The Simpson College women’s wrestling team dominated Cornell College and made history with their first home dual win.
The Storm women made quick work of the Rams in a 30-minute match, ending with a team score of 39-9. Although the dual was quick, it was still eventful.
With four Simpson wins by forfeit, the first 15 points of the match were on the board before a body hit the mat.
First-year Lily McMahon scored a 10-0 technical fall, and Cornell gave up another 10 with an injury default.
The rest of the Storm’s points came from a pair of pins given out by first-years Kassidee Savaria and Ashley Cannon.
Cannon made the meet even more interesting by suffering a nosebleed that kept stalling her match.
“I get nosebleeds constantly, almost every match,” Cannon said. “I am prone to them, and I use my head as a tool in my matches, so it takes a lot of damage!”
The Simpson College sports medicine and athletic training staff that were on duty for the meet had their hands full with Cannon’s injuries.
“It is always eventful when you have a bleeder,” Kayley Weiland, assistant athletic trainer, said.
“I think in almost every picture from every meet she has cotton plugs in at least one nostril,” Weiland said.
Cannon, who competed in the 123-pound weight class at the meet against Cornell, won her match, making her record 17-4, with 12 pins.
“My goal for the match was to control her until she got tired and then get to my offense,” Cannon said.
Although this is only Cannon’s first year wrestling at the college level, she has made strong strides for herself and Storm women’s wrestling.
“This season, I want to qualify for nationals and become an All-American. But I mostly just want to continue having fun doing the sport I love,” Cannon said.
Being a part of a team that is constantly making history has its rewards, but there is more to Cannon’s love of representing the Storm than fame and glory.
“I chose Simpson because of Coach McGinness,” Cannon said.
Jeff McGinness is Simpson College’s Head Women’s Wrestling Coach. Although this is only his second season at Simpson, McGinness continues to build a strong program and make great connections with current and prospective athletes.
“The program overall was exactly what I was looking for and he was the only Coach I enjoyed talking to. I spent months making my decision, but I am so happy I chose Simpson,” Cannon said.
This year, the women’s wrestling team also made history by being selected to host 13 teams for the region five National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships (NCWWC) Regional Tournament on Feb. 23.
In each weight class, the top four wrestlers from the regional tournaments will secure their places in the 2024 NCWWC Nationals in Cedar Rapids on March 8 and 9.
