CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – Reserved only for the country's most elite programs, the two-day NWCA National Duals Tournament will once again feature the #7 Presbyterian College women's wrestling team, beginning tomorrow morning and running through Saturday.
A 16-team double elimination bracket held in the Midwest, PC will put their talent to the test against #17 Wisconsin-Stevens Point in the opening round on Friday at 10:00 AM. Should they emerge victorious, they'll meet either #12 Emmanuel or #5 McKendree for a hypothetical top-ten clash in the next round roughly 90 minutes later.
Located in Iowa – the same state where this season's National Championship bracket will occur in March – Presby brings another well-versed lineup with them to do battle with some of the nation's other title contenders.
Fourteen nationally-ranked schools will be squaring off with each other over the next 48 hours in Cedar Falls, including seven institutions inside the top ten.
The Blue Hose have beaten six opponents at the NWCA National Duals over the last two winters, one of the biggest stories in the 2024 event thanks to three victories over top-ten foes in rapid succession.
Head coach
Brian Vutianitis' gang ended last season's tourney by defeating #4 Colorado Mesa 28-19, thus far the highest-ranked dual win in PC history.
GAMEDAY INFO – FRIDAY, JAN. 10 & SATURDAY, JAN. 11
#5 Presbyterian (5-1) vs. #17 Wisconsin-Stevens Point (1-2)
WHERE / WHEN: UNI Dome (Cedar Falls, IA) | 10:00 AM
#5 Presbyterian (5-1) vs. #12 Emmanuel (15-1) / #5 McKendree (8-2)
WHERE / WHEN: UNI Dome (Cedar Falls, IA) | 11:30 AM
NWCA NATIONAL DUALS BRACKET
COMPOSITE SCHEDULE
THE FIELD OF 16
Tomorrow's full list of opening round duals is presented below. All matches are slated for 10:00 AM. Each school is guaranteed at least two contests on Friday, with the remainder of their schedule determined by their results:
#1 Iowa vs. #10 Aurora
#11 Wartburg vs. Adrian
#7 Presbyterian vs. #17 Wisconsin-Stevens Point
#5 McKendree vs. #12 Emmanuel
#2 King vs. #14 Lock Haven
#6 Colorado Mesa vs. #16 Sacred Heart
#13 Elmira vs. #20 Schriener
#3 North Central vs. Mount Olive
The four teams that win both of their matches on Friday will advance to the Semifinal's on Saturday, beginning at 10:30 AM. The last two unbeatens will meet for the Championship at 1:30.
RANKINGS UPDATE
Presbyterian approaches this high-profile tourney with five dual wins to their name and an even more impressive 24 individual titles when wrestling in tournaments (five events).
Those lavish numbers have led to six of Vutianitis' wrestlers placed inside the national top ten for their respective weight class:
Alyssa Mahan | 5
th in Class 124 | 13-4 Record | 5 Falls, 4 Tech's
Cassia Zammit | 9
th in Class 131 | 14-1 Record | 7 Falls, 3 Tech's
(NWCA Southeast Region Wrestler of the Month – November)
Paige Wehrmeister | 4
th in Class 138 | 15-6 Record | 4 Falls, 8 Tech's
May Cuyler | 4
th in Class 160 | 16-1 Record | 11 Falls, 4 Tech's
Ella Beam | 7
th in Class 207 | 10-6 Record | 5 Falls, 3 Tech's
Maria Aiono | 8
th in Class 207 | 19-4 Record | 11 Falls, 6 Tech's
