CEDAR FALL, Iowa (Jan. 10) – Competing in a highly competitive national tournament, the University of Mount Olive women's wrestling team suffered a pair of losses on the opening day with a 44-0 defeat to No. 3 North Central before battling in a 29-16 loss to No. 11 Wartburg on Friday at the NWCA/USMC Multi-Division National Dual Meet Championships.

With the loss, the Trojans dropped to 8-3 overall in duals while competing at the NWCA/USMC National Duals for the first time in program history. This year's event features seven of the top eight placing teams from a year ago including defending National Duals Champions, Iowa. The event welcomed 14 of the top 25 teams in the nation to the two-day event in Iowa.

Against North Central (9-0), the Cardinals produced a pair of tech falls at 103 and 110 before tallying three straight falls to build a 23-0 advantage. North Central followed up with five more victories (2 falls, 2 tech falls, and 1 decision) to secure a 44-0 win in the opening round.

Against Wartburg (6-2), the Knights registered a 10-5 win in the 103-weight class before freshman O'marzria Wright (110) delivered a dominant 17-4 tech fall over Hope Chiattello to take a 5-4 edge. Wartburg rallied with a 10-0 tech fall at 117, but the Trojans responded with sophomore Ayonna McNeill pinning Leah Chandler in the first round at 124 to reclaim a 10-8 lead. The Knights followed with three straight wins to gain a 21-10 advantage before sophomore Savannah Bramhall (160) recorded a fall versus Erika Peterson to trail 21-16. The Knights captured consecutive tech falls to seal a 29-16 victory.

The Trojans continue to compete at the NWCA/USMC Multi-Division National Meet Championships with a matchup against No. 13 ranked Elmira, starting at 10:00 a.m.

Match Results vs. No. 3 North Central
103: No. 10 Madison Avila (North Central) over Lillian Prendergast (Mount Olive) (TF 11-0)
110: Leeana Mercado (North Central) over O'marzria Wright (Mount Olive) (TF 10-0)
117: No. 10 Mikayla Garcia (North Central) over Mallory McDonald (Mount Olive) (Fall 1:12)
124: No. 7 Janessa George (North Central) over Ayonna McNeill (Mount Olive) (Fall 1:27)
131: Eliana White-Vega (North Central) over Chloe Lawler (Mount Olive) (Fall 1:13)
138: Emma Grimm (North Central) over Angelica Steffy (Mount Olive) (Dec 9-0)
145: No. 7 Sydney Perry (North Central) over Kayleigh Savage (Mount Olive) (Fall 1:26)
160: Riley Aamold (North Central) over Savannah Bramhall (Mount Olive) (TF 11-0)
180: No. 5 Shenita Lawson (North Central) over Reagan Smith (Mount Olive) (TF 10-0)
207: No. 10 Dasia Yearby (North Central) over Andrea Smith (Mount Olive) (Fall 1:01)
 
Match Results vs. No. 11 Wartburg
103: Carissa Hersom (Wartburg) over Lillian Prendergast (Mount Olive) (Dec 10-5)
110: O'marzria Wright (Mount Olive) over Hope Chiattello (Wartburg) (TF 17-4)
117: Afftynn Stusse (Wartburg) over Mallory McDonald (Mount Olive) (TF 10-0)
124: Ayonna McNeill (Mount Olive) over Leah Chandler (Wartburg) (Fall 2:17)
131: No. 4 Kylie Rule (Wartburg) over Chloe Lawler (Mount Olive) (TF 12-2)
138: No. 8 Aniyah Kelly (Wartburg) over Angelica Steffy (Mount Olive) (Fall 3:49)
145: May Prado (Wartburg) over Kayleigh Savage (Mount Olive) (TF 10-0)
160: Savannah Bramhall (Mount Olive) over Erika Peterson (Wartburg) (Fall 2:49)
180: Kami Senlycki (Wartburg) over Reagan Smith (Mount Olive) (TF 10-0)
207: No. 7 Rewa Chababo (Wartburg) over Andrea Smith (Mount Olive) (TF 10-0)