Imagine this scenario.

You are the lone Division III team in the NCAA All-Division women’s tournament at the 2026 National Duals because you want to face the best competition. There’s a separate tournament for 16 other D3 programs, but you opted out. 

In the semifinals, you face top-ranked Iowa — a team you’ve finished second behind the previous two National Duals and National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships. And, oh yeah, they’ve never lost a dual in program history.

The meet comes down to 207 pounds — the heaviest women’s weight class — and your team is down by three. The coach uses a senior who has never placed at the national tournament to face Iowa’s four-time national finalist. 

The unranked girl hits a lefty headlock, securing — arguably —  the biggest upset in women’s college wrestling history. 

Then, in the finals, it comes down to heavyweight again. This time, the coach uses a three-time All-American 180-pounder to face the returning 207-pound national champion. With under a minute left, you score the deciding point and hold on, giving your team a win over No. 2 McKendree, a team that defeated you earlier in the season. 

Has a dual championship ever been decided on the last match using two different heavyweights? 

It seems unlikely, but what fourth-seeded North Central did on Saturday, January 10, defies logic. The Cardinals finally secured a National Duals title in their fourth finals appearance.

“We said that after the semis, we didn’t come here to beat Iowa, we came here to win the National Duals,” North Central coach Joe Norton said. “We finished second three years in a row, and we didn’t come here to take second again.

“(Our team) is super tough and super resilient. (It’s about) competitive response. A dual meet, a tournament, a match, or a 30-second situation is never going to go how we want it to go. How do we respond when adversity strikes? They do it so well, and we talk about it all the time. That’s the skill that they have that makes them better than everybody else — at least today. I’m super proud of them for that.” 

North Central's Improbable Run

North Central only won four of 10 matches against Iowa, but three were falls, and nine of 10 wrestlers scored team points. Kaelani Shufeldt (110), Sara Sterner (124), and Dasia Yearby (207) notched pins, and Riley Rayome (117) upset 2025 US Open champion Brianna Gonzalez, 3-3. 

It looked bleak for the Cardinals when Iowa won five matches in a row, and it seemed likely that North Central would need at least one win at 131, 138, or 145 with 2025 Senior World bronze medalists Kennedy Blades (160) and Kylie Welker (180) looming. 

At 131, Iowa’s Karlee Brooks defeated two-time national finalist Yele Aycock, 8-4.

At 138, Iowa’s Skye Realin was down 6-2 when she hit a four-point arm throw in the final seconds to win on criteria, 6-6, over returning national champion Claire DiCugno. North Central needed that one, right? 

At 145, Iowa’s Reese Larramendy avenged her semifinal loss against Bella Mir at the 2025 National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships when she extended her lead with a pancake late in the match. Her 10-4 win set up the two best college wrestlers in the country. 

Freestyle Scoring Rewards Effort

Here’s the beauty of freestyle dual scoring. The losing wrestler can contribute even in a losing effort, and that’s what Taylor Graveman (160) and Jael Miller (180) did despite being overmatched. 

Graveman was launched for five by Blades, but she scored the first point of the match and lost 11-1. That means four team points for Iowa and one for North Central. 

Miller scored a surprise takedown on Welker to open the match, then Welker put Miller to her back as she fought valiantly out of the position. Welker won 8-2, but only gained two net team points since Iowa earns three and North Central one. 

Iowa’s 103-pounder Val Solorio was Iowa’s biggest contributor since she won 12-0 over Bri Graves. She scored four team points, but North Central didn’t score any. 

Finals Fireworks

McKendree’s Heather Crull scored a 15-4 tech at 103 to start the finals, but that was the only match that ended early. North Central won six of 10 against the Bearcats, but both McKendree and North Central scored team points in nine of 10 bouts. 

The key match was Shenita Lawson’s 2-2 win over Kelly at 207, but Taylor Graveman won a big swing match at 160 with an 8-6 comeback win over U20 World champion Jasmine Robinson. Mir’s 9-0 win avenged a 7-3 loss to Alexis Gomez at a Real American Freestyle card on November 29, 2025. 

