Cam Guerin has a track record of winning championships, and she always saves her best for the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships. The McKendree star has three 130-pound NCWWC titles under her belt — and she’s chasing her fourth this season. 

And she plans to use her COVID year next season.

This year’s road might be her toughest, but a game Guerin comes through in the clutch. She dropped a 2-2 match at the National Duals to King’s Victoria Baez-Dilone, but seven of her nine wins this season are falls with a tech and an 11-3 win over North Central’s #5 Salome Walker. 

Guerin has yet to face Aurora’s Lexi Janiak this season after going 2-2 against her during the 2022-23 campaign. 

“My coach told me that it’s ok to have a couple of hiccups during the year. You perform on the big stage. You perform well in the spotlight when everyone is watching you,” Guerin said during an April 7, 2023, interview. “I feel I perform well at the (national) tournament and I just keep getting better and better.”

“I feel like I do well with pressure and not switching it into nerves. Everyone is nervous no matter what level. I feel like I can switch my nerves into confident wrestling. You grind so hard throughout the season that this is your time to shine.”

Her recent performance at the Missouri Baptist Open with four falls in four matches is an indication that Guerin is finding her championship rhythm. 

Cam Guerin's Perfect Three-Year Run At College Nationals

Upcoming Weekend Tournaments

Below are links to brackets for this weekend’s tournaments.
Spire Classic on Friday, January 26
Warrior Duals on Friday, January 26
Warrior Open on Saturday, January 27
Southern Virginia University Invitational on Saturday, January 27
Pennsylvania Collegiate Wrestling Championships on Sunday, January 28
CCIW Championships on Sunday, January 28

The Week That Was

Below are links to brackets from last week’s tournaments.
Missouri Baptist Open on January 20
Alma Open on January 20
Robert Horton Open on January 21
Guelph Open on January 21
Boxer Open on January 21

Fort Wayne Is The Place To Be

The Warrior Duals and Warrior Open is the place to be this weekend. Get the full breakdown, including an in-depth look at the tournament with All-American Lily Sherer, by clicking here.

Here are participating college teams and a handful of high school stars scheduled to compete. 

NCAA: #2 Iowa, #T-18 Tiffin, #T-18 Lindenwood, T-24 Adrian, Alma, Albion, Trine, Hiram, Davenport, Maine Maritime Academy

NAIA: #1 Menlo, #2 Life, #3 Providence, #6 Southern Oregon, #7 Cumberlands, #8 Missouri Baptist, #9 Campbellsville, #13 Indiana Tech, Lourdes, Siena Heights, Brewton Parker, Rochester, St Andrews

High Schoolers: Madison Nieuwenhuis (101), #1 at 100 pounds, Rianne Murphy (109), #6 at 105, Amelia Murphy (116), #19 at 110, Morgan Johnson (116), Alexis Lazar (123), #10 at 130, and Valerie Hamilton (143), #3 at 140.

What Might Have Been

Augsburg faces Wartburg and William Penn during a triple dual in Waverly, Iowa, on Saturday, January 27 at Levick Arena. All three teams have their share of stars highlighted by Wartburg’s Kylie Rule (130), William Penn’s Adaugo Nwachukwu (136), and Augsburg’s Nina Makem (155). 

Watch the duals live on Knight Vision beginning at 1 p.m. CT.

Augsburg vs. William Penn
Wartburg vs. Augsburg
Wartburg vs. William Penn

The Auggies are 1-2 on the season under first-year head coach Ali Sprenger — a two-time Olympian. Her task is tall after the majority of the team entered the transfer portal following Jake Short’s departure for Grand Valley State. 

Here’s a look at what Augsburg’s team might have looked like had everyone from the original recruiting class stayed. Could this team compete for a title against Iowa, King, McKendree, and North Central?

Augsburg's Mass Exodus

Iowa Wins The Battle Of Number Ones

The Hawkeyes blanked Missouri Valley 42-0 before downing Life University 35-6 by winning nine of 10 matches. 

The meet against Life featured a cross-divisional match-up against the two top-ranked women’s freestyle teams in the country. Both programs recently won the NWCA National Duals in their respective tournaments. 

Click here for full results and a breakdown of the dual

North Central Flexes Its Depth

Returning NCWWC champions North Central has 21 returning All-Americans, which came in handy against Wisconsin-Stevens Point on Monday, January 22. The Cardinals won eight of 10 matches by using several wrestlers who were third on the depth chart. 

North Central competes in the CCIW Championships on Sunday, January 28 at Carthage College. Click here to watch live.

North Central 33, UW-Stevens Point 9
101: Maddie Avila (NCC) over Kelly Enriquez (UWSP) by fall
109: Angelina Graff (NCC) over Alexis Winecke (UWSP), 6-0
116: Janessa George (NCC) over Abby Nelson (UWSP), 9-3
123: Makenna Hanke (UWSP) over Dakota Drew (NCC), 11-0
130: Ngao Shoua Whitethorn (UWSP) over Emma Grimm (NCC), 6-6
136: Taylor Graveman (NCC) over Amor Tuttle (UWSP), 10-8
143: Kendall Bostelman (NCC) over Anna Strand (UWSP), 10-0
155: Tiera Jimerson (NCC) over Claire Matthews (UWSP) by fall
170: Fiona McConnell (NCC) over Taylor Schulz (UWSP), 10-0
191: Brittyn Corbishley (NCC) over Riley Ensing (UWSP) by fall

Jenna Burkert Reflects On The Life Of Estrella Dorado Marin

Jenna Burkert of WCAP, a 2021 World bronze medalist, reflects on the life of her teammate, Estrella Dorado Marin, who passed on Jan. 3, 2024, at the age of 21.