BUFFALO, N.Y. – Competing all season long, one can only dream about going and competing on the national stage, amongst the best in the country. Come this Friday, five D'Youville University women's wrestlers will do just that in Coralville, Iowa at the 2025 National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championships.
 
"Last year, there were so many unknowns that came with being a first-year program, nationals included," said head coach Carlene Sluberski. "Going back to nationals for a second time, there is a lot less left up to the imagination. They have felt it, seen it, and can take those experiences to better prepare for the challenges ahead."
 
Three wrestlers qualified for nationals for the second consecutive year including Madison Wellen (East Berlin, Pa/Wyoming Seminary), Alessandra Elliott (Staten Island, N.Y./Tottenville), and Saniyah Ward (The Colony, Texas/The Colony).
 
Making their first appearance at nationals will be Zoe Kip (Liberty, N.Y./Liberty) and Mackenzie Laforest (Waverly, N.Y./Waverly).
 
"For those that haven't been there, there will be a lot of outside noise and action happening on the grand scale," Sluberski said. "But when you get down to it, it's just another wrestling tournament."
 
About the Grapplers
Madison Wellen – 131 lbs.
Wellen brings in a 19-6 record into the national champions, qualifying after a fourth-place finish at the NCWWC Region 1 Championships two weeks ago. On the season, Wellen has nine wins by fall and six by tech. fall.
 
Wellen is projected to be matched up with Jamie Laswell of Fort Hays State. Laswell has 26 wins on the season with 14 coming by way of tech fall which leads the team.
 
Alessandra Elliott – 138 lbs.
Elliott brings in an overall record of 17-9 into nationals, qualifying after a third-place finish at the NCWWC Region 1 Championships. Elliott has three falls on the year to go along with 10 tech. falls which leads the team.
 
Elliott is project to be matched up with Nina Makem of Augsburg University. Makem has 26 wins on the season including nine tech. falls, leading the team in both categories.
 
Saniyah Ward – 145 lbs.
Ward brings in an overall record of 16-8, qualifying for nationals after a third-place finish at the NCWWC Region 1 Championships. On the year, Ward has pinned her opponent 10 times, leading the team in that category. Ward also got a bump going into the national tournament as she was ranked No. 20 in the individual rankings according to The Open Mat.
 
Ward is projected to be matched up with Macey Kilty of the University of Iowa. Kilty has a perfect 18-0 record on the season with 15 coming by way of tech. falls.
 
Zoe Kip – 160 lbs.
Kip will take a record of 9-13 to nationals, qualifying after a fourth-place finish at the NWCCW Region 1 Championships. On the year, Kip ha three wins via fall and one by way of a tech. fall.
 
Kip is projected to be matched up with Lene McCrackin of Simon Fraser University. McCrackin also has perfect record of 18-0 on the season with eight wins coming by way of falls and 10 coming by tech. falls.
 
Mackenzie Laforest – 207 lbs.
Laforest will take her 9-9 record into nationals after qualifying after a third-place finish at the NCWWC Region 1 Championships. Laforest has five falls on the year and one tech. fall.
 
Laforest is projected to be matched up with Jaycee Foeller of the University of Iowa. Foeller has a record of 19-2 on the season with four wins coming by fall and eight coming by tech. fall.
 
For the five wrestlers that will be competing this weekend, whether you have been there before or if its your first time, the expectation remains the same.
 
"Go out and compete as hard as you can and maintain your focus for six minutes," said Sluberski. "We don't need to over complicate anything or make it bigger than it is. As a coaching staff, we just want to see them make the most of this opportunity and allow themselves to compete."
 
Action will begin tomorrow at 10 a.m. central time with the first session. The second session will start at 5 p.m. central time. Day Two will be Saturday with session three starting at 11 a.m. central time and wrapping up with session four at 6 p.m. central time.

For more information about the national tournament, visit ncwwc.com.