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Women’s wrestling has been growing faster than just about any sport in the country. Friday was supposed to mark a milestone – the first-ever NCAA Women’s Wrestling Tournament.
Instead, what should’ve been a celebration of the sport got overshadowed by a controversy that’s raising serious questions about officiating.
The incident happened during a quarterfinal match at 110 pounds between third-seeded Kaelani Shufeldt from North Central College and Chloe Dearwester of Presbyterian. Shufeldt, a senior, was leading 2-0 early in the first period when Dearwester suddenly cried out in pain and grabbed her arm. The referee stopped the match immediately for injury time.
While examining Dearwester, he noticed bite marks on her arm.
He disqualified Shufeldt for brutality on the spot.
“Bout 167 of the 2026 NCAA National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships was a quarterfinals match at 110 pounds between No. 3 seed Kaelani Shufeldt of North Central (IL) and No. 6 seed Chloe Dearwester of Presbyterian,” NCAA Women’s Wrestling Committee chair Oscar Ramirez said in a statement. “The North Central wrestler was called for brutality by the officials’ crew on the mat, which immediately triggers review by the jury. The jury upheld the brutality call on the mat, which results in a disqualification from the event by discretion of the officiating body and loss of all of the wrestler’s team points by rule.”
The Video Tells a Different Story
If Shufeldt actually bit her opponent, there’s no question – that’s grounds for immediate disqualification. But the video footage appears to show something else entirely.
When the match first stops, Dearwester appears to be grabbing her right arm in pain. The bite marks, though, were found on her left arm.
What’s more troubling is what the video seems to capture next. Dearwester appears to put her own left arm up to her mouth before the referee examined her and noticed the marks.
Former two-time national champion Julia Salata didn’t hold back in her assessment of the call. “This call was disgraceful & embarrassing,” she said. “First ever women’s NCAA championship, an opportunity to showcase the sport on the biggest stage to date, & officials are calling ‘brutality’ for normal wrestling positions. Shufeldt, NCC, & NCAA Women’s Wrestling as a whole deserve better.”
The NCAA is standing by its call for now. It’s a rough look for what was supposed to be a historic weekend for the sport – one that’s been fighting for recognition and resources for years.
The disqualification cost Shufeldt her chance to compete and stripped North Central of all her team points.