Sterner won a wild 5-3 match at 124 over Shelby Moore in a contest between returning 2025 national finalists. Four-time national champion Cam Guerin returned to competition after nearly two years and won 12-6 over two-time All-American Grace Stem.

Destiny Rodriguez shut out Jael Miller 6-0 at 180, leading to the dramatic conclusion at heavyweight.

North Central 23, Iowa 21

North Central 21, McKendree 18

“We just talk about getting better every day,” Norton said. “We weren’t the best team at the beginning of the season, but the national tournament and the National Duals aren’t wrestled at the beginning of the season. We’ve gotten better since then. 

“We’ll have to continue to get better before March, and we are going to, but I’m super proud of their development and how far they’ve come. We believed even if everyone else didn’t. We’ll continue to do that every single time.” 

North Central Gets A Shot At Life

So, what’s North Central’s reward for finishing first at the National Duals? The Cardinals get to face Life University — winners of the NAIA division — on Thursday, January 15 in Marietta, Georgia, on FloWrestling Night in America.

In a rare twist of timing and fate, National Duals champions from each division will square off days after the conclusion of the event, offering the ultimate tiebreaker for the best dual team in the country. 

“It’s the true title in a way. Champ vs champ,” Life coach Ashley Flavin said. “I love Joe. He’s in our coaches group chat, and I joked that this is for group chat dominance, so we’ll see who comes out on top.

“These are two tough teams that have found ways to win when people didn’t think they should. I think this is going to be a really, really fun dual. Our atmosphere is generally pretty exciting and pretty loud. It will be fun to have them down and wrestle.”

The Running Eagles won their fourth National Duals title in five years with a 32-11 victory over Providence in the finals, and won 34 of 40 individual matches over four duals. Life lost the opening two bouts against the Argos before winning eight straight. 

“The girls started rolling, and it was good to see them stay patient, stay disciplined and not get in a rush or get nervous,” Flavin said. “The team energy pushes us forward.”

Wartburg Makes Women’s Wrestling History

The Knights won the first Division III-only bracket, defeating Albion (45-0), Eastern (36-11), Aurora (23-21), and Simpson 31-13.

“It was fun,” Wartburg coach Brady Kyner said. “I feel like the talent, the effort, and the ability were the same. We had a tough dual with Aurora, and they will probably be a top-10 tournament team. We’re just here to scrap.”

Below are the finals and semifinals results for all three divisions, and interviews with the championship coaches. 

Click here for brackets, results, and links to matches from the NWCA National Duals.

Finals

North Central 21, McKendree 18 (NCAA All-Division)
103: Heather Crull (McKendree) over Brianne Graves (North Central) TF 15-4
110: Kaelani Shufeldt (North Central) over Gabriele Tedesco (McKendree) Dec 3-2
117: Yu Sakamoto (McKendree) over Riley Rayome (North Central) Dec 8-2
124: Sara Sterner (North Central) over Shelby Moore (McKendree) Dec 5-3
131: Cameron Guerin (McKendree) over Grace Stem (North Central) Dec 12-6
138: Claire Dicugno (North Central) over Haylie Jaffe (McKendree) Dec 5-4
145: Bella Mir (North Central) over Alexis Gomez (McKendree) Dec 9-0
160: Taylor Graveman (North Central) over Jasmine Robinson (McKendree) Dec 8-6
180: Destiny Rodriguez (McKendree) over Jael Miller (North Central) Dec 6-0
207: Shenita Lawson (North Central) over Tristan Kelly (McKendree) Dec 2-2

