Women's Wrestling Drops Opener at National Duals

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — Eleventh-ranked Southern Oregon rallied late to defeat No. 8 Doane 27–20 in a women's wrestling dual Friday at the UNI Dome.

The Tigers opened strong, winning four of the first five bouts to build an early cushion. Fourteenth-ranked Karina Vang got Doane started at 103 pounds with a first-period fall over No. 16 Liana Ferreira at 1:56. After Southern Oregon evened the score with a fall at 110, 13th-ranked Angelica Vicente Gonzalez answered with another quick pin at 117, sticking Deandra Meza in 1:45.

Top-ranked Cristelle Rodriguez extended the lead at 124 with a dominant technical fall, 10-0, in just 1:17 over Kaylee Annis. Thirteenth-ranked Ashlee Palimo'o followed with a 12-6 decision against No. 11 Jade Morales at 131, pushing Doane's advantage to 17–6.

Southern Oregon began to chip away midway through the dual. At 138, Makayla Correa pinned 18th-ranked Payton Weese at 4:19, trimming the deficit. Doane responded at 145 as 10th-ranked Bridgette Sotomayor earned an 11-2 decision over Holland Wieber to restore an eight-point cushion at 20–12.

The final four bouts swung the match in favor of the Raiders. Quilaztli Miguel-Lapham picked up a first-period fall at 160, pinning Avani Wilkie in 1:46 to make it 20–17. 

At 180, third-ranked Kathryn Hingano pinned 15th-ranked Yazmin Belk in just 1:09 to give the Raiders their first lead. Top-ranked Lillian Gradillas-Flores followed at 207 with a fall at 5:22 over third-ranked Jessica Rodriguez, sealing the 27–20 decision.

Doane recorded five victories with two by fall and one by technical fall in the loss, while Southern Oregon secured five wins overall, including the final four bouts, to complete the comeback.

The Tigers will take on No. 18 Dickinson State in their next match of the day.

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