ESTHERVILLE, Iowa — The Iowa Lakes Community College women's wrestling team wrapped up its season with a standout performance at the NJCAA Women's Wrestling National Invitational, highlighted by a national championship and three other All-American finishes.
The Lakers earned a top-10 finish, ending in 8th place in the nation.
Leading the way for the Lakers was Keyahna Phillips, who captured the 180-pound national championship with a dominant run through the bracket. Phillips recorded four pins on her way to the finals before securing the title with a fall in 1:03 over Paola Rodriguez of Indian Hills Community College.
Phillips' performance capped a remarkable tournament, as she controlled each match with aggressive offense and quick finishes to claim the national crown.
The Lakers also earned three additional All-American honors during the national tournament.
At 180 pounds, Alexa Karch battled through the early rounds with a pair of convincing victories before finishing fourth overall, securing All-American recognition.
In the 235-pound division, Brooklyn Robinson fought through the consolation bracket to earn a fifth-place finish, adding another All-American performance for Iowa Lakes.
Another notable performance came from Abigail Ji, who placed seventh at 131 pounds, giving the Lakers four wrestlers finishing in the top eight of their respective weight classes.
Iowa Lakes also saw wins from Stevy Griffin (124) 1-2, Riley Weiler (138) 1-2, Michelle Ramirez (138) 3-2, and Avery Hoffmeyer (145) 2-2. Several additional Iowa Lakes wrestlers competed at the national tournament, gaining valuable experience against top junior college competition and contributing to the continued growth of the program.
Coach's Comments
"We're incredibly proud of the way our women competed this weekend," said Head Coach Corey Muniz. "Keyahna wrestled an outstanding tournament and showed why she's one of the best in the country. Alexa and Brooklyn both battled through tough brackets to earn All-American honors, and Abigail also had a strong showing. This group works hard every day, and it's great to see that effort pay off on the national stage."
With a national champion and multiple All-Americans, the Lakers closed the season with momentum as the program continues to grow and compete with the top teams in junior college women's wrestling.
Team Scores:
- Indian Hills 229
- Southeast CC (NE) 203.5
- Iowa Central 195
- Umpqua 168
- Murray State 135
- Snow 132
- Iowa Western 129
- IOWA LAKES 96
- Southwestern Oregon 81
- Hawkeye CC 62.5
- Carl Albert State 60.5
- Northern Oklahoma 50
- NIACC 39.5
- Southeastern 39
- Fort Hays Tech Northwest 38.5
- Andrew 33
- Big Bend 32
- Colby 31
- Trinidad State 21.5
- Nassau 13
- Bryant & Stratton 6
- Sussex County 5
- Southwestern Michigan 3.5
- Bergen 3
- Itasca 3
- Onondaga 3
- Lackawanna 2.5
- Joliet 0
- Muskegon 0
- Northampton 0
Full Iowa Lakes Results Below:
103 lbs
• Leila Rosas (Northern Oklahoma) def. Aroura Preston (Iowa Lakes) — Fall, 1:27
• Brooklyn Noel (Indian Hills) def. Aroura Preston (Iowa Lakes) — Fall, 0:20
110 lbs
• Isabella Salas (Carl Albert State) def. Diana Llanos (Iowa Lakes) — Tech Fall 12–2, 2:41
• Brooklynn Huggins (Northern Oklahoma) def. Diana Llanos (Iowa Lakes) — Fall, 1:29
117 lbs
• Aneth Campos (Iowa Central) def. Anika Stearns (Iowa Lakes) — Tech Fall 12–0, 1:08
• Katlyn Fields (Andrew) def. Anika Stearns (Iowa Lakes) — Tech Fall 12–2, 2:24
124 lbs
• Jordan Williams (Northern Oklahoma) def. Stevy Griffin (Iowa Lakes) — Fall, 5:18
• Stevy Griffin (Iowa Lakes) def. Anastasia Ruka (Iowa Western) — Fall, 4:25
