Dynamic duo: North Central’s Kendra Ryan, Jaslynn Gallegos share title hopes at same weight

CEDAR RAPIDS – Different journeys with the same goal in sight.

One was a blue-chip recruit that has been one of the nation’s top wrestlers, transferring into the program. The other wasn’t as heralded coming out of high school but has worked and ascended the ranks.

Jaslynn Gallegos and Kendra Ryan provide North Central with not one, but two, of the top 109-pound competitors in the country.

“I think they are the best two girls in the country at the weight,” Cardinals Coach Joe Norton said. “It’s a tale of two careers.”

Top-seeded Ryan and No. 3 Gallegos each dominated their way through the quarterfinals of the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships on Friday at Alliant Energy PowerHouse. The Cardinals advanced 11/12 to the semifinals.

North Central qualified the maximum of 15 at 10 weight classes. The Cardinals have multiple entrants at five weights – 109, 130, 136, 155 and 191.

“It’s pretty common on our team,” Gallegos said. “I don’t think anybody on our team lets it affect any of our relationships with each other. We’re a pretty tight-knit family.

“Everyone has big goals and we all respect each other for that. I wouldn’t say it’s affected anything, really.”

  Buy Photo

Gallegos was the 116-pound NCWWC champion last season. Ryan is a two-time All-American, placing fifth at 109 a year ago. Ryan also had All-American teammates in her bracket in her first two appearances.

“Honestly, I’m used to it,” Ryan said. “I think it’s good. It’s good to push each other. It’s good to work off each other’s energy. It’s helpful to improve my wrestling overall.”

Gallegos’ move was based on the Olympic weights and compete in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in April. Despite her success, she was a little light for 116.

“I was walking around light for 116 (53 kilos) the last three years,” Gallegos said. “I had a lot of people over the years tell me you do so well at a weight that you’re walking kind of light at. Imagine what you could do at a smaller weight. For the international stuff is why I decided to go down.”

Gallegos, from Brighton, Colo., wrestled for NCAA Division I Presbyterian (S.C.) College for three seasons. She was a three-time All-American for the Blue Hose.

“She was the No. 1 recruit in the country at her weight class,” Norton said. “I tried to get her the first time around. We were a nobody five years ago and we didn’t have scholarships.

“She won a WCWA (Women’s Collegiate Wrestling Association) title her freshman year. She finished third, fourth, third in this tournament. She came to us and that was what it was about. She said I’ve got to get to the top of the podium. I’ve got to jump levels. She did that at 116.”

Ryan, from Fenton, Mich., has steadily improved during her career. She received a boost from the U23 World Team Trials in the offseason. Ryan placed third and went right back to work, devoting her summer to training with teammates. The gains are evident.

“I stayed over the summer at North Central and trained non-stop,” Ryan said. “I was very consistent.”

The two don’t regularly train together. Each has specific teammates and style they like to drill and practice with, having more than 50 teammates to choose from helps.

“We occasionally work out,” Gallegos said. “We do different things in practice and sometimes we switch up partners. I think I have one or two favorite drill partners I consistently go with, but I do love going with Kendra. She’s very fiery on her feet.”

Both blazed through opponents to reach the semifinals and secure top-six All-American finishes. Gallegos posted two falls with a technical fall in between. She closed with a 25-second pin over King University’s Danielle Garcia.

“My wins are more personal,” Gallegos said. “Although I did everything right and scored every time, I think it’s me against me, so I have a couple things I want to touch up on before my next match. Overall, I did well.”

Ryan blanked Mount Olive’s Samantha Miller, 10-0, in the quarterfinals but opened the tournament with one of the Cardinals’ 28 bonus victories and 13 pins on Day 1.

“I felt good,” Ryan said. “Joe said if you get them on their back make sure you get that pin just for the team points, obviously. I was pretty excited when I realized I had her on her back. Let me get this pin.”

Ryan faces Lock Haven’s Kaelani Shufeldt in the semifinals. Gallegos has Iowa’s Ava Bayless, who won their previous meeting on criteria at the National Wrestling Coaches Association Multi-Divisional Duals in January. If both win Saturday morning, it sets up an all-Cardinals 109 final.

The matchup is something they have likely hoped for but won’t be a discussion unless it happens.

“They don’t talk about it,” Norton said. “They’re rooting for each other until they’re stepping on the line across from each other. When they do, for those six minutes, they’re not going to be friends. You don’t want them to be, but as soon as it’s over I’m sure whichever one loses will be ecstatic for the winner and our girls will go crazy in the stands because we have a national champ.”

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com