The 2023 NWCA National Duals champions King University (NCAA) (photo courtesy of Jimmy Naprstek/Kodiak Creative) Over the weekend, more than 30 women's college teams flocked to Louisville, Kentucky, for the 2023 NWCA National Duals. In the women's category, there were two divisions: NCAA and NAIA. King University won the NCAA crown, while Southern Oregon claimed the NAIA title.
NCAA WOMEN
King University, ranked No. 1 in the nation, secured its second-consecutive and sixth overall NWCA National Duals title, edging out No. 2 North Central, 23-21, in an exciting championship dual. Filled with outstanding talent, the dual featured six top-5 matchups and two top-10 bouts, which included some notable upsets.
At 116 pounds, No. 2 Jaslynn Gallegos (NC) upended top-ranked Samara Chavez (KU) with a first-period pin. At 136 pounds, King returned the favor as No. 6 Viktorya Torres (KU) pinned No. 2 Yele Aycock (NC) late in the match. In addition to the Gallegos/Chavez showdown, there was another 1 vs. 2 bout at 109 pounds, where No. 1 Sage Mortimer (KU) outlasted No. 2 Sydney Petzinger (NC), 15-14.
We expected to see a top-two bout at 170 pounds as No. 1 Yelena Makoyed (NC) was set to take on No. 2 Chey Bowman (KU). However, strategy came into play as the Tornado forfeited at 170, and Bowman bumped up to 191 pounds to face No. 5 Traeh Haynes (NC). Thanks to a second-period four-point takedown, Bowman defeated Haynes, 5-1, and sealed the championship for King.
King won six of the night's 10 matchups with victories coming from No. 2 Jessica Corredor (101), Mortimer (109), No. 3 Montana DeLawder (130), Torres (136), No. 1 Ana Luciano (143) and Bowman (191). Winning for North Central was No. 2 Gallegos (116), No. 3 Amani Jones (123), No. 4 Tiera Jimerson (155) and No. 1 Makoyed (170).
En route to another title, King defeated No. 8 Gannon in the quarterfinals and No. 4 McKendree in the semis.
Championship dual - No. 1 King 23, No. 2 North Central 21
101: #2 Jessica Corredor (King) over #6 Madison Avila (North Central) Dec 6-4
109: #1 Sage Mortimer (King) over #2 Sydney Petzinger (North Central) Dec 15-14
116: #2 Jaslynn Gallegos (North Central) over #1 Samara Chavez (King) Fall 0:55
123: #3 Amani Jones (North Central) over #4 Vayle-Rae Baker (King) Fall 2:56
130: #3 Montana DeLawder (King) over Sara Sterner (North Central) Dec 4-0
136: #6 Viktorya Torres (King) over #2 Yele Aycock (North Central) Fall 5:26
143: #1 Ana Luciano (King) over #4 Kendall Bostelman (North Central) Fall 3:39
155: #4 Tiera Jimerson (North Central) over #5 Tiffani Baublitz (King) Dec 3-1
170: #1 Yelena Makoyed (North Central) win by forfeit
191: #2 (at 170) Cheyenne Bowman (King) over #5 Traeh Haynes (North Central) Dec 5-1
Final team results
1. King
2. North Central
3. McKendree
4. Colorado Mesa
5. Augsburg
6. Presbyterian
7. Sacred Heart
8. Gannon
NAIA WOMEN
In a historic performance, Southern Oregon took out three top-10 teams to capture the first National Duals championship in program history.
In a run to the finals, the Raiders dominated Ottawa and No. 9 Texas Wesleyan in the first two rounds before overpowering No. 5 Menlo in the semifinals. In the finals, No. 1 Southern Oregon split matches with No. 2 Grand View but emerged victorious, 22-18, thanks to the Raiders scoring points in four of their five losses.
For the title, Southern Oregon earned technical fall victories from No. 3 Esthela Trevino (101), No. 1 Carolina Moreno (123) and No. 3 Joye Levendusky (170). Other Raiders wins came from No. 5 Natalie Reyna-Rodriguez (109) and No. 5 Grace Kristoff (191).
Based on rankings, Grand View was favored in four of its five victories, which included a 9-6 decision for No. 1 Alexis Gomez (GV) over No. 2 Emily Se.
Championship dual - Southern Oregon 22, Grand View 18
101: #3 Esthela Trevino (Southern Oregon) over Jalen Bets (Grand View) TF 10-0
109: #5 (at 116) Natalie Reyna-Rodriguez (Southern Oregon) over #11 (at 116) Lita Cruz (Grand View) Dec 4-2
116: #5 Cailin Campbell (Grand View) over #8 Glory Konecny (Southern Oregon) Dec 10-1
123: #1 Carolina Moreno (Southern Oregon) over #4 Catharine Campbell (Grand View) TF 10-0
130: Isabella Gonzalez (Grand View) over Jordynn Robson (Southern Oregon) TF 11-0
136: #2 (at 130) Andrea Schlabach (Grand View) over #8 Bella Amaro (Southern Oregon) Dec 5-1
143: #1 Alexis Gomez (Grand View) over #2 Emily Se (Southern Oregon) Dec 9-6
155: #9 (at 143) Madison Diaz (Grand View) over Desinee Lopez (Southern Oregon) Dec 6-3
170: #3 Joye Levendusky (Southern Oregon) over #4 Abby McIntyre (Grand View) TF 10-0
191: #5 Grace Kristoff (Southern Oregon) over #11 Olivia Brown (Grand View) Dec 3-1
Final team results
1. Southern Oregon
2. Grand View
3. Life
4. Menlo
5. Univ. of Providence
6. Texas Wesleyan
7. Campbellsville
8. Indiana Tech
