IW women compete at Missouri Valley Open

MARSHALL, Mo. — Iowa Wesleyan women’s wrestling competed in the Missouri Valley Open over the weekend.

The wrestling open featured wrestlers from each NCAA level, NAIA and NJCAA. The Tigers brought 12 wrestlers across seven weight classes.

Alaina Sunlin represented the Tigers in the 101-pound weight class. The No. 8 ranked wrestler opening match against Tracey Kessler from Missouri Valley College. Sunlin would win by fall in 1:00.

In Sunlin's second match, she defeated No. 15 ranked Malarie Dominguez of Wayland Baptist University. Sunlin would once again make quick work of her competition, winning by fall in 31 seconds. In her 3rd match, Sunlin once again won by fall, this time in 22 seconds over Alyssa Cordova from the University of Saint Mary's.

In the quarterfinals, Sunlin fell to Emilie Gonzalez who was wrestling unattached from the University of Iowa, by tech fall 12-2. In her consolation match, Sunlin fell to No. 6 ranked Esthela Trevino of Southern Oregon by decision, 14-8, ending her weekend.

Camiya Cook was one of the two Tiger wrestlers at the 109-pound weight class. She received a bye in her first matchup, before facing off against Nyla O'Brien of University of Providence where she fell by tech fall 11-0. She would receive a bye in her first consolation match before facing off against Dianna Pineda from Iowa Central, where she fell by fall in 26 seconds, ending her weekend.

No. 2 Mia Palumbo was the second of the two Tiger wrestlers at the 109-pound weight class. Palumbo would receive a bye in her first round. In her second round matchup, she beat Isabella Richards of Colorado Mesa by tech fall 11-0.

In her round of 16 matchup, she won by tech fall again, this time 10-0 over Chloe St. Clair of Iowa Central. In her quarterfinal matchup, Palumbo was able to win by decision, 10-4 over No. 9 ranked Jasmine Sands from Texas Wesleyan.

In her semifinal match, Palumbo lost 6-2 to Nyla Valecia, an unattached wrestler from the University of Iowa. In her first consolation match, Palumbo defeated Julianne Moccia of Gannon University by decision 8-3 to move on to the third place match. Palumbo was successful in third place with a 3-0 win by decision over Pauline Granados of McKendree University. Palumbo's third place finish led the Tigers on the weekend.

No. 11 ranked Faith Cole represented the Tigers in the 116-pound weight class. Cole received a bye in her opening match. In her second match of the day, she faced off against Isabelle Silva of Indiana Tech and was able to win by fall in 5:58.

In Cole's round of 16 match, she lost to Baker University's No. 15 ranked Kylie Robledo by fall in 5:01. Cole would go on to wrestle No. 8 ranked Katherine Heath of Baker University in her consolation match and would win 10-4 by decision. In her 2nd consolation match, she lost by fall in 4:17 to No. 5 ranked Avery Ashley of Oklahoma City ending her weekend.

In the 123-pound weight class, Nonnie Justice would be one of two wrestlers representing the Tigers in the bracket. Justice would receive a bye in her opening round matchup. In her second round matchup, she lost by fall in 1:46 to Anna Krejsa of Life University.

In her first consolation match, she faced off against teammate Zoi Smith where she would win by fall in 1:21. In her second consolation match, she lost to Cordey Mallo of Colorado Mesa by fall in 1:14, ending her weekend.

In the 123-pound weight class, Zoi Smith would be the second of two wrestlers representing the Tigers in the bracket. She lost her opening round matchup to Alisha Van Scoy of the University of Saint Mary's by tech fall, 16-6. In her first consolation matchup, she would receive a bye. In her 2nd matchup, she would face off against teammate Nonnie Justice, where she would fall in 1:21.

In the 130-pound weight class, No. 10 ranked Destiny Campbell would be one of two wrestlers representing the Tigers in the bracket. Campbell defeated Ally Arrington, an unattached athlete by fall in 38 seconds.

In her second round matchup, she would win by decision 4-3 over Elizabeth Miller of Colorado Mesa. In her round of 16 matchup, Campbell lost by fall in 4:26 to Cameron Ortiz of Campbellsville University. Campbell lost by tech fall 10-0, to Hailey Chapman of Colorado Mesa to end her competition.

In the 130-pound weight class, No. 11 ranked Joanna Vanderwood would be the second of two wrestlers representing the Tigers in the bracket. In her first round matchup, she would face off against Rontaysi Payne, an unattached athlete and defeat her 12-2 via tech fall. In her second round matchup, Vanderwood defeated No. 19 ranked Teya Villalpando of the University of Saint Mary's 8-2.

Vanderwood defeated No. 5 Sophia Smith of Oklahoma City, 4-0 in the round of 16. In the quarterfinals, Cameron Guerin of McKendree University would defeat Vanderwood by tech fall in 10-0. In Vanderwood's first consolation match, Vanderwood was defeated by tech fall 10-0 by Marquesi Haintz of Simon Fraser.

In the 143-pound weight class, Michaela Blume would be one of three wrestlers representing the Tigers in the bracket. Blume defeated Lily McKaig of Colorado Mesa by fall in 5:56. Blume defeated Sidalie Jaramillo of the University of Saint Mary's by fall in 2:06. No. 2 ranked Emma Walker of Campbellsville University defeated Blume by fall in 22 seconds. In her first consolation matchup, Blume lost to Cherei Jones of Grand View University by tech fall 10-0, ending her weekend.

In the 143-pound weight class, Naida Abdijanovic would be the second of three wrestlers representing the Tigers in the bracket. Abdijanovic lost her opening round matchup Aniseta Acosta of Missouri Valley by fall in 2:12. In her first consolation matchup, Abdijanovic defeated Sara Souresjhan of Avila University by fall in 2:18. In her second consolation match, Abdijanvoic lost by tech fall, 10-0 to No. 10 ranked Josette Partney of Missouri Baptist.

In the 143-pound weight class, Isabelle Hawley would be the third of three wrestlers representing the Tigers in the bracket. Hawley lost her first round matchup to Giana Anaya of Emmanuel College by decision 7-4. Hawley defeated Jessica Miller of Avila University by decision 6-0, in her first matchup of the consolation round. In the second round of the consolation bracket, Hawley fell to Melany Vry of Grand View University by fall in 2:13.

In the 191-pound weight class, Grace Gray would represent the Tigers. Gray would receive a bye in her 1st round matchup. In her second matchup, No. 11 ranked Grace Kristoff of Southern Oregon defeated Gray by fall in 43 seconds. In her first consolation matchup, she would receive a bye. In her second consolation matchup, she defeated Samantha Ruano of William Penn University by fall in 2:13. In her third consolation matchup, she faced off against Alyssa Arana of Emmanuel College and lost by decision 10-2 to end her competition.

The Tigers will be back in action in a top 10 matchup on Dec. 7 at 6 p.m. when the No. 9 ranked Tigers host the No. 3 ranked Grand View University Vikings.