BRISTOL, Tenn. – With the Women's Collegiate Wrestling Coalition (WCWC) National Championships only a few short days away, the final National Wrestling Coaches Association rankings for 2020 have been released. Out of 10 weight classes the Tornado stack up 10 nationally ranked wrestlers, half of which are ranked first or second in the country. Jaclyn McNichols and Cheyenne Sisenstein have both maintained their first place status for the entirety of the season.
Overall the Tornado land in third for the dual meet national ranking, having only lost one dual this entire season to No. 2 Simon Fraser University and finishing the season with an 11-1 record. In the individual tournament rankings, the Tornado ranked third entering the national championships.
McNichols has been ranked No. 1 at 101 pounds for every issue of rankings this season. She is 11-2 overall, including three wins by technical fall and two by pin. McNichols won the Bearcat Open and took third at the Missouri Valley Open and the Tornado Open. McNichols is also a returning All-American.
Aleeah Gould has been in the mix at 109 pounds for the entire season and is ranked seventh. She found the podium at both the Bearcat and Missouri Valley Open and took first at the Tornado Open. Gould is a returning, multiple time All-American and has already picked up a staggering seven tech falls and 10 pins this year.
Sisenstein is ranked No. 1 at 123 points and has been completely dominate this year. She is only a sophomore but has compiled a season record of 18-0 with six tech falls and nine pins.
Phoenix Dubose also stacks up at 123 pounds as she is ranked fifth. The freshman has already compiled 11 technical falls in her first year. Dubose has placed at every tournament she has competed in this year, including three second place finishes.
Allison Petix has been in top contention this entire season at 130 pounds and is ranked second. She has tangled with the number one seed twice and is looking to make three the magic number in Michigan. Petix is a returning All-American with over 20 wins this season.
Alyssa Aceval remains in fourth for the final rankings at 130 pounds. She has performed very consistently all season with four wins by pin and a tech fall.
After changing weight classes Ana Luciano now finds herself ranked fifth at 136 pounds. She has been consistent this year with two podium appearances and only a few extremely close losses. Lucianio has cashed in six tech falls and four pins and took second at the Tornado Open.
Ashlynn Ortega has occupied the number one spot for the majority of the season and is ranked second. She has compiled a dominate 15-1 record with six tech falls and five pins. Her only loss comes from a close decision to Simon Fraser at the NWCA National Duals.
Nia Crosdale has been unstoppable this semester at 170 pounds. She started the season 1-2 and unranked to sixth in the nation. Crosdale is 8-0 this semester with three pins, a tech fall and she won the Tornado Open.
Tavi Heidelberg-Tillotson is only a freshman but has steadily risen through the ranks this season, moving from eighth all the way up to second at 191 pounds. She has compiled eight wins, four of which by pin and three by tech fall. Heildelberg-Tillotson also took fifth at the Bearcat Open and second at the Tornado Open.
The WCWC National Championships start on Friday and conclude on Saturday in Adrian, Mich.
