Wrestling | 3/8/2024 12:57:00 PM
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (March 7, 2024) - For the second time in program history, the Texas Woman's wrestling team qualifies Pioneers to the prestigious National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championship in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The championship is set to start on Friday, March 8.
All three Pioneers qualified to nationals at the Region VI Qualifier Championship celebrated on February 26 in Denton, Texas. This is the first National event for all three of the Pioneers attending.
Nari Miller, who has had an incredible season so far, qualified to nationals after placing fourth at the Regional Championship. Miller defeated opponents from Linfield University, Pacific University, and Colorado Mesa University to obtain her ticket to Iowa. The sophomore from Minneapolis, Minnesota, will compete in the 155 weight class.
"This journey honestly started at the end of last season when I missed last year's qualification to Nationals," Miller said. "I remember coming back to practice knowing that I did not want to feel that way again this season. Leading into this season, I had a talk with coach Randi, and she shared her personal experience of not achieving certain expectations, and she is honestly my super hero. She inspires me so much and pushes me to achieve what we know I am capable of."
Nationals were not in the picture for Livier Dubon. Dubon came in as a freshman and worked her way up to a new weight class and achieved the biggest goal of all -The chance to wrestle at the National stage.
"I came in as a freshman thinking I would most likely lose matches because I am a freshman," Dubon said. "But then one day I was wrestling 130, and the next I was 136 and qualified for Nationals. I am very excited to learn from this experience."
The freshman from El Salvador, also earned her spot by placing fourth at the NCWWC Region VI Championships. Dubon defeated wrestlers from Linfield University and University of Sioux Falls for the first two bouts of the Championships but fell short to Jade Trolland from Simon Fraser in the semifinal round.
The Pioneer representing TWU in the 143 weight class is Jermariah Ferguson. After placing fifth in the Regional Championship, falling to Haleigh Lematta from Minot State in the true fourth match, and thinking the season was over on February 25, a wrestler scratch and Ferguson was ready to step in and represent TWU in Iowa.
"Right before our conference tournament, the day before we wrestled, coach Randi made a comment about how the energy in the team had shifted and it felt different," Ferguson said. "I remember thinking this is how I want to feel all the time. I felt super excited to go out there and compete. I just held onto that energy going into Regionals and it got me to do my best."
"Most of the people on my team, but specifically the ones standing up here Nari, Livi and Jermariah, have not missed anything, no a study hall, no a practice, no a lift, nothing," TWU wrestling Head Coach Randi Miller said. "And that is what not missing a day does. You are ready, you are ready by the end of the year."
Miller, Dubon and Ferguson will compete today, Friday March 8, with hopes to qualify for tomorrow, Saturday March 9, and become an All-American Wrestler for the first time in program history.
-PIONEERS-
