North Central College, Naperville Illinois
December 14, 2025
Elmhurst Bluejay women's wrestling team concluded the 2025 portion of their 2025-2026 season competing at the highly competitive North Central College Invitational. Host North Central won the event with University of Iowa and University of Providence tying for second place. Most of the young Bluejays competed in the B division primarily against freshman opponents. In all, the Jays won 16 matches out of 41.
Breakout star Claire Crouch battled back from several deficits to win three of four matches and take third place at 103 pounds. Crouch defeated Graves (Tarleton State) by fall in the quarterfinals before falling to Harrison of Oklahoma State by a score of 16-6. Couch bounced back with a fall over Lugo-Fernandez (New Jersey City University) and took third place with her third pin of the day, this one over Ollie Weiland (unattached). Claire Crouch improved her record to 14-5 on the season with 11 wins by fall.
Anjali Gonzalez improved her record to 7-6 after taking fourth place in the 207 pound bracket. She advanced to the semifinals with a fall over Phillips (Eureka). After being defeated by Pomares (William Penn), Gonzalez advanced to the bronze medal match with a first period fall over Conklin (North Central).
Viola Pianetto ended the day with a record of 3-2 wrestling at 138 pounds. Pianetto bounced back from a first round loss with three wins in a row defeating Chaon (Northern Michigan U), Rudolph (Adrian College) and McClory (Adrian College) to make the consolation finals. Painetto leads the team in season wins, holding a 14-5 season record.
Bella Crouch, 131, and Lily Avalos, 160, both battled to records of 2-2 in the tournament. Crouch earned a hard-fought 3-2 decision over Gaetjens (Gannon University) and an 11-2 decision over Comas (Illinois Wesleyan). Avalos scored a nailbiter 5-4 win over Bonde (Indiana Tech) and a fall against Nosbisch (Wisconsin Stevens Point).
Valentina Fantoni (117), Kendall Moss-Smith (124), Nyima Outlaw (131) and Katherine McElhose (145) all came away with wins in the tournament.
The Bluejay women now look ahead to 2026 with a dual scheduled against North Central College on Thursday, January 15 filled by the Elmhurst Women's Invitational on Sunday, January 18.
