CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --The No. 13-ranked Wartburg College women's wrestling team capped a historic weekend with a perfect 4–0 showing to claim its first-ever NWCA Division III National Duals championship Saturday at the UNI-Dome. The Knights secured the title with victories over No. 23 Aurora University and No. 16 Simpson College, improving to 9–1 overall on the season.

With the championship run, Wartburg set a new program record for single-season wins, surpassing last year's total of seven.
Wartburg opened the day with a dramatic 23–21 semifinal victory over No. 23 Aurora. Trailing 16–11 after the 138-pound bout, Aniyah Kelly delivered a pivotal 10–0 technical fall to pull the Knights within one. May Prado followed with a 9–5 decision to give Wartburg the lead before Aurora regained a narrow 21–18 advantage heading into the final match. Rewa Chababo sealed the comeback in emphatic fashion, recording a quick 1:49 fall to send the Knights to their first-ever NWCA National championship dual.

In the title match, Wartburg defeated conference rival Simpson for the second time this season, after previously earning a 29–17 win in the season opener on Nov. 5.

The Knights set the tone early in the championship dual, as Chloe Sheffield earned a 5–0 decision at 103 pounds, Afftynn Stusse followed with a fall at 110, and Gable Hemann added a 10–0 technical fall at 117. Sophie Bowers secured a 12–3 decision at 124 before Mackenzie Childers closed the opening stretch with a pin at 131.

Wartburg continued to extend its lead behind a 16–5 technical fall from Kylie Rule at 138 and a gritty 4–2 decision by Kelly at 145. Simpson picked up wins at 160 and 180, but Chababo punctuated the championship with a dominant 10–0 technical fall at 207, officially sealing the NWCA Division III National Duals title for the Knights.
 
UP NEXT
Wartburg travels to Mount Vernon, Iowa to dual Cornell College on Wednesday, Jan. 14 at 7 PM at the Small Athletic and Wellness Center.
 
 
MATCH #3 SEMIFINAL – #13 WARTBURG 23, #23 AURORA 21
103 - Genesis Ramirez (Aurora) over Lainey Shelangoski (Wartburg) Fall 4:10
110 - Afftynn Stusse (Wartburg) over Sharon Moreno (Aurora) Fall 0:51
117 - Jasmine Luedtke (Wartburg) over Zoee Sadler (Aurora) Fall 2:02
124 - Natasha Markoutsis (Aurora) over Ayane Jasinski (Wartburg) TF 11-0
131 - Alexis Janiak (Aurora) over Cailyn Whittier (Wartburg) TF 10-0
138 - Sophia Ball (Aurora) over Kylie Rule (Wartburg) Dec 12-10
145 - Aniyah Kelly (Wartburg) over Makayla Howard (Aurora) TF 10-0
160 - May Prado (Wartburg) over Cheya Bishop (Aurora) Dec 9-5
180 - Anneliese Tavira (Aurora) over Erika Peterson (Wartburg) TF 10-0
207 - Rewa Chababo (Wartburg) over Hannah Mcduffee (Aurora) Fall 1:49
 
MATCH #4 CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH – #13 WARTBURG 31, #16 SIMPSON 13
103 - Chloe Sheffield (Wartburg) over Emaline Hicks (Simpson) Dec 5-0
110 - Afftynn Stusse (Wartburg) over Sarah Zimmerman (Simpson) Fall 3:48
117 - Gable Hemann (Wartburg) over Layla Phillips (Simpson) TF 10-0
124 - Sophie Bowers (Wartburg) over Ashley Cannon (Simpson) Dec 12-3
131 - Mackenzie Childers (Wartburg) over Vanessa Aguirre (Simpson) Fall 1:40
138 - Kylie Rule (Wartburg) over Paige Gershmel (Simpson) TF 16-5
145 - Aniyah Kelly (Wartburg) over Noa Arnold (Simpson) Dec 4-2
160 - Keeley Kehrli (Simpson) over May Prado (Wartburg) Fall 1:34
180 - Autumn Calvert (Simpson) over Erika Peterson (Wartburg) Fall 3:00
207 - Rewa Chababo (Wartburg) over Savannah Sistad (Simpson) TF 10-0