Women's Wrestling Rises Back to No.3 Nationally

Women's Wrestling Rises Back to No.3 Nationally | https://images.sidearmdev.com/

By Press release submission

Jan 20, 2023

McKendree University women's wrestling (5-4) moved back up in the national rankings, rising to No.3 in the latest National Wrestling Coaches Association poll with 73 points and eight individuals earning rankings. Three individuals garnered No.1 rankings with 116 redshirt senior Payton Stroud, 130 junior Cameron Guerin, and 191 senior Sydnee Kimber, all sitting atop their class. The Bearcats ranked fourth prior to National Duals but grabbed a third-place finish with a dominant 41-3 win over then-No.3 Colorado Mesa. McKendree hosts a tri-dual on Saturday, January 21, at MPCC against Iowa Wesleyan and Lindenwood, beginning at 1 PM.

Payton Stroud | No.1 | 116
The redshirt senior grabs the top 116lb class ranking after a show-out at the NWCA National Duals with two tech falls and a pinfall victory. Stroud sits at 19-3 (.864) this season, totaling eight techs, five pins, and four decisions. She went for third place during the NCC Open in December while earning a fifth at the MoVal Open and a first (123) at the Adrian Invite to start the year.

Cameron Guerin | No.1 | 130
The junior and Yakima, Washington-native regains the top ranking in her weight class following a more-than-solid display at National Duals with a 4-0 record. The back-to-back 130 national title holder earned two decisions, a tech and a pin to help the Bearcats to their third-place finish during the national competition. Guerin owns a 20-1 (.952) record this season behind eight pins, seven technical falls, and three decisions.

Sydnee Kimber | No. 1 | 191
The Sitka, Alaska-native continues to hold her top-ranking in the 191 class as she has a 14-0 record with seven pinfalls and four tech falls this season. The three-time individual national title wrestler has a pair of first-place finishes this season at the MoVal Open and the NCC Open. Kimber tallied three wins during National Duals with two falls, including a dual-clinching pin against Augsburg.

TEAM RANKINGS
1. North Central - 107 Points
2. King - 106 Points
3. McKendree - 73 Points
4. Colorado Mesa - 63 Points
5. Augsburg - 50 Points
6. Simon Fraser - 40 Points
7. Presbyterian - 23 Points
8. Sacred Heart - 21 Points
9. Gannon - 18 Points
10. Lock Haven - 17 Points

TEAM DUAL RANKINGS
1. King | 5-0
2. North Central | 14-1
3. McKendree | 5-4
4. Augsburg | 5-2
5. Colorado Mesa | 13-2
6. Presbyterian | 6-3
7. Sacred Heart | 13-4
8. Gannon | 5-4
9. Lock Haven | 9-3
10. Adrian | 5-5

INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS
101 | Lizette Bernardo | 2nd
109 | Pauline Granados | 8th
116 | Payton Stroud | 1st
130 | Cameron Guerin | 1st
143 | Alara Boyd | 5th
170 | Alexandra Castillo | 8th
191 | Sydnee Kimber | 1st

UP NEXT
No.3 McKendree women's wrestling will be back on the mats on Saturday, January 21 at home in the MPCC against Lindenwood. The dual can be viewed on GLVCSN.com/McKendree with live results on TrackWrestling.