2026 A-R-C CHAMPIONSHIPS | Saturday, Jan. 24
H.S. Kuyper Fieldhouse | Pella, Iowa | Central College
WATCH | LIVE RESULTS

The No. 8-ranked Wartburg College women's wrestling team (10-1 overall) hits the mat Saturday, Jan. 24 at 10 a.m., for the 2026 American Rivers Conference Championships held at the H.S. Kuyper Fieldhouse on the campus of Central College.  

Following the completion of the tournament, the conference will present a team trophy for the championship team and medals for the top three place winners in each weight class.  

Live streaming will be available, free of charge, on the American Rivers Conference Sports Network.  

Last season, the Knights claimed the A-R-C's inaugural title with six individual conference champions, compiling 151.5 team points.  

Wartburg jumped five spots to No. 8 in the latest NWCA tournament rankings, as nine wrestlers found themselves in the top 20 from Open Mat.  
 
NATIONAL STATUS – Open Mat 
 

• 103 – Chloe Sheffield (#7) 
• 110 – Afftynn Stusse (#8) 
• 117 – Gable Hemann (#8) 
• 124 – Sophie Bowers (#13) 
• 131 – Kenzie Childers (#17) 
• 138 – Kylie Rule (#9) 
• 145 – Aniyah Kelly (#12) 
• 160 – May Prado (#12) 
• 207 – Rewa Chababo (#6) 

 
KEEP AN EYE OUT 
Ava Gardner sits ninth in the country in total number of technical falls in the latest NCAA Women's Wrestling Awards standings (through Jan. 19).  
 

1. Sophia Bassino (160), Northern Michigan University – 15 
2. Kassey Daugherty (131), Presbyterian – 14 
3. Abigal Mozden (131), Mount Union – 14 
4. Abigail Cooper (117), Lehigh – 12 
5. Azariah Moore (180), Lock Haven University – 12 
6. Paola Villarruel (117), Manchester – 11 
7. Reese Larramendy (145), Iowa – 11 
8. Amelia Adams (124), UW-Stevens Point – 11 
9. Ava Gardner (110), Wartburg – 11 
10. Kyra Tomlinson (138), Greensboro College - 10 

 
SEASON STATISTICS 
The Knights have tallied 423 individual wins so far this season with a .631 win percentage. Kaydence Boorn has pinned nine opponents to lead Wartburg's 120. Reigning A-R-C Wrestler of the Week winner, Jasmine Stusse, sits behind with eight,  Afftynn Stusse, Rewa Chababo, Aubrie Pehrson, Hallie Kruger, and Annabel Blanchard have pinned six each.  

Wartburg has a trio of wrestlers in Stusse (14-1), Gable Hemann (14-1), and Chloe Sheffield (13-1) who have seen just one defeat this season - Gardner (24-9) piles on a team-high 24 wins.  
 
WEEKLY A-R-C HONORS 

• Afftynn Stusse – Nov. 10 
• Aniyah Kelly – Jan. 12 
• Jasmine Luedtke – Jan. 19 

 
A-R-C Women's Wrestling Preseason Poll  
1. Wartburg - 35 (5) 
2. Simpson - 29 (1) 
3. Univ. of Dubuque - 27 (1) 
4. Buena Vista - 20 
5. Central - 16 
6. Loras - 12 
7. Luther - 8