CORALVILLE, Iowa. – McKendree won the inaugural NCAA Women’s Wrestling Championship with 171 points at Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa last Saturday.
McKendree had three individual national champions with Grand Valley State having one Individual Champion and Quincy claiming another Individual Champion, giving the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC), five in total.
Yu Sakamoto of McKendree earned the 117 lbs. title by decision (4-3). Cameron Guerin of McKendree won the 131 bout by decision (5-5), Xochitl Mota-Pettis from Quincy won the 124 title by tech fall in 5:49, Katie Lange of Grand Valley State claimed the 138 title by decision (4-1), and Tristan Kelly of McKendree won the 207 title by tech fall in 3:43.
At the end of the meet, McKendree mentor Alexio Garcia was named National Tournament Coach of the Year, as voted on by other coaches. Overall, the GLVC had 19 All-Americans.
Following McKendree in the team rankings was Grand Valley (110.5 points) in fourth, Quincy (41) in ninth, William Jewell (4.5) in 31st, and Northern Michigan (2.5) in a tie for 39th.