Gannon takes all, Presbyterian split to start the season
FERRUM, V.A. – – College women’s wrestling kicked off early this year with a tri-dual hosted by Ferrum College, ft. Gannon University and Presbyterian College.
Final Scores
1: Gannon 40, Presbyterian 8
2: Gannon 28, Ferrum 21
3: Presbyterian 29, Ferrum 15
Gannon University 2-0
The Knights start their season with a 2-0 dual record, capturing back to back wins over Presbyterian and Ferrum.
Head Coach Christen Dierken said this was a good test for them to turn around knowing what to focus on in the room. “We’re excited to have this first experience start the momentum moving in the right direction.”
Gannon secured a total of 13 wins, and six of the ten ladies on Knights lineup for the evening were freshman. Amara Devericks (fr-170) secured two falls, contributing 10 team points and Annabelle Helm (fr-155) won both of her matches adding another 9 points toward both dual wins.
“A lot of the matchups went our direction,” said Dierken. “We’ve done a lot of learning, wrestling, cross-training, mental training and leadership training . . . one thing that really stands out for us is that we have the girls in their proper weight classes now—they are more disciplined and buying into the program.”
Gannon wrestled a number of exhibition matches against Ferrum to end their second dual of the night.
Presbyterian College 1-1
Presbyterian finished their historic first competition with a 1-1 team performance, securing a win over Ferrum 29-15 after dropping a tough matchup vs. Gannon 40-8.
The Blue Hose had a total of seven wins throughout the evening. Coach Dany DeAnda said, “It was a historical event for our athletes/school, and for women’s wrestling as a whole.” Presbyterian is the only Division I program that currently offers women’s wrestling.
“The thing we really drove home with our athletes before this event was effect. Win or lose that they give their best effort in every situation,” said Coach Dany. “Overall I think our ladies did that; there is always room for improvement but for the first dual I think they did well.”
Isabella Badon (fr-123) Lillian Humphries (fr-143) and Madajah Trapier (fr-170) all secured victories to flip the team score in favor of the Blue Hose.
“Obviously, Morgan Norris is a standout competitor and came out with two big wins for us. After the Gannon dual our 155-pound starter (Perez) was hurt, resulting in her not being about to wrestle against Ferrum. We had Lillian Humphries our #2 at 136lbs step in at 143 and she performed amazingly. We stepped out there and implemented her game plan very well and got the pin.”
Ferrum College 0-2
The Panthers dropped both duals at home, giving up forfeits at 109, 116 and 136. Wrestlers Destiny Benjamin (fr-130) and Andrea Langley (fr-191) both went undefeated for the night. “It was so great to see the fight in both of them,” said Coach Breonnah Neal. “They both fought through points that could have gone either way but didn’t quit until they came out on top.”
All of the Panther freshman earned their first career wins, and it was the final first event for seven seniors. “I thought the girls performed well for our first duals together,” said Neal. “Overall, I was proud of them and I’m really looking forward to how we compete with a full line up.”
Bailey Gilmore (fr-143) and Alisha Elizalde (sr-101) also picked up falls for the Panthers in their dual vs. Gannon.
Individual Results
Dual 1: Gannon 40, Presbyterian 8
101 – Irene Barrerra (GU) win by forfeit
109 – Nikoly Dos Santos (GU) vsu Cassandra Lopez (PC) 19-8
116 – Caleeann Blarr (GU) win by forfeit
123 – Alexandra Alers (GU) vpo Isabella Badon (PC) 9-8
130 – Mikayla Dockweiler (GU) vpo Alexa Downs (PC) 8-1
136 – Gabriella Malinowski (GU) fall Hannah McElroy (PC) 1:30
143 – Morgan Norris (PC) fall Jezebel Garcia (GU) 1:00
155 – Annabelle Helm (GU) fall Adelyhda Perez (PC) 5:50
170 – Amara Devericks (GU) fall Madajah Trapier (PC) 1:00
191 – Daniela Morales-Dardon (GU) win by forfeit
Dual 2: Gannon 28, Ferrum 21
101 – Alisha Elizalde (FC) fall Irene Barrerra (GU)
109 – Nikoly Dos Santos (GU) win by forfeit
116 – Caleeann Blarr (GU) win by forfeit
123 – Alexandra Alers (GU) fall Marissa Ruiz (FC)
130 – Destiny Benjamin (FC) fall Mikayla Dockweiler (GU)
136 – Gabriella Malinowski (GU) win by forfeit
143 – Bailery Gilmore (FC) fall Jezebal Garcia (GU)
155 – Annabelle Helm (GU) vpo Taylor Kleemoff (FC) 8-3
170 – Amara Devericks (GU) fall Talum Smith (FC)
191 – Andrea Langley (FC) fall Daniela Morales-Dardon (GU)
Dual 3: Presbyterian 29, Ferrum 15
101 – Alisha Elizalde (FC) win by forfeit
109 – Cassandra Lopez (PC) win by forfeit
123 – Isabella Badon (PC) fall Marrisa Ruiz (FC) 2:00
130 – Destiny Benjamin (FC) vsu Alexa Downs (PC) 11-0
136 – Hannah McElroy (PC) win by forfeit
143 – Lillian Humphries (PC) fall Bailey Gilmore (FC) 1:30
155 – Morgan Norris (PC) fall Taylor Kleemoff (FC) 1:15
170 –Madajah Trapier (PC) vsu Talum Smith (FC) 12-1
191 – Andrea Langley (FC) win by forfeit
First time here? Transition Wrestling is an independent women’s wrestling news publication.
