LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Wayland Baptist won the inaugural NAIA Women's Duals title and finished third overall at the NWCA Multi-National Duals held here Friday and Saturday.
"It's pretty cool that we're the first team to win the NAIA Women's Duals championship," WBU coach
Aaron Meister said. "It was a good competition for us and it was nice to finish with a win. That makes the long trip home a little bit more fun."
After a first-round bye, the second-ranked Pioneers defeated fourth-ranked Life, Ga., 27-20.
Wayland then took on perennial power and NCAA Division II King University, Tenn., dropping a hard-fought, 26-20 decision.
The Pioneers bounced back in the third-place match to face another NCAA Division II opponent, Emmanuel, Ga. Wayland won a very tight dual, 23-21.
"We faced adversity in each and every one of our duals, and the girls responded to it in a positive way each time," Meister said.
King fell in the championship final to McKendree, Ill., 24-17.
Individually,
Rhonda Johnson (109) and defending national champions
Brittany Marshall (170) and
Paige Baynes (191) won all three of their matches. The Pioneers also won all three of their matches at 101, where
Nina Pham went 1-0 and
Asia Ray 2-0.
"We're still coming together as a team and continue to improve," Meister said. "Hopefully, finishing the way we did and winning the NAIA National Duals Championships will validate all of the hard work that we've put in. It feels good to bring him a title."
The Pioneers next face a couple of stiff tests when they compete Jan. 10 in Ottawa, Kan., against No. 11 Missouri Baptist and No. 9 Ottawa.
NWCA Multi-National Duals
Match #1 Champ. Round 1
Wayland Baptist received a Bye
Match #2 Quarterfinal
Wayland Baptist defeated Life, 27-20
- 101 - Nina Pham (Wayland Baptist) over Faye Cherrier (Life) TF 14-3
- 109 - Rhonda Johnson (Wayland Baptist) over Tyesha Topps (Life) TF 11-1
- 116 - Jathiya Isaac (Wayland Baptist) over Jennifer Juarez (Life) Fall 4:31
- 123 - Sierra Powell (Life) over Rebekah Cordova (Wayland Baptist) TF 12-2
- 130 - Breanna Dudoit-Vasquez (Wayland Baptist) over Julia Vidallon (Life) Fall 4:03
- 136 - Erica Sotelo (Life) over Jacqueline Flores (Wayland Baptist) Fall 1:11
- 143 - Zoe Wight (Life) over Marina Briceno (Wayland Baptist) TF 12-0
- 155 - Hailey Finn (Life) over Breanna Jennings (Wayland Baptist) Fall 2:20
- 170 - Brittany Marshall (Wayland Baptist) over Stephanie Pantoja (Life) TF 10-0
- 191 - Paige Baynes (Wayland Baptist) over Jordan Nelson (Life) TF 10-0
Match #3 Semifinal
King defeated Wayland Baptist 26-20
- 101 - Asia Ray (Wayland Baptist) over Jaclyn McNichols (King) Fall 2:24
- 109 - Rhonda Johnson (Wayland Baptist) over Lesly Hernandez (King) Fall 1:05
- 116 - Makayla Welch (King) over Jathiya Isaac (Wayland Baptist) TF 11-0
- 123 - Briana Kellin (King) over Rebekah Cordova (Wayland Baptist) Dec 7-6
- 130 - Cheyenne Sisenstein (King) over Breanna Dudoit-Vasquez (Wayland Baptist) Fall 2:45
- 136 - Nicole Joseph (King) over Jacqueline Flores (Wayland Baptist) Fall 1:07
- 143 - Ashlynn Ortega (King) over Marina Briceno (Wayland Baptist) TF 11-0
- 155 - Ana Luciano (King) over Breanna Jennings (Wayland Baptist) Fall 2:26
- 170 - Brittany Marshall (Wayland Baptist) over Nia Crosdale (King) TF 10-0
- 191 - Paige Baynes (Wayland Baptist) over Denise Perez (King) Fall 0:14
Match #4 3rd Place Match
Wayland Baptist defeated Emmanuel 23-21
- 101 - Asia Ray (Wayland Baptist) over Angelina Gomez (Emmanuel) TF 10-0
- 109 - Rhonda Johnson (Wayland Baptist) over Iesha Washington (Emmanuel) TF 10-0
- 116 - Jathiya Isaac (Wayland Baptist) over Kasey Baynon (Emmanuel) TF 15-4
- 123 - Rebekah Cordova (Wayland Baptist) over Alexandra Herle (Emmanuel) TF 11-0
- 130 - Caitlin Cardenas (Emmanuel) over Breanna Dudoit-Vasquez (Wayland Baptist) Fall 4:05
- 136 - Abigail Nette (Emmanuel) over Amanda Alvarado (Wayland Baptist) TF 10-0
- 143 - Kayla Marano (Emmanuel) over Marina Briceno (Wayland Baptist) Fall 2:05
- 155 - Felicity Bryant (Emmanuel) over Breanna Jennings (Wayland Baptist) TF 11-0
- 170 - Brittany Marshall (Wayland Baptist) over Hannah Gladden (Emmanuel) Dec 15-6
- 191 - Paige Baynes (Wayland Baptist) over Kaylee Seabolt (Emmanuel) TF 12-2
