Wrestling | 11/6/2023 3:39:00 PM

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. & BURNABY, B.C. (Nov. 6, 2023) – The Texas Woman's wrestling team competed in their first two open tournaments at the Simon Fraser Open and Colorado Mesa Maverick Open on Saturday, Nov. 4.
 
TWU celebrated placers at each open tournament.
 
At the Simon Fraser Open, four Pioneers placed in the top five in their respective weight classes. In the 155 weight class, Nari Miller placed fifth, after recording her first Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference bout win in the Simon Fraser Dual on Friday, Nov. 3.
 
Maegan Flaherty wrestled in the 143 weight class and placed fourth, recording her first tournament placement in her first year with the Pioneers. Wrestling in the 130 weight class, Alexis Hanks also placed fourth, as the freshman recorded her first career tournament top five placement.
 
Poorna Babu claimed the highest placement of any TWU Pioneer this weekend, as Babu placed second in the 155 weight class to start her season off on a strong note.
 
At the Maverick Open in Grand Junction, Colo., Ashlee Rice wrestled for the Pioneers in the 109 weight class and received a bye for the first round before falling in the second round to Rachel Jones of Snow College. After a bye in the loser's bracket, Rice fell by fall to Heavynne Robles-Wright from Chadron State.
 
In the 116 weight class, Adaline Soliz lost in her opening bout to Elisha Allen from Colorada Mesa by fall and then fell in her second bout to Taniel Espinosa from Adams State.
 
McKenzie England represented the Pioneers in the 123 weight class, winning her opening bout by tech fall, 11-0, against Angelina Walker of Ottawa. This marked the first bout win for the freshman from Georgia. England would fall in her next match, but would go on to win two more bouts in the loser's bracket before falling to Ana Rojas Zamora of Chadron State.
 
Five Pioneers wrestled in the 130 weight class – Valeria Acevedo-Hernandez, Laisha Rios, Stéjah Allen, La'Netra Hill and Ximena Ibarra.
 
Rios topped the leader board for the Pioneers at the Open, becoming the only Pioneer to place in the top five at the event. After losing her first bout to Trinity Perez of Adams State, Rios won three straight bouts. After losing her fourth bout to Kaydence Boyd of Colorado Mesa, Rios wrestled for fifth place against her teammate Acevedo-Hernandez. Rios won by fall to claim fifth place.
 
Acevedo-Hernandez also wrestled well, winning her opening bout against Arianna Domniguez of Arizona State, before falling in her second bout. In the loser's bracket, Acevedo-Hernandez won a bout then lost to face Rios for fifth place.

Allen lost her opening bout but answered with energy, defeating her teammate Hill by tech fall. Allen would then lose to Trinity Perez of Adams State in the next bout.
 
Ibarra, who lost her opening bout to Raquel Moore of Chadron State, faced her teammate Acevedo-Hernandez and lost by fall.
 
Livier Dubon recorded her first opening bout of her freshman career, defeating Liana Fernandez of Adams State by fall in the 136 weight class. Dubon would then lose her next two bouts.
 
In the 155 weight class, Jermariah Ferguson won her opening bout against Teagan Moss of Snow College, before losing her next two bouts.
 
The Pioneers will be back in action on Nov. 17 and Nov. 18 at Missouri Valley.