• Ariel Goble (Andrew) def. Stevy Griffin (Iowa Lakes) — Fall, 1:54
131 lbs
• Abigail Ji (Iowa Lakes) def. Mia Ahrendsen (Hawkeye) — Decision, 2–0
• Cieanna Ficken (Hawkeye) def. Anacarolina Cazares (Iowa Lakes) — Fall, 2:08
• Bella Ngo (Umpqua) def. Abigail Ji (Iowa Lakes) — Tech Fall 10–0, 2:33
• Cheyenne Cornelius (Andrew) def. Anacarolina Cazares (Iowa Lakes) — Tech Fall 10–0, 2:01
• Abigail Ji (Iowa Lakes) def. Julissa Miranda (Snow) — Fall, 4:36
• Abigail Ji (Iowa Lakes) def. Caitlin Van Praag (Southeastern) — Fall, 1:51
• Abigail Ji (Iowa Lakes) def. Cieanna Ficken (Hawkeye) — Tech Fall 10–0, 3:57
• Annabelle Petsinger (Iowa Central) def. Abigail Ji (Iowa Lakes) — Fall, 5:41
• Abigail Ji (Iowa Lakes) def. Lacy Lemburg (Southeast Nebraska) — Decision, 9–5
138 lbs
• Lillian Hagemann (Southeast Nebraska) def. Riley Weiler (Iowa Lakes) — Fall, 2:13
• Jazrine Nieto (Colby) def. Michelle Ramirez (Iowa Lakes) — Tech Fall 11–0, 0:30
• Michelle Ramirez (Iowa Lakes) def. Emalee Douglas (NIACC) — Decision, 8–6
• Riley Weiler (Iowa Lakes) def. Samantha Reynolds (Snow) — Fall, 2:18
• Michelle Ramirez (Iowa Lakes) def. Ytzel Figueroa (Umpqua) — Fall, 1:49
• Miah Kenny (Northern Oklahoma) def. Riley Weiler (Iowa Lakes) — Fall, 4:01
• Michelle Ramirez (Iowa Lakes) def. Lauren Manuelito (Trinidad State) — Tech Fall 13–2, 4:24
• Destiny Krum (Iowa Central) def. Michelle Ramirez (Iowa Lakes) — Fall, 1:31
145 lbs
• Zolie Kurena (Murray State) def. Nina Aceves (Iowa Lakes) — Fall, 2:19
• Avery Hoffmeyer (Iowa Lakes) def. Meya Roberts (Hawkeye) — Forfeit
• Isabella Morgan (Snow) def. Avery Hoffmeyer (Iowa Lakes) — Fall, 1:21
• Geraldine Honore (NIACC) def. Nina Aceves (Iowa Lakes) — Fall, 1:21
• Avery Hoffmeyer (Iowa Lakes) def. Haylee Fessler (Lackawanna) — Decision, 9–8
• Teagan Simpson (Bryant & Stratton) def. Avery Hoffmeyer (Iowa Lakes) — Tech Fall 10–0, 1:39
180 lbs
• Keyahna Phillips (Iowa Lakes) def. June Highburger (Southwestern Oregon) — Fall, 1:11
• Alexa Karch (Iowa Lakes) def. Diesel Janovich (Southeast Nebraska) — Fall, 0:48
• Keyahna Phillips (Iowa Lakes) def. Hailey Schumaker (Lackawanna) — Fall, 0:13
• Alexa Karch (Iowa Lakes) def. Darcee Oloughlin (Hawkeye) — Tech Fall 12–0, 1:06
• Keyahna Phillips (Iowa Lakes) def. Lucy Kohnen (Iowa Central) — Fall, 0:48
• Maeli Howard (Snow) def. Alexa Karch (Iowa Lakes) — Fall, 3:34
• Alexa Karch (Iowa Lakes) def. Praizh Suggs (Iowa Central) — Fall, 2:17
• Keyahna Phillips (Iowa Lakes) def. Caris Morris (Murray State) — Fall, 3:23
• Alexa Karch (Iowa Lakes) def. Diesel Janovich (Southeast Nebraska) — Fall, 1:46
• Alexa Karch (Iowa Lakes) def. Caris Morris (Murray State) — Fall, 0:57
• Maeli Howard (Snow) def. Alexa Karch (Iowa Lakes) — Fall, 2:50
• Keyahna Phillips (Iowa Lakes) def. Paola Rodriguez (Indian Hills) — Fall, 1:03
207 lbs
• Martha Hinneh (Southeast Nebraska) def. Soledad Luchman (Iowa Lakes) — Fall, 2:44
• Joy Kral (Itasca) def. Soledad Luchman (Iowa Lakes) — Fall, 4:16
235 lbs
• Brooklyn Robinson (Iowa Lakes) def. Lucy Lester (Southwestern Michigan) — Tech Fall 11–0, 1:37
• Kirsten Kpoto (Southeast Nebraska) def. Brenda Valenzuela (Iowa Lakes) — Tech Fall 10–0, 2:22
• Mackenzie Arends (Hawkeye) def. Brooklyn Robinson (Iowa Lakes) — Fall, 4:42
• Brighton Wise (Snow) def. Brenda Valenzuela (Iowa Lakes) — Fall, 2:32
• Brooklyn Robinson (Iowa Lakes) def. Reese Winslow (Hawkeye) — Fall, 0:36
• Brooklyn Robinson (Iowa Lakes) def. Brighton Wise (Snow) — Fall, 2:57
• Faith Tarrant (Iowa Western) def. Brooklyn Robinson (Iowa Lakes) — Fall, 2:16
• Brooklyn Robinson (Iowa Lakes) def. Mackenzie Arends (Hawkeye) — Forfeit