CORVALLIS, Ore. – The No. 2-ranked University of Providence Women’s Wrestling team was named the Under Armour Team of the Week for January 5 – 11, the Cascade Collegiate Conference announced Sunday.
Providence’s women’s wrestling team earned the honors after a historic performance at the NWCA National Dual Meet Championships, highlighted by wins over two nationally ranked opponents and a program-best second-place finish.
The Argos opened the championships Friday with a dominant 37-6 victory over No. 18 Dickinson State. After an early forfeit put Providence in front, freshman Joely Slyter delivered a statement win with a 13-3 technical fall over No. 17 Makayla Jardine at 117 pounds. From there, the Argos swept the remaining matches, collecting two technical falls and five pins. Top-ranked Waipuilani Estrella-Beauchamp, along with Elise Twait, Aspen Dodge, Kassidy Sigda, and Sydnee Nielson, all secured falls, while Alyssa Randles and Kailey Rees added technical-fall victories.
Providence carried that momentum into the quarterfinals, rolling past No. 11 Southern Oregon, 34-9. The Argos won eight of the 10 bouts, beginning with a first-period pin by No. 1 Erin Hikiji and a 10-0 technical fall from Paige Morales. Estrella-Beauchamp needed just 24 seconds to pin her opponent at 131 pounds, while Randles, Esther Han, and Joely Slyter each earned decision victories. The win advanced Providence to its third consecutive NWCA National Duals semifinal.
On Saturday, the Argos delivered another milestone performance by defeating No. 3 Grand View, 27-16, in the semifinals to reach the NWCA National Duals Championship match for the first time in program history. Hikiji and Morales set the tone with dominant wins at the top of the lineup, and Providence followed with five straight victories, including a pin by Estrella-Beauchamp and commanding wins from Randles, Han, Twait, and Dodge.
Providence capped the event with a runner-up finish after facing top-ranked Life University in the championship dual, marking the highest national dual finish in program history.
The Argos will return to action on Thursday, Jan. 15, when they host No. 11-ranked Southern Oregon in Great Falls, Montana.