Chamira Cooper vs Yelena Makoyed All-Star Classic Preview
Two-time All-American Chamira Cooper is taking on two-time national champion Yelena Makoyed at the 2022 All-Star Classic.
by Kyle Klingman
The NWCA All-Star Classic presented by Cliff Keen will be held on November 22 in Austin, Texas, and will be streamed LIVE on FloWrestling. Below is a preview of the 170-pound match between Chamira Cooper (Cumberlands) and Yelena Makoyed (North Central)
2022 NWCA All-Star Classic
Chamira Cooper, Cumberlands, JR
2021: Fifth at NAIA Championships (170)
2022: Fifth at NAIA Championships (170)
Yelena Makoyed, North Central, SR
2020: Second at NCWWC (NCAA) Championships (170)
2021: First at NCWWC (NCAA) Championships (170)
2022: First at NCWWC (NCAA) Championships (170)
Other: Won gold medals at three UWW international ranking tournaments this season (Matteo Pellicone, Grand Prix of Spain, and Zouhaier Sghaier Tournament)
Match History
Cooper and Makoyed have faced each other twice but neither was a college match. Makoyed pinned Cooper in the Round of 16 at the 2018 California State Championships and won by technical superiority, 12-2, during the quarterfinals of the 2021 Junior World Team Trials.
What You Need To Know
Makoyed is currently ranked 15th in the world at 76 kilograms (167 pounds) thanks to a splendid international season where she won three rankings tournaments. She reached Final X this year where she fell in straight matches to Dymond Guilford.
The two met again at the Zauhaier Sghaier Tournament in Tunisia where Makoyed ultimately won gold after splitting matches with Guilford. Guilford won the first match but, because of the tournament format, the two met in the finals where Makoyed prevailed. Makoyed is 1-3 on the season against Guilford who recently won a silver medal at the U23 World Championships.
Cooper and Guilford are college teammates and both wrestle at 170 pounds. The NAIA allows up to 12 athletes to compete in the national championships with a maximum of two per weight. Each was in a separate semifinal of the 2022 tournament where Guilford won and Cooper placed fifth.
What Can You Expect?
This is a daunting challenge for Cooper but she has the tools to make the match interesting. She is tall and has a good double from space. The less Cooper ties up, the better chance she’ll have in the match.
Makoyed might the best pound-for-pound college wrestler in the country. She has a physical style and an ability to fight through fatigue during tough matches. The North Central senior is aggressive and wants to end matches early. Don’t be surprised if Makoyed gets on top and gets four turns.
This is Cooper’s chance to shine, though. She is the underdog and has an opportunity to pull off the upset.
Two-time All-American Chamira Cooper is taking on two-time national champion Yelena Makoyed at the 2022 All-Star Classic.
by Kyle Klingman
The NWCA All-Star Classic presented by Cliff Keen will be held on November 22 in Austin, Texas, and will be streamed LIVE on FloWrestling. Below is a preview of the 170-pound match between Chamira Cooper (Cumberlands) and Yelena Makoyed (North Central)
2022 NWCA All-Star Classic
Chamira Cooper, Cumberlands, JR
2021: Fifth at NAIA Championships (170)
2022: Fifth at NAIA Championships (170)
Yelena Makoyed, North Central, SR
2020: Second at NCWWC (NCAA) Championships (170)
2021: First at NCWWC (NCAA) Championships (170)
2022: First at NCWWC (NCAA) Championships (170)
Other: Won gold medals at three UWW international ranking tournaments this season (Matteo Pellicone, Grand Prix of Spain, and Zouhaier Sghaier Tournament)
Match History
Cooper and Makoyed have faced each other twice but neither was a college match. Makoyed pinned Cooper in the Round of 16 at the 2018 California State Championships and won by technical superiority, 12-2, during the quarterfinals of the 2021 Junior World Team Trials.
What You Need To Know
Makoyed is currently ranked 15th in the world at 76 kilograms (167 pounds) thanks to a splendid international season where she won three rankings tournaments. She reached Final X this year where she fell in straight matches to Dymond Guilford.
The two met again at the Zauhaier Sghaier Tournament in Tunisia where Makoyed ultimately won gold after splitting matches with Guilford. Guilford won the first match but, because of the tournament format, the two met in the finals where Makoyed prevailed. Makoyed is 1-3 on the season against Guilford who recently won a silver medal at the U23 World Championships.
Cooper and Guilford are college teammates and both wrestle at 170 pounds. The NAIA allows up to 12 athletes to compete in the national championships with a maximum of two per weight. Each was in a separate semifinal of the 2022 tournament where Guilford won and Cooper placed fifth.
What Can You Expect?
This is a daunting challenge for Cooper but she has the tools to make the match interesting. She is tall and has a good double from space. The less Cooper ties up, the better chance she’ll have in the match.
Makoyed might the best pound-for-pound college wrestler in the country. She has a physical style and an ability to fight through fatigue during tough matches. The North Central senior is aggressive and wants to end matches early. Don’t be surprised if Makoyed gets on top and gets four turns.
This is Cooper’s chance to shine, though. She is the underdog and has an opportunity to pull off the upset.
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