Life 32, Providence 11 (NAIA)
103: Erin Hikiji (Providence) over Alyssa Quezaire (Life) TF 10-0
110: Paige Morales (Providence) over Diana Gonzalez (Life) TF 10-0
117: Salyna Shotwell (Life) over Joely Slyter (Providence) Fall 4:38
124: Anna Krejsa (Life) over Alyssa Randles (Providence) Fall 4:18
131: Sarah Savidge (Life) over Waipuilani Estrella-beauchamp (Providence) Dec 2-2
138: Zaynah McBryde (Life) over Esther Han (Providence) Dec 10-4
145: Jamilah McBryde (Life) over Elise Twait (Providence) Dec 11-5
160: Latifah McBryde (Life) over Hailey Sutton (Providence) TF 10-0
180: Reka Busa (Life) over Aspen Dodge (Providence) TF 11-0
207: Madeline Welch (Life) over Sydnee Nielson (Providence) Fall 1:31

Wartburg 31, Simpson 13 (NCAA Division III)
103: Chloe Sheffield (Wartburg) over Emaline Hicks (Simpson) Dec 5-0
110: Afftynn Stusse (Wartburg) over Sarah Zimmerman (Simpson) Fall 3:48
117: Gable Hemann (Wartburg) over Layla Phillips (Simpson) TF 10-0
124: Sophie Bowers (Wartburg) over Ashley Cannon (Simpson) Dec 12-3
131: Mackenzie Childers (Wartburg) over Vanessa Aguirre (Simpson) Fall 1:40
138: Kylie Rule (Wartburg) over Paige Gershmel (Simpson) TF 16-5
145: Aniyah Kelly (Wartburg) over Noa Arnold (Simpson) Dec 4-2
160: Keeley Kehrli (Simpson) over May Prado (Wartburg) Fall 1:34    
180: Autumn Calvert (Simpson) over Erika Peterson (Wartburg) Fall 3:00
207: Rewa Chababo (Wartburg) over Savannah Sistad (Simpson) TF 10-0    4.0    0

Semifinals

North Central 23, Iowa 21 (NCAA All-Division)
103: Valarie Solorio (Iowa) over Brianne Graves (North Central College) TF 12-0
110: Kaelani Shufeldt (North Central College) over Nyla Valencia (Iowa) Fall 5:38
117: Riley Rayome (North Central College) over Brianna Gonzalez (Iowa) Dec 3-3
124: Sara Sterner (North Central College) over Cali Leng (Iowa) Fall 1:45
131: Karlee Brooks (Iowa) over Yele Aycock (North Central College) Dec 8-4
138: Skye Realin (Iowa) over Claire Dicugno (North Central College) Dec 6-6
145: Reese Larramendy (Iowa) over Bella Mir (North Central College) Dec 10-4
160: Kennedy Blades (Iowa) over Taylor Graveman (North Central College) TF 11-1
180: Kylie Welker (Iowa) over Jael Miller (North Central College) Dec 8-2
207: Dasia Yearby (North Central College) over Jaycee Foeller (Iowa) Fall 1:38

McKendree 25, Grand Valley State 13 (NCAA All-Division)
103: Heather Crull (McKendree) over Rayana Sahagun (Grand Valley State) Dec 9-0
110: Gabriele Tedesco (McKendree) over Kiely Tabaldo (Grand Valley State) Dec 5-0
117: Sage Mortimer (Grand Valley State) over Yu Sakamoto (McKendree) TF 14-3
124: Aspen Blasko (Grand Valley State) over Shelby Moore (McKendree) Dec 4-1
131: Cameron Guerin (McKendree) over Emily Medford (Grand Valley State) Dec 10-9
138: Katerina Lange (Grand Valley State) over Haylie Jaffe (McKendree) Dec 2-1
145: Duda Batista (McKendree) over Margaret Buurma (Grand Valley State) Dec 4-2
160: Jasmine Robinson (McKendree) over Noelle Gaffney (Grand Valley State) Dec 9-4
180: Tristan Kelly (McKendree) over Sabrina Nauss (Grand Valley State) TF 10-0
207: Destiny Rodriguez (McKendree) over Aaliyah Grandberry (Grand Valley State) Dec 4-0

