The second weekend of March was historic for the Central Methodist Women’s Wrestling program. The Eagles competed in the first-ever NAIA Women’s Wrestling National Championships in Jamestown, N.D.

The event featured wrestlers from 35 different programs from around the country. As a team, Central landed in the Top 10 in seventh place with 92.5 total points. Southern Oregon won the title with 160 points, followed by Life University (139.5) and Grand View (123.5).

Sophomore Caitlyn Thorne made history as she became the first-ever CMU and NAIA Women’s Wrestling National Champion in the 116-pound weight class.

The native of St. Charles, Missouri, posted a 4-0 record through the 116-pound bracket, en route to punching her ticket to the National Finals. She would then square off against No. 4-seeded Camille Fournier of Texas Wesleyan in the championship where she earned a decisive 10-0 Tech Fall victory.

Fellow sophomore Jaycee Foeller battled through a difficult 191-pound bracket as the No. 5 seed. Foeller earned upset victories over No. 4 Maquoia Bernabe (Cumberlands) in the quarterfinals, and No. 1 Kelani Corbett (Missouri Valley) in the semifinals to advance to the championship match.

She would ultimately fall to No. 10 Grace Kristoff of Southern Oregon by a 6-1 decision, finishing as the NAIA National Runner Up and joining Thorne as an All-American.

Freshman Caitlyn Davis finished fourth at 155 pounds as the No. 3 seed with a 3-2 overall record. She posted three straight victories in the early stages of the bracket, before falling to eventual champion Kaylynn Albrecht (Baker) in the semifinals. Davis then fell to India Page of Brewton-Parker College in the third place match.

Skye Realin posted a fifth-place finish at 130 pounds. After dropping her quarterfinal matchup, Realin battled back in the consolation bracket, ultimately advancing to the fifth-place match against Andrea Schlabach (Grand View). She would defeat Schlabach by a 7-3 Decision to solidify a fifth-place standing and earn All-America honors.

Hannah Hall rounded out the All-America selections for CMU. The sophomore finished seventh in the 116-pound weight class with a 4-2 record.

Allison Hynes (123 pounds), Lillian Gough (143 pounds), Shianne Whited (170 pounds), and Victoria Nunez also competed for Central at this year’s championships. Despite not landing on the podium, Gough finished the weekend with a solid 3-2 record.