CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – Another historic day for the Presbyterian College women's wrestling team was just enacted, as the 11^th-ranked Blue Hose proved their belonging with the nation's elite by besting both # 9 New Jersey City and # 8 Lock Haven at the NWCA National Duals on Friday evening.

An extremely impressive feat considering the majority of inexperience that the roster harbors at the collegiate level, head coach Brian Vutianitis' crew recorded its fifth and sixth ranked victories of the past two seasons by claiming two massive W's. The first was never in doubt – running away for a 37-8 decision – and after a minor hiccup to the top-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes (39-4), PC pulled out a heart-stopping 24-21 triumph over LHU to close the day on a major high.

Following Friday's fist-pumping wins over two higher-ranked institutions going into the bracket, Presby will continue its march in the National Duals by facing off with # 6 Sacred Heart tomorrow at 11:30 AM eastern standard time.

That sets the stage for a rematch with the Pioneers after PC narrowly fell to SHU back in November by a 26-18 clip. Should the Blue Hose gain a dose of payback and send home Sacred Heart in the consolation round, they'll take on the winner of the Lindenwood/Colorado Mesa affair for a chance at the 5^th-place resting mark.

 
NOTABLES
 
- A true team effort was needed in order for Coach V's squad to end on top of both New Jersey City and Lock Haven, getting just what the doctor ordered by virtue of 15 individual wins at Cedar Falls.

- In a loser-goes-home scenario between PC and the Bald Eagles in the third and final match of the day, Presby avoided defeat in a contest that featured four lead changes thanks to an Ella Beam technical fall that allowed her unit to defeat LHU for the second year in a row at this event.

- 130-pounder Cassia Zammit couldn't be stopped on Friday, overpowering all three of her opponents (including Iowa's Emily Frost at the midway point) to give the freshman 15 wins through a captivating debut season.

- Seven of PC's victories occurred by either pin or technical, with none more important than Beam's match-clincher over Trinity Monaghan that helped the Blue Hose erase a six-point deficit with only two matches remaining.

- Rookie Henlee Haynes – Presbyterian's longest-standing competitor at the Midlands Championships tourney just six days earlier thanks to a silver medal – got that rally started by taking down Jessica Johnson with a 2:05 fall, providing the avenue for the late comeback after the team had dropped the three prior bouts.

- No such dramatics were necessary when the Blue Hose started off the event by cruising past the Gothic Knights, winning by 29 points in the fourth dual of the season where their opponent failed to hit double digits in the final score calculation.

- PC embarked on a six-match winning streak while already up by seven to send them to a quarterfinal-round showdown against # 1 Iowa, and although it wouldn't turn out how they'd like, the aforementioned thriller over Lock Haven kept them within striking distance of the top spot on the consolation side of the 15-team field.

 
RESULTS
 
# 11 PRESBYTERIAN def. # 9 NEW JERSEY CITY, 37-8
 
101 – Chiara Barbieri (PC) won by Forfeit – 5-0 PC
109 – Grace York (PC) def. Dyanne Pelaez (NJC) by Fall, 0:26 – 10-0 PC
116 – Izabella Frezzo (NJC) def. Charlee Shuler (PC) by Dec., 6-0 – 10-3 PC
123 – Alyssa Mahan (PC) won by Forfeit – 15-3 PC
130 – Cassia Zammit (PC) def. Claire Daity (NJC) by TF, 10-0 – 19-3 PC
136 – Olivia Waller (PC) won by Forfeit – 24-3 PC
143 – Madeline Kubicki (PC) won by Forfeit – 29-3 PC
155 – Isabella Badon (PC) def. Apryl Coffman (NJC) by Dec., 5-1 – 32-4 PC
170 – Ta'Niya Roberts (PC) def. Emely Rodriguez (NJC) by Fall, 1:02 – 37-4 PC
191 – Sandra Guerrero (NJC) def. Ella Beam (PC) by TF, 10-0 – 37-8 PC

 
# 1 IOWA def. # 11 PRESBYTERIAN, 39-4
 
101 – Sterling Dias (Iowa) def. Chiara Barbieri (PC) by Fall, 0:32 – 5-0 Iowa
109 – Ava Bayless (Iowa) def. Grace York (PC) by TF, 10-0 – 9-0 Iowa
116 – Brianna Gonzalez (Iowa) def. Charlee Shuler (PC) by TF, 10-0 – 13-0 Iowa
123 – Ava Rose (Iowa) def. Alyssa Mahan (PC) by Dec., 4-2 – 16-1 Iowa
130 – Cassia Zammit (PC) def. Emily Frost (Iowa) by Dec., 6-2 – 17-4 Iowa
136 – Lilly Luft (Iowa) def. Olivia Waller (PC) by TF, 10-0 – 21-4 Iowa
143 – Ella Schmit (Iowa) def. Madeline Kubicki (PC) by Fall, 5:14 – 26-4 Iowa
155 – Marlynne Deede (Iowa) def. Isabella Badon (PC) by TF, 10-0 – 30-4 Iowa
170 – Haley Ward (Iowa) def. Henlee Haynes (PC) by TF, 10-0 – 34-4 Iowa
191 – Jaycee Foeller (Iowa) def. Ella Beam (PC) by Fall, 2:05 – 39-4 Iowa

 
# 11 PRESBYTERIAN def. # 8 LOCK HAVEN, 24-21
 
101 – Chiara Barbieri (PC) def. Emma Heslin (LHU) by TF, 12-1 – 4-1 PC
109 – Kaelani Shufeldt (LHU) def. Grace York (PC) by Fall, 0:58 – 6-4 LHU
116 – Charlee Shuler (PC) def. Jayleah Pletz (LHU) by Dec., 8-0 – 7-6 PC
123 – Alyssa Mahan (PC) def. Carly Gross (LHU) by Fall, 3:37 – 12-6 PC
130 – Cassia Zammit (PC) def. Lillian Sherer (LHU) by Dec., 3-1 – 15-7 PC
136 – Madison Matta (LHU) def. Olivia Waller (PC) by Fall, 3:54 – 15-12 PC
143 – Grace Stem (LHU) def. Madeline Kubicki (PC) by TF, 11-0 – 16-15 LHU
155 – Paige Jackson (LHU) def. Isabella Badon (PC) by Fall, 5:54 – 21-15 LHU
170 – Henlee Haynes (PC) def. Jessica Johnson (LHU) by Fall, 2:05 – 21-20 LHU
191 – Ella Beam (PC) def. Trinity Monaghan (LHU) by TF, 10-0 – 24-21 PC
 
 
UP NEXT
 
- As mentioned above, the Blue Hose will stay in Cedar Falls for two more on Saturday regardless of how part II with Sacred Heart ends up. After linking up with the Pioneers once again for the second time in two months, their final clash of the tournament is set for 2:30 on Flo Wrestling.