KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Cascade Collegiate Conference swept the National weekly awards with Kayla McKinley-Johnson of No. 1-ranked Menlo College and Keller Rock of No. 9-ranked Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University being named the NAIA Wrestlers of the Week. They were selected on performance(s) from January 29 - February 4 and were chosen out of a pool of conference/Continental Athletic Conference (Independents)/unaffiliated group nominees.
McKinley-Johnson, a sophomore from Des Moines, Wash., sits at 101lbs and is ranked 8th individually. She was dominant on Saturday with three victories against ranked opponents for an individual Champion Title at the Grand View Open. She completed two technical falls and a pin, including two upsets over No. 3 Esther Walker of (RV) Midland University and No. 4 Alyssa Quezaire of No. 8-ranked Missouri Baptist University.
Rock, a 165lbs junior from Chino Valley, Ariz., is ranked at the top of his weight class and went undefeated this weekend against two ranked opponents. In Embry-Riddle’s first dual on Friday against No. 6-ranked University of Providence, he won in sudden victory over No. 14 Jordan Komac. The next day in the Eagles dual against No. 20-ranked Montana State University-Northern he moved up a weight class (174lbs) and defeated No. 2 NaKoda Siegel in an 8-1 decision.
Next up, McKinley-Johnson and Rock are preparing for the CCC Wrestling Tournaments which will take place in the coming weeks.