Wrestling | 2/19/2023 11:46:00 PM

GRAND JUNCTION, Colorado (Feb. 19, 2023) – Nothing but views from Grand Junction, Colorado as five Pioneers qualified for the National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championships Sunday evening.
 
Fifteen Pioneers competed in the race to nationals including Mackenzie Peterson (109), Ashlee Rice (109), Mercedes Nerios (116), Laisha Rios (130), Ploy Tipmanee (130), Kira Phillips (136), Brooke Zejada (136), Poorna Babu (143), Jermariah Ferguson (143), Nari Miller (155), Zanya Walker (155), Aubrey Yauger (170), Samantha Simonette (170), Faith Perez (191), and Angelina Archuleta (191).
 
Of those fifteen Pioneers, Peterson qualified for nationals in the 109-weight class after a technical fall over Chadron State at 4:44 closed the match. In the 116 weight-class, Nerios recorded a fall at 4:42 to make it to nationals. Both Peterson and Nerios won true fourth in their respective weight classes.
 
Zejada of the 136-weight class placed third after a fall at 2:37 allowed her to advance to nationals. At 143, Babu placed fourth in an eight to four decision against Colorado Mesa, while Yauger defeated Colorado Mesa to take third in the 170-weight class.
 
Several Pioneers were relentless in their fight and placed in regionals including Rice at 109 for eighth, Tipmanee at 130 for sixth, Rios at 130 for seventh, Phillips at 136 for fifth, Miller at 155 for sixth, Walker at 155 for eighth, and in the 191 weight class, Perez at sixth and Archuleta in seventh.
 
"I'm very proud of what my team was able to accomplish as a majority freshman team," said head coach Randi Miller. "I can't wait to see how they grow and develop in preparation for nationals."
 
Sunday night the Pioneers totaled 93.5 points to place fourth out of nine competitors. Yauger registered 18.5 to lead the Pioneers, followed by Zejada with 17 points, and Babu with 13.5 points.
 
The Pioneers will end their 2023 inaugural campaign in Cedar Rapids, Iowa March 3^rd – 4^th as they compete for the coveted championship title.