By: UC Athletics
Williamsburg, KY – After claiming a NAIA Championship back in March,
Dymond Guilford has been making headlines at the national level for USA Wrestling.
Since her dominant 7-0 decision win to claim the NAIA 170-weight class title, Guilford has won the Senior Pan-American Championships, won the USA Senior Nationals Open Championship, and won the USA Women's Freestyle Championship.
Her most recent accomplishment, the USA Women's Freestyle Championship, secured her a spot at the 2022 Senior World Championships as a member of the U.S Senior World Team. Guilford had to square off against Yelena Makoyed with the two having faced each other four times already in the year, with the pair splitting the matches, two wins each, but Guilford was the only one with a win by pin. For the USA Freestyle Championship, the two would compete in a best of three series for the 76 kg weight class. Guilford swept Makoyed, first by a 10-5 decision and then sealing the win with a 12-2 tech fall victory.
"I'm so excited to represent team USA at the Senior World Championship and U23 World Championships this coming fall," said Guilford. "It has been a long ride getting to this point. I couldn't have really done it without the support of Donnie and the UC. They allowed me to train and compete with UC while also focusing on my international development."
Guilford has competed for UC in just one season, earning her masters while wrestling in a Patriots singlet and has already made a lasting impact. She had competed in college previously and then moved on to the Olympic Training Center (OTC) with two years of eligibility remaining. The Lancaster, CA native was looking to get back into collegiate wrestling and UC women's wrestling coach
Donnie Stephens having seen Guilford compete from his time in California, knowing she would be a great addition and ambassador for UC Athletics.
"We were fortunate to have Dymond make the move from Colorado Springs and the OTC," said Stephens. "She had finished her bachelors and was looking for a place to get a master's degree and continue training at a high level with adequate training partners. UC has given her exactly what she needs and in her time at the OTC I think she missed the team and college experience. UC has done a great job at working with Dymond to help her reach both her athletic and academic goals."
Guilford is just the second Cumberlands wrestler to win a NAIA National Championship, following
Bridgette Duty's title at the 130-weight class in 2021. The graduate transfer has also joined another elite UC wrestler, Toccara Montgomery, as member of the USA Senior Team. Montgomery went on to compete for Team USA in the 2004 Olympics and won a number of tournaments competing for USA, including the Pan-American Championship like Guilford has this year.
"Not since Toccara Montgomery, has a UC wrestler blazed a trail to the top of the international and world stage," said Coach Stephens. "She is very gracious and always gives Cumberlands love and credit during her interviews and press conferences. Getting this kind of recognition and exposure is not just good for the wrestling program but for the school and community as well. Dymond is continually giving credit for her God given athletic ability, as she should, but what I recognize far more is a relentless work ethic and a positive energy that is so contagious."
This past season for UC, Guilford won the 170-weight class title, was Second Team All-Mid South Conference where she only lost one match all year. The one loss came in the MSC Tournament against Jordan Nelson from Life, but she was able to avenge it and defeat Nelson en route to her NAIA Championship. Coach Stephens was in her corner for the NAIA run as well as for the Final X that Guilford won to win the Women's Freestyle title.
"Donnie being in my corner this season especially had a positive impact on my performance at Senior World Team Trials and Final X," said Guilford. "There are only a couple of programs where I feel like I can call the establishment a family and mannn Cumberlands is definitely that. I love the team, I love the work they put in and I truly enjoy the environment. Y'all hit the true beauty in wrestling; which is character development and hard work."
The success of Guilford has not peaked and she returns with another season for USA wrestling as well as another year of wrestling as a Patriot. "I see a love for this sport is that is refreshing," said Coach Stephens. "I have been coaching for about 28 years and I have never coached an athlete who works harder or has more fun. She is very professional about her approach improving her strengths and eliminating her weaknesses. I hope everyone finds a way to watch Dymond and both of her World Championships this fall and I know her UC family ONE BIG TEAM will be cheering her on."
Looking ahead, Guilford has two more events with USA Wrestling this year. First, she will compete at the Senior Worlds Championship in Belgrade, Serbia from September 10-18 and then go on to the U23 World Championship in Pontevedra, Spain from October 17-23.
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