Westphal-Edwards, All-American

CORALVILLE - Tristin Westphal-Edwards is an All-American.

Westphal-Edwards, a graduate of Washington High School, is a sophomore wrestler at Coe College.

The NCAA decided to cancel Division III winter sports championships for the second straight year, so the National Wrestling Coaches Association rallied and provided a chance to have an end to the 2021 season. About 300 wrestlers took the mat for the NWCA D-III Wrestling Championships last weekend at Xtream Arena March 12-13.

'I think it's pretty impressive how the wrestling coaches and leadership council came together,” Coe coach John Oostendorp said.

The coronavirus pandemic wiped out the 2020 tournament on the eve of the start. This year, lack of participating programs - even though wrestling had the highest percentage among winter sports - was the reason for the NCAA cancellation.

Westphal-Edwards battled back after a loss in the round of 16 to earn eighth place thus securing All-American status. He entered the tournament as the 11th seed at 174 pounds. He outperformed his ranking. Despite the early loss, Westphal-Edwards won three-straight matches to secure All-American status.

No team scores were kept or trophies awarded, but the performances would have had Wartburg as the top team with 174 points. Coe finished with nine All-Americans and would have been in second with 154 1/2 and 21 points ahead of Loras.