CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The University of Providence women's wrestling program set a new program best with a second-place finish at the NWCA National Championships Saturday afternoon.
In the opening dual against #3 Grand View in the semifinals the Argos started off hot with #1 Erin Hikiji defeating #4 Isabelle Apple 10-0 and #3 Paige Morales defeating #6 Eliana Martinez 10-1 to put UP in front 7-1.
Following a loss at 117, the Argos rattled off five straight wins with #3 Alyssa Randles defeating #5 Catharine Campbell, #1 Waipuilani Estrella-Beauchamp pinned #10 Jasmine Serrano, #5 Esther Han defeated Adrienna Turner 10-0, #7 Elise Twait defeating Haidyn Snyder 6-0, and #9 Aspen Dodge defeated #11 Nicole Olson 10-0 to secure the Argos 27-16 victory.
By defeating #3 Grand View in the semifinals, the Argos advanced to their first ever NWCA National Duals Championship.
In the championship dual against #1 Life, the Argos won the first two matches with #1 Erin Hikiji defeating #8 Alyssa Quezaire 10-0 and #3 Paige Morales defeated #4 Diana Gonzalez 10-0, but UP would fall in the final eight matches as the Argos fell to #1 Life 32-11.
The Argos will be back in action Thursday, Jan. 15 when they host #11 Southern Oregon. Wrestlers will begin at 6:00 p.m. in Great Falls, Mont.
RESULTS: UP 27, GV 16
103: #1 Erin Hikiji (UP) TF #4 Isabelle Apple (GV), 10-0
110: #3 Paige Morales (UP) dec. #6 Eliana Martinez (GV), 10-1
117: #3 Mayangelie Colon (GV) TF #8 Joely Slyter (UP), 11-1
124: #3 Alyssa Randles (UP) dec. #5 Catharine Campbell (GV), 12-3
131: #1 Waipuilani Estrella-Beauchamp (UP) pinned #10 Jasmine Serrano (GV), 0:48
138: #5 Esther Han (UP) TF Adrienna Turner (GV), 10-0
145: #7 Elise Twait (UP) dec. Haidyn Snyder (GV), 6-0
160: #9 Aspen Dodge (UP) TF #11 Nicole Olson (GV), 10-0
180: Providence Medical Forfeit
207: Selena Mares (GV) pinned Kacey Lee Pua (UP), 0:44
RESULTS: LIFE 32, UP 11
103: #1 Erin Hikiji (UP) TF #8 Alyssa Quezaire (LIFE), 10-0
110: #3 Paige Morales (UP) TF #4 Diana Gonzalez (LIFE), 10-0
117: #2 Salyna Shotwell (LIFE) pinned #8 Joely Slyter (UP), 4:37
124: #10 Anna Krejsa (LIFE) pinned #3 Alyssa Randles (UP), 4:18
131: Sarah Savidge (LIFE) dec. #1 Waipuilani Estrella-Beauchamp (UP), 2-2
138: #1 Zaynah McBryde dec. #5 Esther Han (UP), 10-4
145: Jamilah McBryde (LIFE) dec. #7 Elise Twait (UP), 11-7
160: #1 Latifah McBryde (LIFE) TF #9 Hailey Sutton (UP), 10-0
180: #2 Reka Busa (LIFE) TF #9 Aspen Dodge (UP), 11-0
207: #5 Madeline Welch (LIFE) Sydnee Nielson (UP),