Life University Athletics

WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. --- The first-ranked Life University women's wrestling team wrapped up an undefeated regular season today, besting Mid-South Conference foes No. 2 Campbellsville and No. 8 University of the Cumberlands in a pair of duals on the Patriots campus this afternoon.
 
The Running Eagles (11-0, 4-0 MSC) started their day in style, completing the season dual sweep of rival, Campbellsville via a thrilling 24-23 comeback victory. Things seemed to be going in a great direction for Life U early Katalina Bartelt earning a 10-0 tech fall in 4:43, which Kory Phillips followed up with a TF of her own, this time 11-0 in 3:30 to give the Running Eagles an early 8-0 lead. In a hard fought 116 lbs. match, Brianna Funakoshi found some energy late, recording a pin in the final minute of her match to put Life U in a dominant lead 13-0. The Tigers were not done though, posting four-straight pins to take back all the momentum and a 20-13 lead.
 
Despite being on their back foot, the Running Eagles were still in position to threaten. In the 155 lbs. match Destinee Rivera suffered a loss to the fourth-ranked wrestler in a close, 6-4 match, but earned a point to see Life U down 23-14, needing pins in the final two matches to win. Pins they needed, and pins they got; Jordan Nelson catching her opponent out of position midway through the second period, recording the necessary pin and leaving Life U just five points removed from the comeback victory. Gabrielle Hamilton took the mat in the final match and came through in the clutch, taking No. 12 Staebler to the mat and turning her to record the pin in 2:04 to see Life U win 24-23.
 
The second dual of the day, versus the host and eighth-ranked Cumberlands Patriots quickly went in Life U's favor, Bartelt earning her second tech fall of the day this time a 12-0 TF in 4:39 over No. 8 Dosado. A pair of forfeits at 109 and 116 lbs. saw the Running Eagles take a quick 14-0 lead. At 123 and 130 lbs. Life U recorded a pair of quick pins from Laila Sa and Julia Vidallon, Sa's coming in 1:22 while Vidallon's was earned in 0:35 to see Life U hold a commanding 24-0 advantage.
 
In the beginning of the second half of the second dual, momentum continued going in the Running Eagles favor, Riley Dalrymple earning a lighting fast 10-0 TF in 0:57, while Angie Prado followed things up with a pin in just 1:19. The Patriots forfeited the 155 lbs. match to give Life U a 38-0 lead with only two matches to go. Nelson earned her second win of the afternoon in a match against No. 7 Cooper, fighting for a 7-3 decision. The final match saw the Patriots record their first win of the dual, a pin giving the final score of 41-6.
 
The Running Eagles turn to the postseason next, hitting the mat for the Mid-South Conference Championships on February 20^th at 9 AM after going undefeated in dual play this season.