CORALVILLE, Iowa | Xtream Arena - Purple reigned on Saturday night as McKendree University women's wrestling earned the Inaugural NCAA Women's Wrestling Championship with 171 Team Points, three individual National Champions, and 10 All-American finishes, toppling Iowa, North Central, and all adversaries. The Inaugural NCAA National Champions, McKendree, put nine in the semifinals before advancing five to the title bouts with 117 Yu Sakamoto, 131 Cameron Guerin, and 207 Tristan Kelly collecting titles in their weight classes. McKendree locked up the team title in the 117-pound championship bout as Yu Sakamoto earned her first individual National Championship while 131 Cameron Guerin put the icing on the cake with her fifth individual National Championship in the closing battle of the night. Overall the All-Americans for the Bearcats came in the form of 103 Heather Crull (6th), 110 Gabriele Tedesco (3rd), 117 Yu Sakamoto (1st), 124 Shelby Moore (2nd), 131 Cameron Guerin (1st), 138 Haylie Jaffe (3rd), 145 Alex Szkotnicki (6th), 160 Savannah Gomez (4th), 180 Destiny Rodriguez (2nd), and 207 Tristan Kelly (1st). At the end of the tournament, head coach Alexio Garcia was named National Tournament Coach of the Year, as voted on by the other coaches. 

INDIVIDUAL NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
117 | #1 Yu Sakamoto | Junior | Tokyo, Japan | 1st - 20.5 Team Points

• Champ. Round 1 - #1 Sakamoto (McKendree) 18-1 won by tech fall over Jenna Anderson (Presbyterian) 27-10 (TF-1.5 4:28 (13-2))
• Quarterfinal - #1 Sakamoto (McKendree) 18-1 won by decision over Maddie Ripley (Western New Eng.) 28-4 (Dec 11-7)
• Semifinal - #1 Sakamoto (McKendree) 18-1 won by decision over #5 Brianna Gonzalez (Iowa) 13-3 (Dec 17-10)
• 1st Place Match - #1 Sakamoto (McKendree) 18-1 won by decision over #3 Riley Rayome (North Central (IL)) 27-6 (Dec 4-3)

*Sakamoto's victory in the 117-pound Championship Match locked up the team title for the Bearcats; Two-Time All-American



131 | #1 Cameron Guerin | Graduate | Yakima, Washington | 1st - 22.5 Team Points

• Champ. Round 1 - #1 Guerin (McKendree) 14-0 won by fall over Christina Borgmann (Felician) 17-4 (Fall 1:01)
• Quarterfinal - #1 Guerin (McKendree) 14-0 won by decision over #8 Kassey Daugherty (Presbyterian) 31-6 (Dec 5-1)
• Semifinal - #1 Guerin (McKendree) 14-0 won by tech fall over #5 Abigail Mozden (Mount Union) 44-4 (TF-1.5 3:28 (14-4))
• 1st Place Match - #1 Guerin (McKendree) 14-0 won by decision over #3 Alexis Janiak (Aurora) 17-2 (Dec 5-5)

*Guerin earned her fifth collegiate National Championship with her decision in the title bout, Five-time All-American



207 | #1 Tristan Kelly | Senior | Erie, Colorado | 1st - 25.0 Team Points

• Champ. Round 1 - #1 Kelly (McKendree) 14-1 won by tech fall over Lindsay Laws (Lock Haven) 29-10 (TF-1.5 4:02 (10-0))
• Quarterfinal - #1 Kelly (McKendree) 14-1 won by tech fall over #8 Maria Aiono (Presbyterian) 23-8 (TF-1.5 4:21 (10-0))
• Semifinal - #1 Kelly (McKendree) 14-1 won by tech fall over Rewa #4 Chababo (Wartburg) 28-3 (TF-1.5 1:14 (11-0))
• 1st Place Match - #1 Kelly (McKendree) 14-1 won by tech fall over #2 Sabrina Nauss (Grand Valley St.) 24-5 (TF-1.5 3:43 (11-0))

*Kelly earned back-to-back titles at 207 pounds; Fourth All-American Honor



ALL-AMERICANS
103 | Heather Crull | 2-3, 6th Place - 11.0 Team Points
110 | Gabriele Tedesco | 5-1, 3rd Place - 21.0 Team Points
*Two-Time All-American
117 | Yu Sakamoto | 4-0, 1st Place - 20.5 Team Points
*Two-Time All-American
124 | Shelby Moore | 3-1, 2nd Place - 15.0 Team Points
*Three-Time All-American
131 | Cameron Guerin | 4-0, 1st Place - 22.5 Team Points
*Five-Time National Champion
138 | Haylie Jaffe | 4-2, 3rd Place - 14.0 Team Points
*Two-Time All-American 
145 | Alex Szkotnicki | 2-3, 6th Place - 11.5 Team Points
*Two-Time All-American
160 | Savannah Gomez | 3-2, 4th Place - 14.5 Team Points
*Two-Time All-American
180 | Destiny Rodriguez | 3-1, 2nd Place - 17.0 Team Points
*First-Time All-American
207 | Tristan Kelly | 4-0, 1st Place - 25.0 Team Points
*Back-To-Back Individual National Champion

TEAM RESULTS
1. McKendree | 171.0 Team Points - 3 Individual National Champions, 10 All-Americans | Inaugural NCAA National Champions
2. Iowa
3. North Central
4. Grand Valley State
5. Presbyterian 

INAUGURAL NCAA CHAMPION | McKendree Bearcats - 171 Team Points, 3 Individual Champions, 10 All-Americans
Head Coach Alexio Garcia - National Tournament Coach of the Year


Post-Championship Interview - Coach Garcia (& the kids)


 

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