My Breakout Bracket: Alara Boyd
My Breakout Bracket: Alara Boyd
Alara Boyd reflects on her breakout tournament during the 2016 Cadet World Team Trials.
Alara Boyd completed her college wrestling career as one of the top stars of the NCWWC era. She was a three-time finalist for McKendree, winning the 2021 national title at 155 pounds, before transferring to North Central for the 2024 season where she finished third at 143.
The Muncie, Indiana, native made four age-level World teams, winning Cadet bronze and silver medals in 2016 and 2017, respectively. She continues to be a factor on the senior level after competing at the 2024 Olympic Trials.
Alara Boyd At The National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championships
Alara Boyd At The World Championships
Boyd was relatively unknown when she entered the 60-kilogram bracket at the 2016 Cadet World Team Trials (aka — Body Bar) in Irving, Texas.
“It definitely put me on the map,” Boyd said. “I remember that nobody knew who I was. I wasn’t seeded. I wasn’t ranked at all. I kind of went in as a nobody, really.
“It was so exciting because I had so much confidence going into it and to be validated that my hard work paid off. It was really rewarding.”
Boyd won four matches before downing Breanna Douglas, 15-4 and 10-0, in the best-of-three finals.
“It was crazy because everyone would come up to me and say, ‘Who are you? Where you are you from?,’” Boyd said. “After I beat Alex Liles in the semis, that’s when every started coming up to me. I was like, ‘Did I really do something here? I just came here to wrestle and have fun and make a World team.’”
Below are Boyd’s match scores, bracket, and finals match against Douglas.
Round of 32: Boyd over Alexis Baker, 10-0
Round of 16: Boyd over Elena Kroll, 10-0
Quarterfinals: Boyd over Jerzie Estrada, 8-4
Semifinals: Boyd over Alex Liles, 12-2
Best-of-three Finals: Boyd over Breanna Douglas, 15-4 and 10-0
2016 Cadet World Team Trials: 60 kg bracket
