Creating the greatest women’s college wrestling wasn’t easy — especially since deserving candidates were left off the list. Several picks were slam dunks, like all of the four-time college national champions. 

A wrestler was evaluated only during the years she competed in college, with caveats. Winning multiple college championships is important, but international success during college is factored into a wrestler’s final evaluation. 

Several of the picks — rightly — received criticism. This was less about being right and more about opening the conversation to learn more about our women’s college wrestling stars. 

Below are explanations for the toughest decisions and how the final pick was made. 

Click here to read the Greatest Women’s College Wrestlers Of All Time article in its entirety.
Click here for a list of every women's college national champion.

WCWA 121/123: Michaela Hutchison (Oklahoma City), or Sarah Hildebrandt (King), or Dom Parrish (Simon Fraser)

Final pick: Michaela Hutchison

This was the toughest decision since King’s Sarah Hildebrandt and Simon Fraser’s Dom Parrish were at the weight. Hildebrandt won the 2024 Olympics and Parrish won the 2022 World Championships after college, placing them in rarified air. 

However, post-college credentials don't count; only domestic and international accomplishments during college.

Hutchison defeated Shauna Isbell (Lindenwood) in the 2009 finals, and Isbell eventually finished 2nd-3rd-1st-2nd at the WCWA Championships, giving Hutchison a high-caliber win as a freshman. Hutchison’s only WCWA tournament loss in four seasons was to Helen Maroulis, and she took a period off of her during the ball draw era. And Hutchison won her third title over Hildebrandt, who became a four-time finalist and two-time champion. 

Parrish finished 3rd-2nd-1st-1st from 2016-19, falling to Oklahoma City’s Becka Leather (an eventual World bronze medalist) and Campbellsville’s Andribeth Rivera at nationals. 

This came down to the number of titles won and a quality finals loss to one of the greatest wrestlers of all time. 

WCWA 143/147.5: Mallory Velte (Simon Fraser) or Tamyra Mensah (Wayland Baptist)

Final pick: Mallory Velte

Velte won three WCWA titles at 143 pounds from 2016-18, and Mensah finished 4th-3rd-1st at 143 from 2012-14, followed by a 155-pound title in 2017. 

Mensah-Stock (married name) eventually won two World titles and the 2020 Olympics, but during college, Velte was a cut above. Velte had a good post-college career, too — winning two bronze medals at the World championships. 

WCWA 155/158.5: Kristie Davis (Oklahoma City) or Tamyra Mensah (Wayland Baptist)

Final pick: Kristie Davis 

This choice comes with a weird historical quirk. Davis attended college late and was already a two-time World champion and nine-time medalist before she won the 2011 WCWAs at 147.5 and the 2012 WCWAs at 155. Mensah won her lone 155-pound title in 2017. Davis got the nod since she was already an established superstar. 

NCWWC 123/124: Alex Hedrick (Simon Fraser) or Amani Jones (North Central)

Final pick: Alex Hedrick

Hedrick finished 2nd at the WCWAs from 2018-19, and first at the NCWWCs in 2020 and 2022. Jones finished 5th-2nd-1st-1st at the NCWWCs from 2022-25. 

Jones has good international accolades during her college career, including bronze medals at the 2022 U20 and 2023 U23 Worlds. 

Hedrick made four age-level World teams, winning bronze at the 2022 U23s. She lost twice to Parrish, her teammate, in the WCWA finals and reached Final X in college. 

NCWWC 136/138: Emma Bruntil (McKendree) or Katie Lange (Augsburg/Grand Valley State)

Final pick: Emma Bruntil

Bruntil only competed for two full college seasons, winning titles in 2020 and 2021, before making a brief comeback in 2024, where she fell to Iowa’s Reese Larramendy in the NCWWC regional finals and withdrew from the national championships with an injury. 

Lange won a title in 2023 for Augsburg and another in 2025 for Grand Valley State. 

Bruntil technically made the 2023 Senior World Team while still in college, posting a 12-2 tech over Lange at the World Team Trials, giving Bruntil the edge.

NCWWC 155/160: Kennedy Blades (Iowa) or Marlynne Deede (Augsburg/Iowa)

Final pick: Kennedy Blades

Deede has more college credentials than Blades, finishing 6th-3rd-3rd-1st-1st from 2020-2024 during a distinguished career. 

Blades won the 2025 National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships after her silver medal performance at the 2024 Olympics. The current Hawkeye superstar is a three-time age-level World medalist, including gold at the 2021 Junior Worlds. Blades also posted an 11-0 tech over Deede at the 2020 Women’s Nationals. 

NCWWC 170/180: Yelena Makoyed (North Central) or Kylie Welker (Iowa)

Final pick: Kylie Welker

Two of the greatest women’s college wrestlers of all time happened to be in the same weight class. Makoyed finished 2nd-1st-1st-1st-2nd from 2020-24, and Welker won titles in 2024 and 2025. 

Welker posted two victories over Makoyed during the 2024 season, lifting Iowa to wins over North Central at the National Duals and the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships. Welker has a 12-3 historical edge over Makoyed. 

Head-to-Head: Welker vs Makoyed

NAIA 130/131: Lexie Basham (Texas Wesleyan) or Carolina Moreno (Southern Oregon)

Final pick: Lexie Basham

Moreno was heavily considered, but Basham’s body of work during college at other events gave her the nod despite winning two NAIA titles (1st-1st from 2022-23) to Moreno’s three (1st-1st-1st-4th from 2022-25). Basham was a member of the 2022 U23 World Team and qualified for 2022 Final X while in college. 

NAIA 191/207: Kelani Corbett (Lyon/Missouri Valley) or Tavia Heidelberg-Tillitson (King/Menlo)

Final pick: Kelani Corbett

Here is how Corbett and Heidelberg-Tillitson compare. 

191/207: Kelani Corbett (Lyon/Missouri Valley)
3rd in 2021 at 191 (NAIA)
1st in 2022 at 191 (NAIA)
3rd in 2023 at 191 (NAIA)
2nd in 2025 at 180 (NAIA)

191/207: Tavia Heidelberg-Tillitson (King/Menlo)
2nd in 2020 at 191 (NCWWC)
2nd in 2021 at 191 (NCWWC)
3rd in 2022 at 191 (NAIA)
4th in 2023 at 191 (NAIA)
1st in 2024 at 191 (NAIA)

Each has a national title, but Heidelberg-Tillitson has more finals appearances. Corbett got the nod since she competed in the NAIA four years to Heidelberg-Tillitson’s three, and because Corbett won her third-place match over Heidelberg-Tillitson at the 2023 NAIA Championships. 

Why the Nigerians at 117 and 145?

Some wondered why William Penn’s Christianah Ogunsanya (117) and Esther Kolawole (145) were picked despite only one season of competition. Both were 2024 Olympians for Nigeria when they arrived on campus, and no other NAIA wrestler at their weights won multiple titles.