Sarah Allen

All-Decade Team: Women's Wrestling

By Sports Information

Williamsburg, KY – The UC Women’s Wrestling team has posted top-ten finishes at their national championship each year over the past decade. Women’s wrestling has grown tremendously over the past decade, especially within the NAIA as it became a Mid-South Conference sport in 2017 and reaching NAIA Invitational status in 2018. Cumberlands has been at the forefront of this evolution since founding its program in 2001.   The Patriots' success has come in part of having a plethora of talented wrestlers that have achieved success at the conference and national levels.  Over the past ten years, the Patriots have captured a Mid-South Conference regular-season title, had 39 All-Americans, and one national champion.  With all of these accomplishments, the one player that represents the women’s wrestling team on UC’S All-Decade Team is Sarah Allen.

Allen is one of the most decorated players in program history as she is just the third Patriot in program history and the only one over the past decade. to earn All-American honors four times.  In addition to her four All-American accolades, Allen holds the program record for career wins (132) and falls in a career (41), while ranking third (35) and fourth (34), respectfully in wins in a season. Allen also represented Cumberlands and Team USA at the Grand Prix of Spain in 2015. 

“It honestly means a lot to me to be named to the All-Decade team representing Women’s Wrestling. I feel very honored to receive this recognition for all of my accomplishments. Being a part of the Women’s Wrestling Team at Cumberlands helped develop and refine my wrestling abilities. It became a second family to me, created a lot of memories that I will always cherish, and opened so many opportunities for me.”
- Sarah Allen

Allen has posted 19 top-eight finishes in her career, including three during her freshman campaign.  In her first tournament as a Patriot, Allen notched a fourth-place finish at the Missouri Valley Open in the 101 lbs. weight class. That performance helped the freshman earn her first national ranking as she was ranked fifth in 101 lbs. weight class in the December poll.  Allen recorded her first All-American accolade after placing seventh at the WCWA National Championships.  Her performance helped Cumberlands tally a top-five team finish at the championships.  Allen capped off her first year with a seventh-place finish at the Asics US Open.

Allen spent the majority of her sophomore year ranked fifth in the individual rankings.  In addition to her individual ranking, Allen posted three top-five finishes on the season.  The Huber Heights, OH native posted her first podium finish at the Missouri Valley Open where she tallied a third-place finish.  Allen added a third-place finish at the Bearcat Open, before placing fifth at the WCWA National Championships to earn All-American honors for consecutive seasons.  She capped off the year with a sixth-place finish at the Asics University Nationals.

"I am thrilled to hear that Sarah has been selected to the All-Decade Team and I can not think of a more deserving athlete. Sarah holds several school records and in 2015 she made the U.S. national team and represented the Patriots and Team USA at the Grand Prix of Spain. Sarah was a rock star in the classroom as well as earning Academic All-American honors several times. She exemplifies what it means to be a Patriot in every way. She continues to pay it forward by leading our current team as a coach and teaching them how important it is to excel in the classroom, on the mat, and when serving your community."
- Head Coach Donnie Stephens

Coming off back-to-back All-American seasons, Allen entered her junior year looking to continue her strong effort, which resulted in a breakout season.  Allen finished the year with 34 wins, which is tied for fourth-most in a season, and five top-five finishes.  The junior standout posted a runner-up finish at the Emmanuel College Tournament, before placing fourth at the Missouri Valley Open.  Allen recorded her first career tournament win on December 5, 2015, when she won the NAIA Invitational.  Later that year she posted a career-best finish taking runner-up at the WCWA National Championships. 

“My favorite athlete memory was from my junior year at WCWA Nationals. In my semifinals match, the officials kept messing up the score because my opponent and I were wearing the same color singlets. Because of the point mistakes, the match was closer than what it should have been, but I ended up pulling off the win and I remember all of my teammates running up to me and giving me a big hug and congratulating me for making it to the finals. I left that day with an amazing feeling knowing that I not only had my teammates there to support me for my wins but also there for me to pick me up after my losses."
- Sarah Allen

Allen opened her senior campaign ranked second in the WCWA and remained ranked in the top three the entire season.  The captain posted two tournament wins, a runner-up finish, and three third-place finishes on the season en route to winning 35 matches, which is third-most in program history. After beginning the year with a third-place finish at the Emmanuel College Tournament, Allen posted consecutive tournament wins at the Missouri Valley Open and the NAIA Invitational.  Allen recorded her fourth All-American accolade after placing third at the WCWA National Championships.  Allen also earned recognition at Cumberlands as she won the prestigious PATRIOT award at the inaugural Pats Awards Ceremony. 

“Wrestling and going to UC was the best decision that I have ever made. I will always be a Patriot. The pride that I have for being a graduate of UC is unreal. I love UC, and all of the opportunities attending and wrestling here has opened up for me. If it wasn’t for UC I would have never gotten to travel across the country, attend developmental camps, make a Junior National Team, wrestle in Spain, or wrestle at Olympic Trials in front of thousands of people.”
- Sarah Allen, on what UC has meant to her

Allen graduated from Cumberlands in May 2017 with a double major in Exercise Sports Science and Criminal Justice.  After graduation Allen continued at UC as the graduate assistant for the Patriots while completing her Master’s degree in Health and Human Performance in 2018.  Allen has remained at Cumberlands serving as the assistant coach for the Women’s Wrestling team while pursuing her doctorate in Leadership with an emphasis in Coaching Leadership.   Allen is also active in the community serving as a volunteer coach for Kentucky’s Women’s Wrestling National Team.  Allen is also enjoying spending time with her fiance’, family, and puppy Scooby.

The UC All-Decade Team was determined based on stats, awards & honors received, and significance to the program in addition to input for members of the UC Athletic Department. It will include one representative from every sport and be comprised of 29 student-athletes. The all-decade team looked at everything from the 2010-2011 season through the 2019-2020 season.