A-R-C Announces Women's Wrestling Postseason Honors

4/1/2026 11:55:00 AM

By: Ali Wilson, A-R-C Assistant Commissioner

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- The American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) announced toady its 2025-26 All-Conference Women's Wrestling team and major awards. Headlining the announcement as American Rivers Conference Most Valuable Performer is Wartburg College's Rewa Chababo. Wartburg's head coach, Brady Kyner, was voted A-R-C Coach of the Year, and Wartburg's Gable Hemann was selected as Rookie of the Year. 

The 30-member team is composed of the top-three finishers at the 2026 A-R-C Women's Wrestling Championship, that was held on January 24 at Central College. The wrestler(s) who finished the highest at the NCAA Championships are deemed American Rivers Conference Most Valuable Performer(s), while Rookie and Coach of the Year are voted on by the league's head coaches. 

Most Valuable Performer - Rewa Chababo, Wartburg College
Chababo finished the season as the highest place finisher in the American Rivers Conference at the 2026 NCAA National Collegiate Championship. She finished third place as an All-American in the 207-pound weight class. Chababo claimed the 207-pound title at the A-R-C Women's Wrestling Championship in January and the title at the NCAA Regional. She wrapped up the season with a 32-3 record and 4-1 mark at the national championship. 

Rookie of the Year - Gable Hemann, Wartburg College
Hemann earned Rookie of the Year following the second season of women's wrestling in the A-R-C. She claimed All-American honors at the 2026 NCAA National Collegiate Championship after finishing eighth in the 117-pound weight class. She concluded her freshman campaign with a 28-10 record and led the Knights with 13 falls. 

Coach of the Year - Brady Kyner, Wartburg College
In his third season as the head coach of the women's program at Wartburg College, Kyner was voted the league's Coach of the Year for the first time in his career during the second season of women's wrestling in the A-R-C. The Knights claimed their second A-R-C title, finished runner-up at the NCAA Regional, and 11th at the inaugural NCAA National Collegiate Championship. Kyner coached three All-Americans this season to lead the A-R-C, 

The complete 2025-26 American Rivers All-Conference Women's Wrestling team is as follows: 
2025-26 All-American Rivers Conference Women's Wrestling Team
MVP - Rewa Chababo, Wartburg College
Rookie of the Year - Gable Hemann, Wartburg College
Coach of the Year - Brady Kyner, Wartburg College
Name Weight School Year Hometown/High School
Savannah Freifeld 138lbs Buena Vista University Fr. Katy, Texas
Ella Brown 207lbs Buena Vista University Fr. Cedar Rapids, Iowa/John F. Kennedy
Lucy Read 207lbs Loras College Fr. Ames, Iowa/Ames
Kylie Miller 180lbs Luther College Fr. St. Croix Falls, Wis./St. Croix Falls
Emaline Hicks 103lbs Simpson College Jr. Ypsilanti, Mich./Saline
Layla Phillips 117lbs Simpson College So. Mason City, Iowa/Mason City
Ashley Cannon 124lbs Simpson College Jr. Saratoga Springs, Utah/Westlake
Vanessa Aguirre 131lbs Simpson College Fr. Buckeye, Ariz./Youngker
Kendra Bliss 131lbs Simpson College So. Washington, Mo./Washington
Noa Arnold 145lbs Simpson College Jr. West Sacramento, Calif./River City
Keeley Kehrli 160lbs Simpson College Jr. Quasqueton, Iowa/East Buchanan
Jenna Joseph 180lbs Simpson College Sr. Longmonth, Colo./Longmont
Grace Murphy 103lbs University of Dubuque Fr. Peosta, Iowa/Western Dubuque
Sara Schroder 110lbs University of Dubuque So. Canton, S.D./Canton
Shea Reisel 117lbs University of Dubuque Sr. Somonauk, Ill./Somonauk
Alex Hofrichter 160lbs University of Dubuque Jr. Antigo, Wis./Antigo
Merin Yates 180lbs University of Dubuque Fr. Merrill, Wis./Merrill
Chloe Sheffield 103lbs Wartburg College Fr. Decorah, Iowa/Decorah
Afftyn Stusse 110lbs Wartburg College Jr. Battle Creek, Neb./Battle Creek
Ava Gardner 110lbs Wartburg College Fr. Marshfield, Wis./Marshfield
Gable Hemann 117lbs Wartburg College Fr. Osage, Iowa/Osage
Leah Chandler 124lbs Wartburg College So. Chariton, Iowa/Chariton
Sophie Bowers 124lbs Wartburg College Fr. Vandalia, Ill./Vandalia
Mackenzie Childers 131lbs Wartburg College Fr. Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Prairie
Rachel Fode 138lbs Wartburg College Jr. Byron, Minn./Byron
Kylie Rule 138lbs Wartburg College Jr. Mineral Point, Wis./Mineral Point
Alex Harswick 145lbs Wartburg College Jr. Ames, Iowa/Gilbert
Aniyah Kelly 145lbs Wartburg College Jr. Greer, S.C./Woodmont
May Prado 160lbs Wartburg College So. Marietta, Ga./Lasitier
Rewa Chababo 207lbs Wartburg College Sr. Katy, Texas/Mayde Creek
 

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About the American Rivers Conference

Nationally respected for excellence in NCAA Division III athletics, the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) has a tradition dating back to its founding in 1922 as the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Association and adopted its current name in 2018 to reflect its strong Iowa roots and growing regional footprint. The A-R-C is a collaborative community that champions the holistic development of student-athletes, uniting member institutions in a shared commitment to academic achievement, athletic distinction, and leadership.

The A-R-C is home to nine full-time member institutions: Buena Vista University, Central College, Coe College, University of Dubuque, Loras College, Luther College, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Simpson College, and Wartburg College. Luther College has announced its departure from the conference, effective at the conclusion of the 2025–26 academic year.