National Tournament Time

All NCAA-affiliated teams completed their regional qualifying process and will compete at the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships in Adrian, Michigan, on March 4-5. Each bracket features 20 participants from varying schools, although some programs qualified more than one wrestler per weight. Only one wrestler per team scores points. McKendree is the reigning two-time national team champion.

NAIA Conference Championships

Four of the remaining five NAIA conferences completed their championships over the weekend. Unlike NCAA programs, conference tournaments are not used as qualifying events for the national championships. Each team can send 12 wrestlers to the NAIA Invitational on March 11-12 in Jamestown, North Dakota. A team may send a maximum of two wrestlers per weight. 

Below is a recap with links to results from each conference. 

KCAC Conference

Jamestown won its fourth consecutive Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference championships thanks to six individual champions and 12 place winners. Hastings finished second and Midland was third. 

Team Standings
1. University of Jamestown, 180.0
2. Hastings, 164.5
3. Midland University, 163.0
4. York College, 139.0
5. Ottawa University, 99.0
6. University of St Mary, 96.0
7. Avila, 70.5
8. Friends University, 25.0

Sooner Athletic Conference

Texas Wesleyan outpaced Wayland Baptist 151.5-145 to take the team title. The Rams had four individual champions while the Pioneers had three. 

Team Standings
1. Texas Wesleyan University, 151.5
2. Wayland Baptist University, 145.0
3. Oklahoma City University, 106.5
4. Lyon College, 105.0
5. Missouri Baptist University, 85.5
6. Central Christian College, 29.0

Heart of America Conference

Grand View blitzed the field by crowning five individual champions and scoring 136.5 points, which was 55 better than runner-up Missouri Valley. The Vikings had 10 wrestlers place in the top three, including a teammate vs teammate battle in the 143-pound finals.

Team Scores
1. Grand View, 136.5
2. Missouri Valley College, 81.5
3. Iowa Wesleyan, 63.5
4. William Penn, 54.5
5. Baker University, 52.5
6. Central Methodist University, 24.0
7. Waldorf University, 2.5

Cascade Conference

Menlo took home the team title with four individual champions to outpace Southern Oregon. Eastern Oregon placed fourth but won three individual titles. 

Team Standings
1. Menlo College, 157.5
2. Southern Oregon, 148.0
3. University of Providence, 111.5
4. Eastern Oregon University, 106.0
5. Corban, 34.0
6. Simpson University, 18.0
7. Life Pacific, 7.5

Yasar Dogu

Nine U.S. women competed at the Yasar Dogu — a United World Wrestling ranking tournament in Istanbul, Turkey — and no weight class had more star power than 65 kilograms. This has become the domestic weight class to watch as Americans took gold, silver, and bronze at the tournament. 

Forrest Molinari, a 2021 World bronze medalist, took the title with a 7-4 win over 2018 World bronze medalist Mallory Velte. Molinari pinned Emma Bruntil in the quarterfinals and Bruntil came back to earn bronze. Bruntil won her two previous international tournaments. 

“Winning the Yasar Dogu International Ranking Event for the second time was great and all, but it’s just a stepping stone to what I really want: to prove I’m the best in the world and to have that belt around my waist,” Molinari said. “That’s going to be my answer every time until I get it done. And I will.

“I’ve been working on techniques that I haven’t used in a long time but need to come back to sharpen up in order to elevate my wrestling to the next level. I am never satisfied with my work. Day-to-day, I’m focused on constant evolution and execution in competition. Come September, I’ll be ready. Sixty-five kilograms is mine.” 

World champion Jacarra Winchester won a thrilling final to take the 55-kilogram title. Winchester was up 3-0 late in the match when she was thrown for four, but scored four points of her own with seconds left to win 7-4. 

World champion Jacarra Winchester (@Jacarra016) came up clutch in the closing seconds of her gold medal match at Yasar Dogu to take home the 55-kilogram title. #WrestleInstanbul pic.twitter.com/CP4gpUDzs1

— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) February 26, 2022

Dom Parrish won bronze at 53-kilograms after nearly reaching the finals. She was up 8-0 in her semifinal match before getting pinned. She won by fall in her third-place match to win her first international medal. 

Dom Parrish (@DomParrish1) won her first international medal with a fall during her 3-5 match at the Yasar Dogu. ?

Watch the Yasar Dogu live on @FloWrestling.#WrestleInstanbul pic.twitter.com/RJs6yCfGYF

— Kyle Klingman (@KyleKlingman1) February 26, 2022

U.S. Medalists
53 kg: Dom Parrish, BRONZE
55 kg: Jacarra Winchester, GOLD
62 kg: Macey Kilty, SILVER
65 kg: Forrest Molinari, GOLD
65 kg: Mallory Velte, SILVER
65 kg: Emma Bruntil, BRONZE

New York Women's State Tournament

Wrestling leaders from New York will provide a state tournament for high school girls on Saturday, March 5 at Tamarac High School in Troy. This tournament was created to give New York high school girls a season-ending state championship. The goal of those partnering on this event is to continue to work towards getting girls wrestling added as a sanctioned high school sport by the NYSPHSAA in the near future. Champions of this event will be recognized by USA Wrestling as girls state champions from New York, which qualifies them to compete in USA Wrestling National High School Recruiting Showcase in Las Vegas on April 28-29.

Click here for more information on the event.

Another Hawkeye Coach

Mike Mena of Lindenwood will become the first former Iowa wrestler to lead a D1 women's program after it was announced the men's and women's programs are moving to the Division I level. Mena was a four-time All-American (1994-97) for Iowa under legendary coach Dan Gable.

"I feel so blessed to be under the Lindenwood University administration that has demonstrated such extraordinary leadership in their efforts to make this idea a reality," Mena said. "This is a win should all be celebrating while looking forward to elevating the student-athlete experience at the Division I level at Lindenwood."

Women’s Spotlight

Returning national collegiate champion Alara Boyd of McKendree is ranked #1 in the country at 143 pounds. Learn more about her story.

She Said It

“Like anybody who comes from a tough background, I think wrestling and life are tough sometimes. Wrestling doesn’t give you any opportunities to feel sorry for yourself. If you want to win the game you’re going to have to be strong and you’ll have to endure and be resilient.” — Leigh Jaynes, 2015 World bronze medalist and current Delaware Valley head coach