CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – Standing up to the task of an unenviable two-day schedule of nothing but top-ten programs within the NWCA National Duals, the Presbyterian College women's wrestling team all but guaranteed a trend upwards to the next poll by defeating their third ranked foe of the past 24 hours on Saturday afternoon.

Beginning the two-parter by taking a loss to sixth-ranked Sacred Heart (30-14) in a rematch from November's "Trail Blazer Duals" that were also held in Iowa, the Blue Hose rebounded to register their highest-ranked victory in the history of the program as they toppled # 4 Colorado Mesa by a 28-19 separation.

Once again, it took some late-match heroics from PC's final two competitors (Henlee Haynes and Ella Beam) to sway the win in their favor, breaking a 19-all tie to conclude the tournament after eliminating a six-point hole in the prior day's contest with # 8 Lock Haven.

Landing at the # 11 spot going into the 15-team bracket in the countrywide rankings, Presbyterian improved their head-to-head record to 7-4 on the season across a schedule that has featured a whopping eight ranked opponents.

The brutality of that hand has remained with the Blue Hose since November and paid major dividends over the weekend as another significant step forward for a largely-underclassman roster.

 
NOTABLES
 
- No other PC performer has shined brighter than Cassia Zammit (130) over the past two days, going a perfect 5-0 against adversaries slotted higher than her squad at the National Duals tourney. She capped off her brilliant showing with a 2:15 pin against CMU's Alyssa Jackson, her 17^th victory of what's already been a sensational rookie year in the blue and garnet.

- 143-pounder Madeline Kubicki joined Zammit's company with a pair of W's on Saturday, going back-to-back with a technical fall and a pin to increase her personal win count to 15 as another newbie with tremendous results already.

- Presby's fifth bout of the tourney versus Colorado Mesa played out in a similar manner to the team's nightcap on Friday against LHU, finding three separate ties and a lead no greater than five until the closing stretch.

- Haynes left no doubt as the score read 19 apiece by reaching a 10-0 tech over Caylee Collins that effectively won the contest considering the later forfeit from the Mavericks in class 191.

- When the dust cleared, head coach Brian Vutianitis' crew finished with the same seed where they began the bracket (seventh place), putting together six total wins at the NWCA National Duals over the past two years (all against ranked enemies).

- PC has gathered seven victories over top-20 universities since January of 2023, now up to 144 individual wins over the first two months and change of the program's fifth season.

 
RESULTS

 
# 6 SACRED HEART def. # 11 PRESBYTERIAN, 30-14
 
101 – Chiara Barbieri (PC) def. Aaliyah Payne-Parris (SHU) by TF, 11-0 – 4-0 PC
109 – Ahsia Torres (SHU) def. Grace York (PC) by Fall, 1:02 – 5-4 SHU
116 – Nohea Moniz (SHU) def. Charlee Shuler (PC) by Fall, 2:14 – 10-4 SHU
123 – Alexandra Fitzgerald (SHU) def. Alyssa Mahan (PC) by TF, 12-2 – 14-5 SHU
130 – Cassia Zammit (PC) def. Bayley Trang (SHU) by Dec., 6-1 – 15-8 SHU
136 – Aliza Leander (SHU) def. Olivia Waller (PC) by TF, 10-0 – 19-8 SHU
143 – Madeline Kubicki (PC) def. Khadijah Sanusi (SHU) by TF, 10-0 – 19-12 SHU
155 – Madison Sandquist (SHU) def. Isabella Badon (PC) by Fall, 1:07 – 24-12 SHU
170 – Love Daley (SHU) def. Henlee Haynes (PC) by Dec., 11-9 – 27-13 SHU
191 – Jacklyn Smith (SHU) def. Ella Beam (PC) by Dec., 3-3 – 30-14 SHU

 
# 11 PRESBYTERIAN def. # 4 COLORADO MESA, 28-19
 
101 – Isabella Morales (CMU) def. Chiara Barbieri (PC) by Fall, 2:55 – 5-0 CMU
109 – Adriana Gomez (CMU) def. Grace York (PC) by TF, 10-0 – 9-0 CMU
116 – Charlee Shuler (PC) def. Elisha Allen (CMU) by TF, 10-0 – 9-4 CMU
123 – Alyssa Mahan (PC) def. Hania Halverson (CMU) by Fall, 1:05 – 9-9 Tie
130 – Cassia Zammit (PC) def. Alyssa Jackson (CMU) by Fall, 2:15 – 14-9 PC
136 – Holly Beaudoin (CMU) def. Olivia Waller (PC) by Fall, 0:20 – 14-14 Tie
143 – Madeline Kubicki (PC) def. Dalia Garibay (CMU) by Fall, 2:29 – 19-14 PC
155 – Celina Cooke (CMU) def. Isabella Badon (PC) by Fall, 2:34 – 19-19 Tie
170 – Henlee Haynes (PC) def. Caylee Collins (CMU) by TF, 10-0 – 23-19 PC
191 – Ella Beam (PC) won by Forfeit – 28-19 PC

 
UP NEXT
 
- While the rigorous nature of the NWCA tournament may be over, the same cannot be said for Presbyterian's immediate future as they prepare for their sixth match in a row against a top-ten club. A trip to Bristol, Tennessee awaits the Blue Hose on Saturday, January 13 which will bring together Coach V's lineup against the number three unit in the nation.

- Arguably the two most fearsome programs in the Southeast Region will collide next weekend as PC visits King. The action is slated to start at approximately 2:00 PM in the Volunteer State.