IW women’s wrestling rolls into break

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Of all the Union area athletic teams, not many have been as promising as the Iowa Wesleyan women’s wrestling team.

The Tigers continue to dominate on the mats, whether wrestling against ranked or unranked opponents. The Tigers, currently ranked No. 12 in the NAIA women’s wrestling poll, went 3-0-1 at a stacked Avila University women’s duals event over the weekend.

The Tigers faced three teams receiving votes in the NAIA Top-20 poll, as well as one community college.

Iowa Wesleyan won all three duals against NAIA competition. The Tigers beat the University of St. Mary 40-14, Friends University 38-13 and hosting Avila University 39-10.

The Tigers did draw with Indian Hills Community College, their only non-win of the day.

In the dual against Saint Mary, the Tigers started out with a 10-0 tech fall victory by No. 9 Alaina Sunlin at 101 pounds. The Tigers had two tech falls in the dual, with No. 1 Adaugo Nwachukwu (136) cruising 11-0.

No. 9 Destiny Campbell won a ranked 130-pound showdown against No. 18 Teya Villalpando, winning the tiebreaker on a 3-3 match.

The Tigers took the first 18 points over Friends University, including a 50-second pin by No. 15 Faith Cole at 116 pounds.

Campbell had another ranked match at 130 pounds, this time pinning No. 19 Mylie Seigla in 2:47. Nwachukwu dominated a ranked showdown against No. 11 Gianna Moreno, winning on a 10-0 tech fall.

Naida Abdijanovic won by fall at 143 points. Grace Gray won 4-2 at 191 pounds.

Iowa Wesleyan’s win over Avila was springboarded by a 15-1 start, thanks in part to a pin by Palumbo. Also getting an early victory was Cole, who defeated No. 16 Markayla Lottie 13-4.

At 130, Campbell picked up yet another ranked win, defeating No. 15 Byanca Cook via a 10-0 tech fall. Gray scooped up a pin to notch another victory at 191 pounds.

The Tigers had their hands full with a tough Indian Hills team, but another strong start at the lighter weights helped them earn the draw.

Palumbo and Cole had back-to-back wins early, as Palumbo won on an 11-1 tech fall, and Cole pinned her opponent in 4:23.

Sixth-ranked JoAnna Vanderwood got in on the action with an 11-0 tech fall at 130 pounds.

The Tigers’ final win was a pinfall by Emma Cole, who pinned her 155-pound opponent in 43 seconds.

The Tigers’ big day kept them unbeaten in duals this season. Iowa Wesleyan was set to face No. 3 Grand View University in a ranked showdown on Dec. 7, but the dual was canceled to COVID-related issues.

The Tigers have one more tournament before the end of 2022. Iowa Wesleyan will take part in the Soldier Salute Tournament in Coralville on Dec. 29-30.

Iowa Wesleyan’s next home event is on Jan. 18, when the Tigers are set to take on Iowa Central Community College.