The 2024 Midlands Championships (Dec. 30) and Soldier Salute (Dec. 29-30) provided clues about several top teams entering the 2025 NWCA Duals on January 10-11. Here is what we learned.

Click here for Midlands brackets and results
Click here for Soldier Salute brackets and results

Soldier Salute Champions
103: Jaclyn Bouazkis (Wyoming Seminary)
110: Anaya Falcon (Life)
117: Brianna Gonzalez (Iowa)
124: Mateah Roehl (Askren Wrestling Academy)
131: Sarah Savidge (Life)
138: Cadence Diduch (Iowa)
145: Macey Kilty (Iowa)
160: Kennedy Blades (Iowa)
180: Kylie Welker (Iowa)
207: Savanna Isaac (Life)

Midlands Champions
103: Brianne Graves (North Central)
110: Kayla Batres
117: Sydney Petzinger (North Central)
124: Everest Leydecker
131: Lexi Janiak (Aurora)
138: Taina Fernandez
145: Sydney Perry (North Central)
160: May Cuyler (Presbyterian)
180: Shenita Lawson (North Central)
207: Dasia Yearby (North Central)

Iowa Has A Dilemma At 103 And 110

The Hawkeyes are deep at every weight, but the first two will test Clarissa Chun’s problem-solving skills. 

Sterling Dias (103) reached the 2024 National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championship finals at 101 pounds but has been in and out of the lineup this season. Dias went 2-1 on the first day, dropping a 2-1 match to Life’s Kat Hernandez, before pinning William Penn’s Olivia Atkins the following day. She forfeited to high school star and eventual champion Jacklyn Bouzakis of Wyoming Seminary. 

Third-ranked Rianne Murphy did not compete at Soldier Salute but has looked solid during her true freshman campaign.

It gets more complicated at 110 pounds. Three quality wrestlers are vying for two possible spots.

Returning NCWWC (NCAA) champ Ava Bayless has wins over teammates Emilie Gonzalez and Valarie Solorio after falling to Solorio in the wrestle-off. Gonzalez is the returning 101-pound NCWWC champion who moved up to 110. Gonzalez defeated Solorio 6-2, but Solorio gave Soldier Salute champ Anaya Falcon (Life) an 8-7 match after dropping two previous matches to her. Gonzalez could return to 103 if Dias or Murphy are sidelined. 

Iowa is four deep at 207 and will also have decisions to make there. Jaycee Foeller, Alivia White, Sam Calkins, and Katja Osteen are vying for two possible spots. 

Iowa's Big Three Appear Unstoppable

As expected, Iowa's big three -- Macey Kilty (145), Kennedy Blades (160), and Kylie Welker (180) -- blitzed their way through the Soldier Salute field. Kilty defeated teammate and returning NCWWC champion Reese Larramendy 8-1 in the finals, while Blades upended Life's Latifah McBryde 13-3. Welker didn't surrender a point in five matches. 

North Central Is Deep

The Cardinals ran away with the team title without using several of their best wrestlers. Joe Norton should feel good about 103 pounds where Brianne Graves knocked off returning national champion and teammate, Maddie Avila, 3-2. 

Other North Central champions included Sydney Petzinger (117), Sydney Perry (145), Shenita Lawson (180), and Dasia Yearby (207). 

A New And Improved Life

Life University made a statement with three champions at Soldier Salute. Anaya Falcon won the deep 110-pound bracket with a 16-5 win over returning NCWWC (NCAA) champion Ava Bayless in the finals. 

Sarah Savidge dominated the 131-pound field, including a 10-0 tech over Iowa’s Emily Frost in the finals. Savannah Isaac made a statement by knocking off two Iowa All-Americans — Osteen and Foeller — en route to the title. That’s on top of Kat Hernandez (103), Salyna Shotwell (117), and Latifah McBryde (160) reaching the finals. 

The Running Eagles look good entering the National Duals in January and the NAIA Championships in March.

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High School Stars Make Another Statement

These high schoolers placed at Soldier Salute and Midlands. Everest Leydecker and Emma Bacon (124) and Taina Fernandez and Taina McGowan (138) were seeded first and second, respectively. 

103: Jaclyn Bouzakis, 1st, Soldier Salute
103: Maddie Healey, 3rd, Midlands
110: Kayla Batres, 1st, Midlands
110: Maddie Ripley, 4th, Midlands
124: Everest Leydecker, 1st, Midlands
124: Emma Bacon, 2nd, Midlands
131: Carley Ceshker, 3rd, Soldier Salute
138: Taina Fernandez, 1st, Midlands
138: Taina McGowan, 2nd, Midlands
160: Janiya Johson, 3rd, Soldier Salute
180: Brooke Huffman, 3rd, Soldier Salute

NWCA National Duals Is Close

The NCWA National Duals are January 10-11. Below are the participating teams in each division.

NCAA: Iowa, North Central, King, McKendree, Presbyterian, Colorado Mesa, Elmira, Wartburg, Adrian, Schreiner, Sacred Heart, Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Emmanuel, Lock Haven, Mount Olive, Aurora

NAIA: Life, Grand View, Cumberlands, Providence, William Penn, Southern Oregon, Indiana Tech, Campbellsville, Hastings, Oklahoma City, Lourdes, St. Mary, Texas Wesleyan, Baker, Doane, Missouri Baptist

Click here for brackets and results

Beast of the East

The Third Annual Girls Beast of the East Tournament was December 19-20. Below are the 14 champions with links to interviews. 

Click here for brackets and results
100: Francesca Gusfa (Ridgewood)
105: Sarissa Tucker (Mountain View)
110: Julia Horger (Conwell Egan)
115: Riley Rayome (The Woodlands)
120: Calli Gilchrist (Choate Rosemary)
125: Sara Mclaughlin (Choate Rosemary)
130: Sophia Slaughter (Orange County)
135: Taina Fernandez (Archbishop Spalding)
140: Daniella Nugent (Phillips Academy)
145: Violette Lasure (Chestnut Ridge)
155: Ella Poalillo (High Point Regional)
170: Kaylie Hall (Spring Mills)
190: Caroline Hattala (Quakertown)
235: Caroline Biegel (DePaul Catholic)

Upcoming Tournaments
Saturday, January 4: Red Lady Open
Sunday, January 5: Mat Cat Open

Women's Wrestling Weekly: The Show (Ep. 9)

Topics covered:
-- Midlands Championships Recap
-- Soldier Salute Recap
-- Scott Beck Stops Rankings Rant (for now)
-- U17 World champion Piper Fowler commits to William Penn
-- High schoolers impress at college opens (again)
-- Is Life ready to take the 2025 NAIA Championships
-- Iowa's log jam at 103 and 110
-- National Duals on January 10-11