It wasn't easy, but the University of Iowa won the 2024 National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships during its inaugural year.

North Central, a Division III team from Naperville, Illinois, almost beat one of the world's most legendary college wrestling programs in a team battle for the ages.

The Cardinals had a 17.5-point lead entering the finals, but Iowa had nine finalists compared to North Central's three, with two matches being Hawkeye vs. Hawkeye.

New Jersey City's Sandy Guerrero secured a "win" for North Central by pinning Iowa's Jaycee Foeller in the first period.

Then Iowa started to roll. 

101: Emilie Gonzelez defeated teammate Sterling Dias, 4-0. 

109: Ava Bayless won a war of attrition over Kaelani Shufeldt of Lock Haven, 2-1.

116: Spillville, Iowa, native Felicity Taylor bested teammate Brianna Gonzalez, 9-2, to go out on top during her senior campaign.

North Central got one back at 123 when Amani Jones defeated King’s Virginia Foard, but Jones’s teammate, Yele Aycock, lost in the 136-pound finals.

Iowa concluded the tournament with a fall from Resse Larremendy at 143 and a 9-3 decision by returning champion Marlynne Deede at 155.

The thrilling finale was everything that fans had hoped for. It featured Kylie Welker from Iowa and Yelena Makoyed from North Central — the two best college wrestlers in the country representing their respective teams. The final match was the deciding factor for the team championship.

Makoyed was the returning three-time NCWWC champion at 170 pounds who used her COVID year. Welker is a freshman phenom who reached the 2020 Olympic Trials final as a teenager. Both have qualified for the final Olympic Trials in April. 

The Hawkeye star took command from the start, imposing her will and dominating every position. Welker eventually secured an 11-0 tech, which gave Iowa the razor-thin victory over North Central, 204 to 198. 

“Even though this an individual sport, this is a team sport,” Welker said immediately following her win. “I wouldn’t be able to do it without those coaches, without those teammates. I’m flooded with emotions right now. I couldn’t be more grateful.” 

Four-For-Four

McKendree’s Cam Guerin made history by winning her fourth NCWWC title in four years. The Bearcat secured a 1-1 win over King’s Victoria Baez-Dilone — the same opponent who defeated her 2-2 at the National Duals in January. 

“It’s my fourth title but every year I look at it like I’m winning for the first time,” Guerin said. “I feel incredible. My program is incredible. My coaches (are incredible) so I feel amazing.”

Top Ten Team Scores
Iowa (D1) — 204
North Central (D3) — 198
King (D2) — 163
McKendree (D2) — 106
Colorado Mesa (D2) — 68.5
Sacred Heart (D1) — 61
Lock Haven (D2) — 50.5
Presbyterian (D1) — 50.5
Mount Olive (D2) — 39.5
Wisconsin Stevens Point — 38

101: Emilie Gonzalez (Iowa) won by decision over Sterling Dias (Iowa) (Dec 4-0)

109: Ava Bayless (Iowa) won by decision over Kaelani Shufeldt (Lock Haven University) (Dec 2-1)

116: Felicity Taylor (Iowa) won by decision over Brianna Gonzalez (Iowa) (Dec 9-2)

123: Amani Jones (North Central (IL)) won by decision over Virginia Foard (King University) (Dec 3-1)

130: Cameron Guerin (McKendree University) won by decision over Maria Victoria Baez Dilone (King University) (Dec 2-1)

136: Claire DiCugno (King University) won by tech fall over Yele Aycock (North Central (IL)) (TF 10-0)

143: Reese Larramendy (Iowa) won by fall over Aine Drury (King University) (Fall 4:10)

155: Marlynne Deede (Iowa) won by decision over Cheyenne Bowman (King University) (Dec 9-3)

170: Kylie Welker (Iowa) won by tech fall over Yelena Makoyed (North Central (IL)) (TF 11-0)

191: Sandra Guerrero (New Jersey City University) won by fall over Jaycee Foeller (Iowa) (Fall 2:22)