Few sports in NCC history have hit the ground running the way the women’s wrestling program has. After being introduced in the 2019-2020 school year, the team has quickly emerged as one of the best in the region with sixth-place finishes at the NCAA championships in 2020 and 2021.
The Cardinals entered this fall with high expectations, both as a team and individually. Along with being ranked seventh in the National Collegiate Wrestling Association (NWCA) preseason poll, the team also boasted a lineup featuring five ranked individual wrestlers. Early on, the team has lived up to the pre-season hype, placing third out of 38 teams at the Missouri Valley College Open and a dominating 40-5 win over Augustana College in their opening dual, followed by a 32-1 rout of Carthage on Dec. 2 and 38-7 victory against Indiana Tech on Dec. 5.
Young and hungry
“Our biggest strength is our culture. Our women wrestle for each other and work hard for each other. We are a family. People will always work hard for their families,” said head coach Joe Norton.
Norton coaches both men’s and women’s wrestling teams at NCC and has quickly seen team and individual success. He’s already won CCIW Coach of the Year for men’s wrestling in 2018 and 2019.
The Cardinals came into the season with a relatively young team. Seven of the team’s nine starters in the home opener against Augustana were underclassmen. Amber Turner, Sarah Frost, Flora Vizi, Skyy Hills and Sadie Hill are all a part of a promising freshmen class. Having a young roster gives the team high upside, but the lack of experience can also create some challenges.
“I want to continue to improve our skills throughout the season and develop leadership skills among the younger women on the team,” said Norton.
Makoyed, Martinez set to lead
The freshmen have an impressive role model to turn to with Yelena Makoyed. Makoyed has played a vital role in the team’s success, becoming the program’s first national champion last season at 170 pounds. To go with her success at the collegiate level, Makoyed also has international experience, including a gold medal at 76 kg at the Pan American Championships in Mexico this summer. Makoyed has already won the NWCA Northwest Region Wrestler of the Month this season.
“Having Yelena on the team keeps the women aspiring to reach the highest levels of the sport,” said Norton. “It shows them that you can achieve all of your wrestling goals at a small school like NCC.”
Along with Makoyed, Amanda Martinez returns to the Cardinals as a graduate assistant. Martinez finished last season as the national runner-up at 130 pounds. Earlier this year, she was also runner-up at the U23 World Team Trials, earning a spot on USA Wrestling U23 National Team.
Tough schedule ahead
Given the team’s recent success, Coach Norton didn’t shy away from his high hopes for the season.
“Our expectations are (to) bring our best efforts to the mats and the classroom every day,” said Norton. “The goal is to qualify fifteen women for nationals and finish in the top three in the team standings.”
Currently, the NWCA has them exactly at that third-overall spot.
NCC will host an open invitational on Dec. 11. The nationally ranked programs of Augsburg and Wisconsin-Stevens Point highlight the teams making the trip to Naperville. The Cardinals will then travel to Las Vegas for the Desert Duals over winter break. Hosted by a ranked Wartburg program, this event always garners national attention.
