Women’s college wrestling reached an intersection in 2020. Three separate national championships were scheduled with NCAA and NAIA programs hosting tournaments for the first time in the same year.

The North Central women's wrestling team entered the season with 19 returning All-Americans. You can move that number to 21 starting next semester.

Alara Boyd returned to college competition even though she's not a college wrestler — yet.

North Central College made history last season by becoming the first Division III program to win a national collegiate women’s wrestling championship. The Cardinals had an impressive showing at the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships (NCAA programs) with 15 All-Americans and three national champions.

One of the most dynamic and entertaining college wrestlers will sit out the remainder of the year due to a season-long battle with injuries. Alara Boyd is a three-time national collegiate finalist and a 2021 national champion who was instrumental in McKendree winning the first three National Collegiate Women's Collegiate Wrestling Championships.

There wasn’t much to write about when North Central’s Yele Aycock defeated Augsburg’s Nina Makem during the 136-pound finals of the Pointer Women’s Open on November 15. It was a 2-1 snoozefest with Aycock winning on activity clock points.

Below are the second pound-for-pound rankings of the women’s collegiate wrestling season, which includes all divisions. Off-season results from the past year factored into the rankings but the most recent college results — especially the Missouri Valley Open — weighed heaviest.

Is the Missouri Valley Invitational the toughest women’s college tournament in the country? It’s hard to argue against it. The end-of-year national tournaments don’t have teams from different divisions, so this will certainly be some of the best wrestling you’ll see all season.

Clear your calendar. The biggest and toughest women’s college wrestling tournament of the year is November 18-19.

The women’s college season is in full swing with several top teams competing over the weekend. Keep up to date with all the happenings and check out FloWrestling’s latest pound-for-pound women’s rankings below.

Alara Boyd has had quite a college career. The McKendree senior has reached the National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championships (NCAA programs) each of the past three seasons and snagged the 155-pound title in 2021. She's had success at the international level, too. Boyd has made four age-level World teams and won a pair of medals in the U17 division (bronze in 2016 and silver in 2017).

Below are the first pound-for-pound rankings of the women’s collegiate wrestling season, which includes all divisions. Off-season results from the past year factored into the rankings since women’s college wrestling uses freestyle rules.

The NWCA All-Star Classic presented by Cliff Keen will be held on November 22 in Austin, Texas, and will be streamed LIVE on FloWrestling. Below is a preview of the 143-pound match between Alara Boyd (McKendree) and Adaugo Nwachukwu.

The National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star Classic presented by Cliff Keen will make a triumphant return this year — and the scheduled matchups will make for one of the best wrestling events this year.

McKendree’s closet isn’t bare, but first-year head women’s coach Alexio Garcia has roster spots to fill after several top wrestlers transferred to new schools.