The Biggest Women's College Dual Of The Year Is Here
The Biggest Women's College Dual Of The Year Is Here
Grand Valley State takes on North Central, Japan's Akari Fujinami is moving up to 57 kg, and the Women of Ironman is loaded.
The race toward the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships on March 7-8 takes center stage when Grand Valley State travels to North Central on Sunday, December 8, 2024, at 5 p.m. CT.
Click the link below to watch live on FloWrestling.
This is the women’s freestyle dual of the season, with both teams offering reasons to get excited.
Grand Valley State in Allendale, Michigan, enters its inaugural season with a loaded line-up filled with underclassmen. Top-ranked 110-pounder Sage Mortimer transferred from King to GVSU last season to jump-start Jake Short’s program.
After that, Short went on a recruiting spree, securing top high school stars and proven transfers. Most notable is 2023 NCWWC champion Katie Lange, who he coached at Augsburg.
“We want great wrestling on the women’s side,” Short said. “We want great match-ups, and we just want to scrap. At the end of the day, it’s just a wrestling match and we aren’t afraid to put it on the line.”
North Central has eight seniors on a team closing out a memorable national tournament run. The Cardinals finished fourth in 2022 followed by a historic 2023 team title. Joe Norton’s team took Iowa to the final national tournament match last season, finishing second.
Key Match-ups
Lightweight star Rayana Sahagun will attempt to get the Lakers on the board first when she faces returning national champion Maddie Avila.
The marquee match is at 110 pounds when Mortimer takes on three-time All-American Kendra Ryan. Mortimer has a 4-0 college record against Ryan (one match was at the 2023 US Open) and is trending upward. Will Ryan secure her first win in front of a partisan crowd?
Grand Valley State freshman Aspen Blasko is off to a solid start, including a competitive 5-2 loss to returning national champion Amani Jones at the Adrian Invitational. Can Blasko turn the corner for a win, or will Jones establish herself as the dominant force at 124 pounds?
It’s a clash of styles at 145 pounds when Elleni Johnson (GVSU), a slick technician with World and Olympic aspirations, takes on Iowa transfer Bella Mir (NCC), a tough-as-nails wrestler with Mixed Martial Arts aspirations.
“We are super excited to host a dual between top-five teams in our home gym live on FloWrestling, and gracious that Grand Valley State was up for the challenge.” Norton said. “They’ve built an outstanding team in year one and our women are fired up for what should be a tough, back and forth battle all night.”
Expect Norton to dress up as a cowboy. The night’s theme is “Wild West,” and the dual should live up to the hype.
Grand Valley State (NCAA, D2), 1-0 vs North Central (NCAA, D3), 7-0
103: #5 Rayana Sahagun (GVSU), JR vs #6 Maddie Avila (NCC), JR
110: #1 Sage Mortimer (GVSU), JR vs #4 Kendra Ryan (NCC), SR
117: Ana Malovich (GVSU), FR vs #2 Sydney Petzinger (NCC), SR
124: #4 Aspen Blasko (GVSU), FR vs #1 Amani Jones (NCC), SR
131: Hannah Palise (GVSU), JR vs #1 Sara Sterner (NCC), SR
138: #2 Katie Lange (GVSU), JR vs Emma Grimm (NCC), SR
145: #5 Elleni Jonson (GVSU), FR vs #4 Bella Mir (NCC), SO
160: Claire Agostini (GVSU), JR vs #9 Tiera Jimerson (NCC), SR
180: #2 Sabrina Nauss (GVSU), FR vs Brittyn Corbishley (NCC), SR
207: Aaliyah Grandberry (GVSU), FR vs #2 Traeh Haynes (NCC), SR
Grand Valley State Line-up
North Central Line-up
Salute To The Patriot Duals
Want more high-end college women's freestyle action this weekend? Check out the Patriot Duals on December 6-7. There's a good chance that top-ranked Life University (NAIA) faces NCAA power King University.
Women’s Wrestling Weekly: The Show
Topics covered:
- Japan’s Akari Fujinami’s move to 57 kg.
- Japan’s possible replacement at 53 kg.
- Japan’s historic quad.
- Is the United States gaining ground on Japan?
- Terry Steiner’s role at USA Wrestling.
- USA Wrestling’s recent women’s summit.
- Helen Maroulis enters no-gi World Championships.
- Dual of the Year? Grand Valley State vs North Central is on Flo, Sunday, December 8 at 5 p.m. CT.
- The Gigi Bragg picture that has Scott Beck geeking out.
Lexy Pabon enters her senior season at Crofton High School ready to on the girls -- or boys.
Upcoming Tournaments
Friday, December 6 - Saturday, December 7
Patriot Duals
Saturday, December 7
BVU Open
Carthage Classic
Chadron State College Open
Women's Conner Oppenheim Open
Jewell Duals
Sunday, December 8
Mountaineer Open
Trojan Duals
College Open Results
Sunday, December 1
Bob Smith Women's Open
The Women Of Ironman
Check out the girls schools representing this year’s Ironman on December 7-8. Be watch the entire tournament live on FloWrestling.
Click here to watch live
Click here for updates and results
Click here for a full schedule and information about the event.
Alliance HS, OH
Andrew High School, IL
Archbishop Spalding HS, MD
Avon Lake HS, OH
Baylor HS, TN
Berea-Midpark HS, OH
Big Walnut, OH
Bishop McCort, PA
Bixby HS, OK
Black River, OH
Blair Academy, NJ
Bolingbrook, IL
Bradford Area, PA
Brecksville - Broadview Hts, OH
Cabell Midland HS, WV
Canon-McMillian, PA
Chestnut Ridge HS, PA
Chippewa HS, OH
Clermont Northeastern H.S., OH
Cleveland, TN
Columbia HS, OH
Deming High School, NM
East Liverpool, OH
Freedom, VA
Green Farms Academy, CT
Greeneview HS, OH
Harrison, OH
Hernando HS, FL
Hilliard Darby HS, OH
Hononegah HS, IL
Howland High School, OH
Jackson HS, OH
King High School, FL
Langham Creek High School, TX
Lebanon HS, OH
Lockport HS, IL
Louisa County HS, VA
Loyola Academy, IL
Lutheran West, OH
Marion Elgin, OH
Marysville, OH
Massillon Perry HS, OH
Moon High School, PA
Mount Vernon HS, OH
Mountain Home High School, ID
Mountain View HS, VA
North Royalton HS, OH
Northwest HS, OH
Olentangy HS, OH
Olentangy Orange HS, OH
Orange County HS, VA
Parkersburg South HS, WV
Parkway Central High School, MO
Pittsburgh Brashear, PA
Poland Seminary, OH
Port Jervis, NY
Sheridan HS, OH
Skyline, VA
St. Pius X, NM
Steubenville HS, OH+
Sycamore HS, OH
Tri-Valley HS, OH
Union HS(Tulsa), OK
Tuscarawas Valley HS, OH
United Local HS, OH
University HS, WA
University HS, WV
Urbana HS, OH
Venice HS, FL
Walsh Jesuit, OH
Walton-Verona HS, KY
Washington Court House HS, OH
Waverly HS, OH
Westfall, OH
Wilmington HS, OH
Woodford County High School, KY
Wyoming Seminary, PA