January 6, 2026
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Women's Wrestling
By Andrew Hipps
The Ken Kraft Midlands Championships women’s wrestling competition took place last week on the campus of Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. The event featured one of the strongest women’s fields of the season, with top NCAA programs such as North Central College, Lehigh University, Aurora, and Lock Haven, alongside NAIA powerhouses Life University and Indiana Tech.
With national title implications already taking shape, here are four key takeaways from the Midlands Championships women’s wrestling competition—and what they mean heading into the postseason.
Few freshmen in college women’s wrestling have arrived with expectations as high as Aubre Krazer—and she’s delivering.
Krazer has been a cornerstone in Lehigh’s immediate rise as a varsity NCAA women’s wrestling program after competing as a club team. A fifth-place finisher at the U20 World Championships, Krazer remains undefeated in her freshman season and made a statement at 131 pounds in Evanston.
She cruised to the finals by outscoring her first three opponents 31–1, including a dominant 10–1 semifinal victory over two-time national finalist Yele Aycock of North Central. In the finals, Krazer defeated returning national champion Alexis Janiak of Aurora, 5–1, earning Outstanding Wrestler honors for the event.
With the return of four-time national champion Cameron Guerin to the division, 131 pounds is shaping up to be one of the most competitive weights in the country—but Krazer has firmly established herself as a legitimate national title contender.
North Central’s Brianne Graves wasted no time reminding the field of her capabilities.
After a strong freshman campaign last season, Graves made her 2025–26 season debut at the Midlands and emerged as the 103-pound champion, outscoring opponents 29–8. Her finals win over Aurora’s Genesis Ramirez was particularly notable, as Ramirez had defeated Graves in two of their three previous meetings last season.
With NCAA sponsorship now limiting programs to one wrestler per weight class at nationals, Graves’ performance adds intrigue to North Central’s internal battle at 103 pounds. While Maddie Avila remains a proven national champion, Graves’ Midlands title ensures that the starting spot will remain highly contested through the postseason.
Claire DiCugno’s return to the mat could not have been more emphatic.
A two-time All-American and 2024 national champion, DiCugno missed last postseason due to injury before transferring to North Central in the offseason. At the Midlands, she looked every bit like a title favorite, winning all four of her matches by technical fall.
In the finals, DiCugno dispatched teammate and past All-American Grace Stem with a 12–1 technical fall. Her addition gives North Central another elite scoring threat as the Cardinals prepare to challenge programs like Iowa, McKendree, and Grand Valley State at the inaugural NCAA Women’s Wrestling Championships in March.
Depth can be a blessing—and a challenge.
North Central showcased its roster strength at 207 pounds, placing three wrestlers in the top four at the Midlands. Tirza Twoteeth claimed the title, while teammates Dasia Yearby and Caroline Ward finished third and fourth.
The trio has traded wins throughout the season, underscoring just how competitive the weight class is internally. With only one postseason spot available under NCAA rules, difficult lineup decisions loom. Despite her Midlands losses, Ward may hold the edge based on her season-long résumé—but the battle is far from settled.
The Midlands Championships once again proved to be a bellwether event for women’s college wrestling, revealing emerging stars, deep roster battles, and early national title contenders. As the sport enters a new era under the NCAA banner, performances in Evanston offered a clear preview of what fans can expect when March arrives.
For coaches, athletes, and programs alike, the message is clear: the margin for error is shrinking—and the level of competition has never been higher.
