McKendree Grabs Inaugural GLVC Women’s Wrestling Postseason Honors

INDIANAPOLIS – McKendree graduate student Cameron Guerin was named the 2025-26 Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Women’s Wrestler of the Year, the league office announced on Friday. Her Bearcat teammate Heather Crull earned GLVC Freshman of the Year honors, and McKendree mentor Alexio Garcia was voted GLVC Coach of the Year by his peers.
 
A total of 30 wrestlers were named All-Conference honorees across five teams and seven student-athletes were recognized as their program's GLVC James R. Spalding Sportsmanship Award honoree in the sport. The All-Conference awards are nominated and voted on by league coaches.
 
Wrestler of the Year: Cameron Guerin, Graduate-Student, 131 lb., McKendree

• Claims the first GLVC Wrestler of the Year award and becomes the first McKendree major award winner.
• Went 11-0 overall with a 5-0 record against GLVC competition
• Won the NWCA National Duals 131lb class as well as becoming the 131 Region VI Regional Champion
• Ranked No. 1 at 131 lb. in the latest National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) rankings.
• Selected to All-GLVC First Team, earning her first All-Conference honor.

Freshman of the Year: Heather Crull, 103 lb., McKendree

• Becomes the First GLVC Freshman of the Year, and the second McKendree Bearcat major award winner.
• Went 30-3 overall and 7-0 against GLVC opponents.
• Won the 103lb weight class at the NWCA National Duals, and is the 103 Region IV Regional Champion
• Only true freshman named to the All-GLVC First Team.

 
Coach of the Year: Alexio Garcia, McKendree

• Becomes the first GLVC Coach of the Year honoree and the third McKendree major award winner.
• Led McKendree to 16-1 overall record and 6-0 GLVC record, as well as winning the inaugural GLVC Championship.
• Ranked No. 2 in latest NWCA Poll.
• Garcia mentored Cameron Guerin (131), and Heather Crull (103) to GLVC Wrestler and Freshman of the Year respectively. Also, guided Gabriella Tedesco (110), Yu Sakamoto (117), Shelby Moore (124), Haylie Jaffe (138), and Savannah Gomez (160) to All-GLVC First Team honors.

 
Northern Michigan’s Alissa Caltagirone (145) was the only non-McKendree First Team honoree.
 
Grand Valley State earned the GLVC James R. Spalding Sportsmanship Team Award, while seven student-athletes who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior were also recognized. These individuals must also be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting. The honorees are now eligible to become one of their school's two Spalding Sportsmanship Award winners, which will be announced at the end of the academic year.
 
A complete list of the 2025-26 All-GLVC teams and postseason honors can be found below.

WRESTLER OF THE YEAR: Cameron Guerin, Gr., 131 lb., McKendree
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Heather Crull, 103 lb., McKendree
COACH OF THE YEAR: Alexio Garcia, McKendree
 

ALL-GLVC FIRST TEAM 103: Heather Crull, Fr., MCK  110: Gabriella Tedesco, So., MCK 117: Yu Sakamoto, Jr., MCK 124: Shelby Moore, Jr., MCK 131: Cameron Guerin, Gr., MCK 138: Haylie Jaffe, So., MCK 145: Alissa Caltagirone, Jr., NMU 160: Savannah Gomez, Jr., MCK  180: Destiny Rodriguez, R-So., MCK 208: Tristan Kelly, Jr., MCK ALL-GLVC SECOND TEAM 103: Trinity Pendergrass, Sr., QU  110: Emily Mendez, Sr., WJC 117: Sage Mortimer, Sr., GVSU 124: Xochitl Mota-Pettis, So., QU 131: Shelby Kemp, So., WJC 138: Katie Lange, Sr., GVSU 145: Alexis Gomez, Sr., MCK 160: Sophia Bassino, So., NMU  180: Abbie Miles, R-So., NMU 208: Sabrina Nauss, So., GVSU ALL-GLVC THIRD TEAM 103: Juliana Alejandro, Jr., WJC  110: Alexandra Tchekounova, So., QU 117: Alex Waitsman, Jr., WJC 124: Aspen Blasko, So., GVSU 131: Maddie Barton, Jr., QU 138: Alyssa Keane, Fr., NMU 145: Margaret Buurma, Fr., GVSU 160: Noelle Gaffney, Jr., GVSU  180: Madison Ward, Fr., GVSU 208: Mickaela Keane, Jr., NMU

 
GLVC JAMES R. SPALDING SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD HONOREES
Ava Niedzielski, DAV
Katie Lange, GVSU
Yu Sakamoto, MCK
Sophia Bassino, NMU
Trinity Pendergrass, QU
Eliana Callies, UIU
Emily Mendez, WJC

GLVC JAMES R. SPALDING SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD TEAM WINNER
Grand Valley State