2021-22 Women's Wrestlers of the Week

2021-22 Women's Wrestlers of the Week

Players of the week are evaluated on their performance during the week prior to the announcement. Each player is selected out of a pool of conference and Continental Athletic Conference (Independents) award winners.


Quick Find: Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8


Week 1 (November 17, 2021)

Wrestler of the Week: Ashley Gooman, Providence (Mont.)

 

Gooman, the fifth-ranked 116-pound wrestler from Ewa, Hawaii, defeated three NCAA opponents (including a Division I wrestler) en route to winning the 116-pound division at the Maverick Open. Gooman cruised through the division, recording one pin and three technical falls.

Nominees: Rebekah Cordova, Wayland Baptist (Texas); Olivia Brown, Grand View (Iowa); Esther Walker, Midland (Kan.); Tehani Soares, Indiana Tech 

 

Week 2 (November 24, 2021)

Wrestler of the Week: Jordan Suarez, Wayland Baptist (Texas)

 

The NAIA's fifth-ranked wrestler at her weight, Suarez won her first four matches before narrowly falling in the finals. She opened by defeating the 17th-ranked wrestler, Desinee Lopez of Southern Oregon, by 10-0 tech fall then won by the same count against Sylvia Pierce of Life (Ga.). Suarez's biggest win came when she knocked off No. 3 Andrea Schlaback of Grand View (Iowa) by 11-0 tech fall. She then defeated No. 9 Paige Respicio of Providence (Mont.) by 9-1 decision to move to the championship where shelost against Ana Luciano of NCAA Division II King University (Tenn.).

Nominees: Salyna Shotwell, Life (Ga.); Trinity Speredon, Menlo College (Calif.); Alaina Sunlin, Iowa Wesleyan; Kai Morrison, Avile (Mo.)

 

Week 3 (January 12, 2022)

Wrestler of the Week: Gabrielle Hamilton, Life (Ga.)

 

After missing last season, No. 8 Gabby Hamilton proved why she was viewed as one of the top 191 lbs. wrestler coming up huge for the Running Eagles on their way to its first ever NWCA National Duals Championship. The junior earned bonus points in all of her bouts, recording two pins and a technical fall, and both of her victories on day two came over higher ranked opponents. In her final bout, she bounced back from being down 6-4 and an injury in the first period to upset No. 3 Vergara in the final match of NWCA Championship dual, deciding who would earn the title as the team score stood at 20-19 Life going into the 191 lbs. match.

Nominees: Abby McIntyre, Grand View (Iowa); Mea Mohler, Texas Wesleyan; Markayla Lottie, Avila (Mo.); Sienna Ramirez, Southern Oregon

 

Week 4 (January 19, 2022)

Wrestler of the Week: Nanea Estrella, Menlo (Calif.)

 

After winning her debut at the Dual portion of the tournament, Nanea started things off in the open tournament with a 33 second pin of Neah Finkbone of DII William Jewell College, earning her a spot in the semifinals against defending NWCA Southwest Regional Wrestler of the Month Claire DiCugno. DiCugno fared a similar fate to Finkbone, as Estrella would pin her in two minutes and 16 seconds. This would set up a championship bout between Estrella and NAIA Top Ranked Lexi Basham, in what could be a preview of the NAIA National Championship at 130. Basham and Estrella duked it out, but a late takedown from Nanea would seal the deal, as Estrella would win 5-3 and earn her first tournament title as a Menlo Oak.

Nominees: Destiny Lyng, Oklahoma City; Charity Goldsmith-Ding, York (Neb.); Gianna Moreno, Missouri Valley; Emma Walker, Campbellsville (Ky.)

 

Week 5 (January 26, 2022)

Wrestler of the Week: Jordan Suarez, Wayland Baptist (Texas)

 

Suarez, the third ranked wrestler at the 136 weight class defeated the 15th ranked wrestler twice in the round robin event last week. She now holds a 17-3 record on the season. On her way to winning her third tournament of the season, she had victories over Araya Boday of University of St. Mary's (Kan.), once by technical fall, 10-0, then by 10-3 decision.

Nominees: Julia Vidallon, Life (Ga.); Adrienna Turner, Grand View (Iowa)

 

Week 6 (February 2, 2022)

Wrestler of the Week: Abbie Jones, Baker (Kan.)

 

Jones had a huge week for Baker, going 7-0 on the week! Jones was 2-0 and duals and went 5-0 in the Spire Classic to take home first place at 136 pounds. On the week she defeated No. 20 Lindsay Mills of Missouri Baptist and defeated No. 8 Alexis Lopez of Grand View two different times. 

Nominees: Barbara Greenberg, Menlo (Calif.); Markayla Lottie, Avila (Mo.); India Page, Brewton-Parker (Ga.)

 

Week 7 (February 9, 2022)

Wrestler of the Week: Ivy Navarro, University of Providence (Mont.)

 

Navarro won the 101 lb. weight class at the Grand View Open, defeating three Top 10 opponents en route to the first place finish with a 5-0 record. Navarro has remained the top-ranked 101-lb. wrestler in the nation the entire season.

Nominees: Jordan Nelson, Life (Ga.); Madison Diaz, Grand View (Iowa); Esther Walker, Midland (Neb.)

 

Week 8 (February 16, 2022)

Wrestler of the Week: Nichole Moore, Baker (Kan.)

 

Moore did not give up a point this weekend as she won by tech-fall in all three matches to take home first place at the Midland Open in the 123 pound weight class this weekend. In the first round, she defeated Ali Andersen 10-0, then #16 Mami Selemani 11-0, and finally sixth ranked Adrienna Turner 11-0. 

Nominees: Emily Paulino, Midland (Neb.); Alyssa Valdivia, Brewton-Parker (Ga.)