By: Nick Pope: Sports Information Director
DES MOINES, Iowa — The Life University women's wrestling team delivered a resilient, hard-earned performance Sunday at the Grand View Open, posting a runner-up finish, a fourth-place result, and multiple bonus-point victories across both Gold and Silver divisions against one of the nation's deepest open fields.
Life's top finish came in the Silver 145-pound bracket, where Netavia Wickson powered her way to a runner-up showing. Wickson opened the tournament with a decision victory before rattling off back-to-back technical falls in the quarterfinals and semifinals to earn a spot in the championship bout. She finished the day with 17 team points after falling in the title match.
Also in the Silver division, Alicia Serratos turned in a standout performance at 110 pounds, finishing fourth while accumulating a team-high 20.5 points. Serratos rebounded from an early loss with a dominant consolation run, winning five straight matches to reach the third-place bout. Her day included six falls and a decision, showcasing both endurance and finishing ability.
In the Gold division, Zayla Vann (145) made a deep run through the bracket, opening with a technical fall before adding a tech fall and a pin in the consolation rounds. Vann advanced to the later stages of the tournament and finished with seven team points.
At 138 pounds, Christina Jaen battled back after an opening-round setback with consecutive falls in the consolation bracket, including a quick pin in just over a minute, before her run came to an end. Teammates Jordyn Chrisco and Lexy Pabon also competed at 138, with Chrisco earning a technical fall in the championship bracket and Pabon responding to an early loss with a fall in consolation action.
At 131 pounds, Tiyanna Mack opened her day with a dominant technical fall and added another bonus-point victory in the wrestlebacks, while Morgan Sacharczyk (Silver) picked up a fall to contribute valuable team points.
Additional wins came from Kennedy Russell (124), who recorded both a technical fall and a decision in the Gold bracket, and Alyssa Quezaire (103), who earned a technical fall in consolation competition against a tough field. At 180 pounds (Silver), Anetra Witherspoon added bonus points with a fall and a technical fall during her tournament run.
With multiple wrestlers earning wins, bonus points, and podium finishes across both divisions, Life University continued to show depth and competitiveness as the Running Eagles measured themselves against elite national competition.