OLYMPIA, Wash. – The Evergreen State College women's wrestling team defeated Cascade Conference opponent Southern Oregon University 26-19 in a battle of nationally-ranked NAIA teams at the Costantino Recreation Center on Saturday, Dec. 6. Evergreen entered the match ranked #15 in the NAIA Women's Wrestling Top 20 Poll. Southern Oregon was ranked #11 in the NAIA.
The win improved the Geoducks' dual match record to 3-0 on the season. Evergreen moved to 1-0 in the CCC. It was the Geoducks' first dual meet victory over a nationally ranked opponent since women's wrestling was added at Evergreen prior to the 2023-24 season. The Raiders fell to 0-1 on the season, 0-1 in the CCC.
It was Senior Day for Evergreen, which does not have any additional dual meets at home this season. After the match, the Geoducks honored seniors Nizhoni Tallman and Shannon Workinger.
On the mat, Flor Parker Borrero (Sr.) won by a fall in the 145-pound weight class, and four other Geoducks won with a technical fall. In addition, Erica Grant (Jr.) won by forfeit at 131 pounds.
Evergreen trailed 8-0 following a forfeit win for SOU at 103 pounds and a 6-3 win by Briseis Serrano for the Raiders at 110 pounds against Tallman. The Geoducks won the next six matches to take the lead and clinch the overall match.
At 117 pounds, Zeta Lee (So.) won 15-4 with a technical fall against Caroline Farris midway through the second period. Ellabelle Taylor (Jr.) prevailed by a 10-0 technical fall in the 124-pound match versus Myia Weiler. Grant's forfeit win at 131 pounds followed, giving Evergreen a 13-9 lead.
Haley Le (So.) continued the string of wins for the Geoducks with a 10-0 win by technical fall against Makayla Correa in 1:06 at 138 pounds. Parker Borrero pinned SOU's Holland Wieber just 0:26 into the match at 145 pounds. In the 160-pound match, Workinger recorded a technical fall by a 10-0 score against Vida Boskovic late int he first period. After Workinger's win, Evergreen owned a 26-9 advantage in the team score.
Kathryn Hingano of Southern Oregon was victorious at 180 pounds with a fall versus Ariana Cavero-Santiago. Lillian Gradillas-Flores won for the Raiders at 207 pounds by forfeit.
The Geoducks will return to action at the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) National Duals on Jan. 10 and Jan. 11 at the UNI Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The meet will feature some of the top women's wrestling teams in the nation.