Life University Athletics

WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. ---- After being unveiled as the No. 5 team in the nation Friday night, the women's wrestling team played like a top-contender at the Patriot Duals Sunday, recording dominant wins in dual match play over No. 16 Indiana Tech, 39-5, and then No. 7 University of the Cumberlands, 39-6. In the open tournament format, Life U wrestlers recorded strong results, winning all 21 of its matches and clenching five championships.

To start the day, Life U faced No. 16 Indiana Tech, winning 39-5 with three pins, four technical falls, a decision, and a forfeit.

Freshman Unity Codova got the team off to a hot start, earning a lightning quick 1:07 tech fall victory over the No.18 ranker. Katalina Bartelt came next with a nail biter of a decision, squeezing out a 9-8 win over an opponent ranked 11th. Peyton Prussin and Julia Vidallon followed that up with tech falls as the Running Eagle lead extended to 15-1. Riley Dalrymple recorded the first pin of the day for the Running Eagles, taking down the 18th-ranked 136-pounder in just 1:19.

The only Life U loss versus the Warriors came at 136 pounds as Briana Kellin was wrestling up from her usual 130 lbs. Hailey Finn got the team back on track with a pin against a ranked opponent (No. 14) in 4:04. Rivera pulled off a tech fall afterwards as Indiana Tech forfeited the 170 lbs. match. Catherine Palmieri pinned the 20th-ranked 170-pounder to finish the dual.

After a short break, Life U got back on the mats, this time against the host, No. 7 University of the Cumberlands. The Running Eagles dominated the Patriots for a massive 39-6 victory.

Again leading off the Running Eagle's and again facing a ranked opponent, Cordova won a tough-fought 12-7 decision over the No. 6 101-pounder. Kory Phillips and Prussin recorded back-to-back tech falls as Life U created some space against the Patriots. The dual was blown open to a score of 21-1 in the next two matches as Vidallon and Dalrymple earned pins, Dalrymple's coming over the No. 15 123-pounder.

Kellin recorded a tech fall in her match before the Cumberlands got a win at 143. The score further extended to 29-6 following Rivera's match as she earned a 12-1 tech fall. The Patriots forfeited the final two matches of the dual.

In the open tournament Life U won the individual championships for five weight classes, including Bartelt and Phillips (109lbs.), Kellin (130 lbs.), Rivera (155 lbs.), Nelson (170 lbs.), and Palmieri (191 lbs.).

In the 109 lbs. weight class, Phillips raced through her matches, ending both via technical falls in a combined 1:58 (1:19 and 0:39). Bartelt matched her teammate with two 10-0 tech falls (2:02 and 1:45).

Entering the tournament as the ninth-ranked 130-pounder, Kellin proved her ranking with two pins the first in 2:10 while the second was recorded in a short 0:40. Kellin's other two matches ended in tech falls as the senior cruised to a first place finish.

Rivera's path to the 155 lbs. title included a match against a ranked foe, clinching a 14-4 tech fall as the match was coming to a close (5:51) after being tied 4-4 after the first period ended. The other two matches ended in more one-sided 10-0 tech falls.

Nelson clinched her weight class with a single match, ending it with a quick 30 second tech fall over the 20th ranked 170-pounder.

Much the same as her teammates, Palmieri recorded went undefeated on the way to winning the 191 lbs. class, taking both of the matches via tech fall.

The matchups for the Individual Tournament can be found here: 2020 Patriot Duals Results. The remaining results can be found below:

130 lbs.: Riley Dalrymple 3-0 2nd
143 lbs.: Hailey Finn 2-0 3rd
191 lbs.: Katie Moore 2-0 3rd

Regarding the team's impressive first outing for the season, head coach Ashley Sword had this to say, "39-2 overall on the day is a good start to any year, but especially this one. It shows that we are being disciplined in the little things every day." Sword felt like the team had responded well to the adversity that this year has presented to everyone.

"It was great to be back on the mat after a 10 month layoff." Continued Sword, "The rust was apparent, but the excitement to be back was palpable."

The women's wrestling team will return to action on Monday, November 23, as they travel to Brewton-Parker College for a 6 PM showdown.