Life University Athletics

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. --- The Life University women's wrestling team took second place in the Mid-South Conference Tournament, five Running Eagles winning their respective weight classes while the team also recorded five other All-Conference honorees, Wrestler of the Year for Peyton Prussin, Wrestler of the Tournament for Jordan Nelson, Freshman of the Year for Salyna Shotwell, and Co-Coach of the Year for head coach Ashley Flavin Sunday.

It was a two team race for the title in Bowling Green, Campbellsville taking the top spot with 142.5, while Life U closely followed with 120.5 team points. After the top two there was a steep drop off, the top three being rounded out by Univ. of the Cumberlands who earned 63.5 points.

The Running Eagles swept the top spot in the first couple weight classes, Bartelt recording the first title of the day for the Running Eagles as she posted pins in the semifinals and finals to take the top spot at 101 lbs. Prussin followed her up by making quick work of the 109 lbs. bracket, going unscored on as she took two matches by 10-0 tech fall and won the championship via injury forfeit. In the 116 lbs. bracket, freshman Shotwell pinned her opponents in a total time of just over four minutes, including upsetting last year's title winner and current number two Campbell in 3:36 to earn her spot at the top of the podium. Julia Vidallon bounced back for a huge victory in the 130 lbs. bracket, beating her first opponent in a 9-4 decision before earning a tech fall 10-0 over No. 8 Pizzo to earn the title. Nelson beat three ranked opponents to win the 170 lbs. bracket, starting with No. 18 McNulty, then beating No. 7 Cooper in a 9-1 decision, and finishing with an 8-2 upset victory over No. 2 Guilford.

Out of the Running Eagles' five All-Conference honorees, Kory Phillips was the only to take second team, recording an upset pin over No. 6 Soares in 2:45, before a 5-2 decision in the semifinals sent her to a championship match against teammate, Prussin. Brianna Funakoshi was the next to place, losing her first match to Shotwell before bouncing back for a 10-0 TF and a 10-3 decision secured her victory in the consolation bracket for third place. In the 123 lbs. bracket after Laila Sa got knocked out of the championship bracket, she ran through the consolation side, getting a 6-2 upset victory over No. 16 Jones and ending things on a pin in the third place match. Destinee Rivera also had to come up through the consolation bracket at 155 lbs., starting with a 6-0 decision before tech falling No. 10 Thompson 12-2 for third place. Gabby Hamilton earned the Running Eagles final All-Conference honor, earning an 11-0 TF on the championship side of the bracket before betting bounced to the consolation side, pinning her first opponent, No. 17 Staebler, in just 19 seconds, and following that up with a 10-0 TF over No. 15 Bernabe in the third place match.

Head coach Ashley Flavin spoke on the team's performance looking forward to the NAIA Tournament that is just around the corner. "Today reiterated how much work we still have to do to be ready for Nationals in 3 weeks."
She continued by saying, "Walking away with five individual champions is no small feat in the toughest conference in the country, and we are ready to turn up the volume leading into March." Flavin finished, proud of the team's accomplishments, saying, "We're very proud to have swept the individual awards. Peyton, Jordan, and Salyna have consistently showed up for big moments all season, and we're proud to see that recognized by the other coaches."

The women's wrestling team next turns to the NAIA National Tournament in Jamestown, N.D. that will be competed on March 11-12th.