Life University Athletics

LOUISVILLE, Ky. ---- The Life University women's wrestling team recorded its highest finish in program history over the weekend with a third place finish at the 2020 NWCA National Team Duals. 

As the number two seed in the tournament, the Running Eagles received a bye in the first round, which matched them up with No. 8 University of Providence for a spot in the semifinals. Faye Cherrier started the dual with a forfeit victory at 101 as Providence tied the dual at five with an injury forfeit at 109. Katalina Bartelt responded with a 5-3 decision at 116 as Julia Vidallon earned the 12-0 technical fall at 123 to put Life U ahead 12-6. Aysia Cortez earned the 10-6 decision at 130 as Alex Enrizuez picked up the win via pin fall just 1:25 into the match at 136. Erica Sotelo kept the momentum rolling as she pinned her opponent in 4:11 at the 143 weight class to give Life U a commanding 25-7 lead. Providence responded with the pin at 155 as Jordan Nelson pinned her opponent in 3:54 at the 170 weight class. Gabrielle Hamilton won via forfeit to send the Running Eagles to the semifinals 35-12. 

Life U matched up with No. 4 Menlo in the semifinals as Cherrier picked up the 7-6 decision to start the dual at 101. After a forfeit in favor of Menlo at 109, Bartelt responded with a 13-2 decision to tie the dual at seven. Menlo earned a 10-0 techincal fall at 123 and a 4-3 decision at 130 before Cortez won at 136 with a 4-2 decision. Menlo won the next three weight classes as Hamilton provided a late spark with a pin 25 seconds into the match at 191. Menlo won the dual 25-18, as the Running Eagles would head to the third place match for the first time in program history at the tournament.

In the third place match, Life U took on fellow Mid-South Conference member and No. 7 University of the Cumberlands. Cherrier started the dual with her third win of the tournament via injury at 101 as Cumberlands took a 10-8 decision at 109 and a forfeit at 116. Trailing 8-6, Vidallon and Enriquez each picked up decisions to give Life U a 12-9 lead. Cumberlands earned the pin at 136 as Sotelo swung back the momentum with a 12-0 technical fall to put the Running Eagles back ahead 16-14. Cumberlands answered immediately with a 4-3 decision at 155, but Rivera was able to score a point to tie the dual at 17 with two weight classes remaining. Nelson earned the 9-2 decision for a 20-18 advantage in favor of the Running Eagles. With third place on the line, Hamilton won her 16th match of the season with an 11-0 technical fall to give Life U the 24-18 win and third place finish.

Head coach Ashley Sword had this to say on her team's record performance, "This weekend our ladies showed what they are capable of as a team and as individuals. We had a few late roster changes due to injury and our team bounced back and pulled together to show their strength. This finish is a program milestone and achieves our goal of continuous improvement, but it is not the end of our goals for the season."

The women's wrestling team will return to action on Wednesday, January 15, as they host Brewton-Parker College and Limestone College for a tri-dual that is set to begin at 5 PM. Seniors Erica Sotelo and Aysia Cortez will be recognized for their contributions to the program.