 Zao Estrada and All-American Kaelani Shufeldt (unattached.) Kolawole also had 4 tech falls on the day including over Waipuilani Estrella-Beauchamp. With these two Olympians added and the additions of both National Champ Caitlyn Davis and All-American America Lopez, William Penn continues to be a looming threat.
A number of other NAIA schools also brought home championship wins with #4 Katie Gomez of #3 Cumberlands winning at 124 lbs, #5 Riley Dempewolf of host school #7 Indiana Tech at 207 lbs, #9 Josette Partney of RV Missouri Baptist at 160 lbs, and #2 Emma Walker of #9 Campbellsville winning at 145 lbs.
See full results and brackets here.
Iowa Goes Undefeated in Duals for Two Consecutive Seasons
The Iowa Hawkeyes ended their 2025 season of dual competition at the Journeyman Duals over the weekend, going 4-0 to make their dual record since the 2023-24 season 35-0. After defeating #12 Lock Haven, #15 Sacred Heart, and #19 Elmira, the Hawkeyes were matched up with a tough #6 Presbyterian team. The 27-15 win was Iowa’s closest margin of victory this season with a 12-point differential between this opponent. This is even with the Hawkeyes forfeiting the 160lb weight class.
After holding Presbyterian scoreless after the first the matches, #7 Cali Long for Iowa got a tech fall in the first-ranked match of the dual over #5 Alyssa Mahan. Mahan scored two in the loss, giving her team their first dual point. #10 Emily Frost kept things running for the Hawkeyes at 131 lbs, but Presbyterian answered back at 138 lbs with their own #5 Carina Giangeruso over #6 Cadence Diduch in a strong 4-1 decision. Presbyterian took the next two with #10 Paige Wehrmeister getting a tech fall over Ella Schmit and then the aforementioned forfeit win for Maddie Kubicki at 160 lbs. However, Iowa got back on track winning the final two bouts via tech fall and decision.
It cannot be understated how deep the talent on this squad is, especially in a dual tournament. These four wins at Journeyman did not feature some of Iowa’s top-ranked competitors. Iowa will once again have some tough calls to make along with teams like King, North Central, etc. who have way more than the maximum number of talented and ranked wrestlers who can be sent to regionals and therefore qualify for Nationals.
Grand Valley State Makes a Statement at the Bearcat Duals
#4 Grand Valley State continues to impress in their inaugural season with a dominant performance at the Bearcat Duals with wins over #23 William Jewell, #8 Lindenwood, Quincy, and host school #5 McKendree.
There was a lot of anticipation going into the dual between the Lakers and Bearcats and this was the closest win for GVSU, however, three early wins helped put it away. After both teams forfeited at 103 lbs, #1 Sage Mortimer gets the pin over Samantha Miller to put five on the board. Teammates Ana Malovich and #4 Aspen Blasko follow suit with pins over their McKendree opponents as well. #2 Alexandra Szkotnicki gets one back for the Bearcats at 131 with a first-period pin over Hannah Palise. Next, was a battle at 138 between #2 Katie Lange and Haylie Jaffe. The first period was all Lange going 7-0 into the break, but in the second the two exchanged takedowns and then two more points went to Jaffe. However, with the dominant start to the match, Lange hung on to the 9-4 lead for another win for the Lakers. The next two matches were big for McKendree with a 10-0 tech fall for #6 Savannah Gomez over Emily Medford, followed by a pin at the 1:30 mark for Ruby Rios over Elleni Johnson to bring the score to a much closer 18-15 deficit for the Bearcats. However, Grand Valley pulled away at 180 lbs with a 43-second fall from #2 Sabrina Nauss over Lydia Krauss and then a forfeit win for Aaliyah Grandberry at 207.
Upcoming events for next week
Please note that this is not a comprehensive list of all collegiate women’s competitions.
Wednesday, January 29
King vs Lincoln Memorial
Friday, January 31
Lehigh vs Columbia (First Women’s Wrestling Dual Meet at Lehigh)
William Penn vs Doane
Saturday, February 1
Bobcat Open
Grand View Open
RMAC Championships
Blue Raider Open
Sunday, February 2
Menlo Invitational
Lock Haven Tri-Match (Ursinus and Gannon)
