JAMESTOWN, ND— This weekend saw multiple program finalists in the Inaugural NAIA Women's Wrestling Championships as Life University placed three girls in the championship finals with Peyton Prussin winning her third consecutive individual title. The team recorded a second place overall finish in Harold Newman Arena.
Life U accumulated 139.5 team points coming up only short of the champs, Southern Oregon. SOU had four competitors in the finals with three individuals winning their weight class to total 160 total team points.
Beginning in the 101 lbs weight class, Devyn Gomez became a two time All-American. The junior had an eventful run en route to an 8th place finish, falling in her opening bout before fighting all the way back to compete in the 7th place match. In day one, Gomez opened the day with an unfortunate loss in the opening round before fighting back to pick up an 11-0 win via tech fall. After that, Gomez earned an exciting 16-13 comeback win where she fought back from 11-2 behind. In her next bout, she won 7-3 to move into the consolation quarterfinals where she ended up short in both the quarters and in the eighth place match.
In the 109 lbs bracket, Life University's now three-time national champ, Peyton Prussin, began her run with two tech falls before winning via VFO. After winning the 116 bracket in 2021, the, now senior, won the 109 lbs bracket last year and again seemed unstoppable this year during the tournament. Two of Prussin's first day matches came as bonus point victories, opening with two 10-0 tech falls. On the second day, the reigning national champ handled the 5-seed from Texas Wesleyan in the semis to advance to the title bout. In the rematch from last year's championship match, Prussin topped last year's runner-up with an all-too-familiar cradle, this year leading to a pin.
Up next, also in the 109 lbs bracket, Kory Phillips returned to the podium for All-American honors, getting recognized as a four-time AA after her 8th place overall finish. Entering the tournament as an 11-seed, Phillips earned a bonus point victory in her opening match with a second-period fall before getting sent to the consolation bracket after a tech fall lost to the three seed from Southern Oregon.
In the consolation bracket, Phillips won her initial bout 8-0 to get to the consolation quarterfinals. Matched up with the seven seed in the quarters, Phillips fell in a hard fought match that ended in a fall. In the 7th place placement match, Phillips fell to the two seed from Lourdes via decision.
Without a wrestler in the 116 lbs bracket, Olivia Mottley represented the Running Eagles at 123 lbs, going 2-2 in the tournament the junior picked up an impressive win via pin just 16 seconds into her first match of the consolation bracket. Following the impressive win via fall, Mottley earned a 13-2 tech fall victory over the 9-seed before ultimately getting caught in a takedown to lose via pin in the consolation bracket.
Life University's next championship appearance came in the 130 lbs class as Sarah Savidge impressed in her freshman campaign winning via fall or tech fall all way into her championship appearance. After starting day one with a first period 10-0 tech fall, a pin followed by another 10-0 victory pushed the Colorado native into day 2 as an All-American. Savidge then surrendered two points in the semis, but again won via tech fall 12-2. Crushing through the competition, Savidge was set to compete in a highly anticipated match against Lexie-Basham, last year's champion. Prior to the finals, Savidge had been dominant in her four previous matches, outscoring her opponents 38-2. In the championship, two takedowns in the second period were the difference as Savidge fell just short in a 6-3 decision.
Also battling in the 130 lbs weight class, Zaynah McBryde began her tournament run with a heartbreaking 12-10 loss in her opening bout. Following the loss via decision, the youngest McBryde earned a 10-0 tech fall before losing via pin in the consolation quarters.
In the 136 lbs bracket, Riley Dalrymple opened her first match with an exciting 9-8 win over the 9th-seeded Tabitha Wood from Hastings. Following the decision win, the New York native faced the eventual national champion Adaugo Nwachukwu, losing via pin. Battling through the consolation bracket with a tech fall against the 11-seed, Dalrymple fell via pin to move into the 7th-place match. She then fell to the origin 3-seed to earn an 8th-place finish.
Next up, the eldest McBryde, Jamilah, saw her impressive NAIA National Tournament debut end with a third place finish. McBryde's run began with two consecutive wins by fall before losing via decision to the top-seeded Alexis Gomez from Grand View. In the consolation semis, Mcbryde again cruised to a quick 40 second pin to then win via tech fall 11-1 in the third place match.
Following Jamilah McBryde, Latifah McBryde also had an outstanding tournament debut. Cruising through the competition much like her sister in the 143 bracket, Latifah notched three pins and a singular 10-0 tech fall on her way to a championship appearance. Entering the championship bout without conceding a single point throughout the entire tournament , McBryde's stellar run continued through the first round of the championship match. Unfortunately though, with less than five seconds on the clock, and an 8-6 lead in the second round, a missed McBryde takedown saw Baker's Kaylynn Albrecht reverse the attack and pick up a huge four-point takedown with just a single second on the clock. After a failed challenge, the 155 lbs individual title escaped Latifah McBryde in the final second of the match, her first loss of the season.
In the 170 lbs bracket, transfer Jesaphine Lee became a four time All-American (NCAA and NAIA combined) placing 7th in her first NAIA National Tournament. Lee's appearance began with two consecutive pins in her first pair of bouts before falling to the eventual champion in the quarterfinals. Battling through the consolation bracket, Lee earned All-American honors with a pin over the 11-seed before ending her final collegiate wrestling season with a win in the seventh place match. Her final win came courtesy of a pin over Olivia Robinson from Eastern Oregon University.
At 191, Catherine Palmieri's championship appearance began with a 7-2 win in her first match before getting pinned due to injury. The injury eventually ended her appearance in North Dakota as she was forced to injury forfeit her next consolation match that followed. With the injury forfeit, Palmieri's collegiate career comes to an end with a 13-7 record in her final season (minus the forfeit).
Doubling up in the 191 lbs weight class, Maddy Welch's freshman NAIA tournament began with 7-1 win via decision in her opening bout. After the initial win, Welch's following match ended after a pin from Olivia Brown from Grand View. In the consolation bracket, Welch nearly tabbed a tech fall win, besting her opponent 9-0. After that, Welch just missed a chance for All-American honors losing a close 4-3 decision in her final match.
Head coach Ashley Flavin shared her thoughts on the tournament and shared her excitement for the future of Life University's Women's Wrestling program.
"Second place is always bittersweet. You leave wanting more. Eight All-Americans, including two national runner-ups and a champion. We had a strong finish for this young team." Flavin then continued, "I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Peyton Prussin's historic achievement of becoming the first-ever NAIA 3x National Champion. On top of that, she has done it without losing to an NAIA wrestler. Her record for the past 3 years is 61-0. Right now Peyton is deciding if she will use her remaining eligibility (2 years)… If Peyton continues it would give her the opportunity to become the first (and likely only) 5-time NAIA National Champion. No matter what she decides, this program will forever be impacted by her example as a supportive teammate, the work she has done, and the person she is."
With the close of the NAIA Women's Wrestling Championship, the 2022-23 season comes to an end.
