The TheMat.com North American Women's College Wrestling Poll for has been published for December 2005.

Simon Fraser Univ. of British Columbia, Canada, coached by Mike Jones, has taken over the No. 1 position in the poll, with 100 points and all five first place votes. Simon Fraser was ranked No. 2 in the first poll, published in November. Simon Fraser won the team title at the Gord Garvie Women's College Duals held at Lakehead Univ. in Canada. This was a major dual meet competition, featuring eight teams, including many of the best programs in North America.

There was a tie in second place between the Univ. of Calgary and the Univ. of Cumberlands, with 90 team points.

The Univ. of Calgary, from Alberta, Canada, coached by Mitch Ostberg, placed fourth in the Gord Garvie Women's College Duals. Calgary held a No. 3 ranking in the first North American Women's College Poll.

The Univ. of the Cumberlands, a NAIA school in Kentucky coached by Kip Flanik, placed fifth at the Gord Garvie Women's College Duals with two of their starters out of the lineup. The Univ. of the Cumberlands dropped down from the No. 1 spot that it held in the first poll of the season.

Making the biggest jump in the rankings was the Univ. of Saskatchewan, from Saskatchwan, Canada, coached by Todd Hinds, which came in at No. 4 in the poll with 89 points, just one point behind Calgary and the Cumberlands. Saskatchewan held a No. 9 ranking in the first poll of the year. Saskatchewan placed third at the Gord Garvie Women's College Duals, beating Calgary in the third-place match, and losing only to Simon Fraser in the tournament.

Taking No. 5 in the poll was Missouri Valley College, an NAIA school coached by Carl Murphree. Missouri Valley entered two teams in the Gord Garvie Women's College Duals, with its Purple team placing eighth in the standings. Missouri Valley was No. 4 in the first poll of the year.

Rounding out the Top 10 were No. 6 Brock Univ., No. 7 Univ. of Regina, No. 8 Lakehead Univ., No. 9 Pacific Univ. and No. 10 Western Ontario Univ.

The team ranking poll is elected by a panel of women's college coaches, three from Canada and two from the United States. Eligible for ranking are college varsity and club women's wrestling programs.

There are eight weight classes ranked in Women's College wrestling. They are the seven international weight classes contested in Senior-level women's wrestling, plus an additional weight class which is recognized by North American women's college programs as their highest weight division (80 kg).

Simon Fraser Univ. had the most No. 1 ranked wrestlers with three: Miranda Dick at 48 kg/105.5 lbs., Emily Richardson at 59 kg/130 lbs. and Shayla Turcotte at 80 kg/176 lbs. Dick was ranked No. 1 in November, but Richardson moved up from No. 2 and Turcotte moved up from No. 3.

Two teams had a pair of No. 1 ranked wrestlers, the Univ. of the Cumberlands and the Northern Michigan USOEC team. Holding down No. 1 for the second straight month for the Univ. of the Cumberlands were Alaina Berube at 63 kg/138.5 lbs. and Heather Martin at 67 kg/147.5 lbs. The members of the USOEC program who received No. 1 individual rankings were Mary Kelly at 51 kg/112.25 lbs. and Sharon Jacobson at 55 kg/121 lbs. The USOEC athletes are full-time college students who compete in women's freestyle wrestling. The USOEC will not be ranked in the team poll, but their athletes are eligible for the individual rankings.

Ranked No. 1 for the second straight month is Stephany Lee of Missouri Valley College at 72 kg/158.5 lbs.

The December 2005 North American Women's College Individual rankings can be found at:
http://www.themat.com/rankings/default.asp?CategoryID=108&RankingID=836

The individual rankings are selected by TheMat.com, with assistance from coaches. Athletes who are considered for ranking are eligible full-time college students, and are members of their college women's varsity or club program, or a member of their college men's wrestling team. 

Women's wrestling is a growing sport in Canada and the United States on the college level. Women's freestyle wrestling was the newest sport in the Summer Olympic Games, making its debut at the 2004 Athens Olympics. The United States and Canada are among the most successful women's wrestling nations in the world.

Copyright 2005 by USA Wrestling and TheMat.com.