Life 24, William Penn 18 (NAIA)
103: Alyssa Quezaire (Life University) over Olivia Atkins (William Penn) TF 11-0
110: Ariana Martinez (Life University) over Avy Perez (William Penn) Dec 7-3
117: Salyna Shotwell (Life University) over Mia Palumbo (William Penn) Dec 8-1
124: Victoria Baez Dilone (William Penn) over Kennedy Russell (Life University) TF 10-0
131: Olivia Mottley (Life University) over Kendall Bostelman (William Penn) TF 12-0
138: Esperanza Almazan (William Penn) over Zaynah Mcbryde (Life University) DQ
145: Jamilah McBryde (Life University) over Naida Abdijanovic (William Penn) TF 14-4
160: Latifah McBryde (Life University) over Piper Fowler (William Penn) TF 11-0
180: Reka Busa (Life University) over Diara Pomares (William Penn) Dec 10-2
207: Phoebe Burt (William Penn) over Forfeit
*Life was deducted one team point

Providence 27, Grand View 16 (NAIA)
103: Erin Hikiji (Providence) over Isabelle Apple (Grand View) TF 10-0
110: Paige Morales (Providence) over Eliana Martinez (Grand View) Dec 10-1
117: Mayangelie Colon (Grand View) over Joely Slyter (Providence) TF 11-1
124: Alyssa Randles (Providence) over Catharine Campbell (Grand View) Dec 12-3
131: Waipuilani Estrella-Beauchamp (Providence) over Jasmine Serrano (Grand View) Fall 0:48
138: Esther Han (Providence) over Adrienna Turner (Grand View) TF 10-0
145: Elise Twait (Providence) over Haidyn Snyder (Grand View) Dec 6-0
160: Aspen Dodge (Providence) over Nicole Olson (Grand View) TF 10-0    
180: Andjela Prijovic (Grand View) over Kassidy Sigda (Providence) Inj 1:29
207: Selena Mares (Grand View) over Kacey Lee Pua (Providence) Fall 0:45

Wartburg 23, Aurora 21 (NCAA-Division III)
103: Genesis Ramirez (Aurora) over Lainey Shelangoski (Wartburg) Fall 4:10
110: Afftynn Stusse (Wartburg) over Sharon Moreno (Aurora) Fall 0:51
117: Jasmine Luedtke (Wartburg) over Zoee Sadler (Aurora) Fall 2:02
124: Natasha Markoutsis (Aurora) over Ayane Jasinski (Wartburg) TF 11-0
131: Alexis Janiak (Aurora) over Cailyn Whittier (Wartburg) TF 10-0
138: Sophia Ball (Aurora) over Kylie Rule (Wartburg) Dec 12-10
145: Aniyah Kelly (Wartburg) over Makayla Howard (Aurora) TF 10-0
160: May Prado (Wartburg) over Cheya Bishop (Aurora) Dec 9-5
180: Anneliese Tavira (Aurora) over Erika Peterson (Wartburg) TF 10-0
207: Rewa Chababo (Wartburg) over Hannah McDuffee (Aurora) Fall 1:49    

Simpson 28, Western New England 17 (NCAA-Division III)
103: Emaline Hicks (Simpson) over Forfeit
110: Abigail Fuglsang (Simpson) over Victoria Orender (Western New England) TF 13-2
117: Maddie Ripley (Western New England) over Layla Phillips (Simpson) TF 12-1
124: Ashley Cannon (Simpson) over Linda Holeman (Western New England) Dec 7-4
131: Jazmene Molina (Western New England) over Vanessa Aguirre (Simpson) Dec 12-8
138: Tanya Teneva (Western New England) over Paige Gershmel (Simpson) Dec 14-5
145: Noa Arnold (Simpson) over Rylee Donohue (Western New England) Fall 2:07
160: Keeley Kehrli (Simpson) over Sky De Leon (Western New England) Dec 11-3
180: Atiyana Williams (Western New England) over Autumn Calvert (Simpson) TF 13-0
207: Savannah Sistad (Simpson) over Emily Dudar (Western New England) Fall 1:00

Joe Norton: North Central

Ashley Flavin: Life University

Brady Kyner: Wartburg