Women's Wrestling 1/3/2019 11:08:00 AM Jordan Alves

Lady Tigers look to repeat historic season; NWCA National Duals begin Friday at Freedom Hall

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — In just five seasons, Lady Tiger wrestling climbed the ranks to win their first NWCA National Duals and WCWA National Championship last season. The 2019 year begins on Friday afternoon, as Campbellsville is looking to repeat its historic 2018 campaign.

No. 7 Campbellsville earned a first-round matchup with Nassau College on Friday afternoon at the National Wrestling Coaches' Association National Duals, the organization announced on Thursday morning.

The duals take place on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 4-5, at the Kentucky Expo Center and Freedom Hall. Fans can follow the action via PPV on Trackwrestling.com and Fox College Sports is recording for a tape delay event.

Tickets can be purchased at the event - All-Session Adult ($45), All-Session Student ($25); Single Day Adult ($25), Single Day Student ($17).

The Lady Tigers and Nassau Lions compete on Friday afternoon at 3 p.m. ET in the 12-team bracket. CU is guaranteed at least two matches if it wins, as the Lady Tigers would wrestle No. 4 Emmanuel College at 5 p.m. ET and would receive a bye in the consolation rounds if they lose.

The match against Nassau will be the first in program history. CU, which has a 4-2 duals record, lost to Emmanuel College earlier in the year, 29-15, and No. 6 University of the Cumberlands, 24-19.

Fifth-seeded Campbellsville was hit hard with graduation after winning the 2018 title, but still return All-Americans McKayla Campbell (109), Koral Sugiyama (123), Alexia Foca (155).

CU does bring in 10 Lady Tigers ranked in their respective weight classes - Andribeth Rivera (1st, 130 lbs.), McKayla Campbell (2nd, 109 lbs.), Alexandra Castillo (3rd, 191 lbs.), Alexia Foca (4th, 155 lbs.), Koral Sugiyama (5th, 123 lbs.), Mia Rodriguez (6th, 116 lbs.), Kenya Sloan (9th, 170 lbs.), Lilly Binion-Ferrell (10th, 143 lbs.), Katelin Barnett (12th, 101 lbs.) and Sophia Carson (15th, 136 lbs.).

In the top of the bracket with Campbellsville, McKendree University, the runners-up the past two seasons, looks poised to become just the sixth women's program to win a women's National Duals title. Much like the NAIA where numerous wrestlers from one team can be ranked at a weight class, McKendree brings 15 wrestlers to the event who appear in the most recent Women's Collegiate Wrestling Association (WCWA) rankings. Age-group world medalists Alexis Porter (143) and Alex Glaude (155) are ranked No. 1 as is talented freshman Felicity Taylor at 116 pounds. The top four teams get byes in the 12-team field, so McKendree's hammers will await the winner of the Southern Oregon-Missouri Valley dual.

Interestingly enough, Southern Oregon and Missouri Valley meet in the opening round of the NAIA portion of the National Duals as well on the men's side. The dual will feature five ranked wrestlers, four of them from Southern Oregon. Sienna Ramirez is a returning WCWA All-American for SOU, while Missouri Valley's Shamera McTier comes in ranked ninth at 155 and was accomplished on the age-group levels.

No. 4 Emmanuel will have a first-round bye. The Lions have one of the nation's most exciting wrestlers in top-ranked Abby Nette at 130 pounds. Cadet World medalist Kayla Marano (143) is a returning All-American, while Hannah Gladden (155) is looking for a breakout season. The Lions will face the winner of the Campbellsville-Nassau dual.

In the bottom of the bracket, third-seeded King has been one of the nation's most successful women's college programs, putting numerous wrestlers on to U.S. World and Olympic teams. While the Tornado have an opening-round bye, they could make things interesting as they'll bring 10 ranked wrestlers at seven weights with some depth to bump wrestlers around to create more favorable matchups. Returning All-Americans to watch are second-ranked Nicole Joseph at 136 and Allison Petix at 130.

King will see the winner of the dual between longtime participant and No. 6 seed University of the Cumberlands and first-year Gannon, coached by Cumberlands alum Christen Dierken. The Patriots will be decided favorites against the start-up Golden Knights. Keep an eye on returning All-Americans Kelly-Ann Jimenez and Bridgette Duty at 136 pounds as well as Anna Naylor at 155.

Second-seeded Wayland Baptist has an opening-round bye so the Pioneers will await the winner of the dual between seventh-seeded Life and Lyon. Wayland Baptist brings ranked wrestlers at six weights, including the top-ranked 101 pounders with No. 1 Asia Ray, a Junior world bronze medalist and No. 2 Nina Pham. National champion Brittany Marshall helps secure the upper weights at 170 as does the arrival of Paige Baynes, last year's national champion at 191 pounds who transferred in from Grays Harbor.

Life has started to become a national player on the women's wrestling scene. The Running Eagles had three All-Americans last year and have three ranked wrestlers coming into the dual with Lyon. The top individual match there comes at 101 pounds with ninth-ranked Faye Cherrier taking on 10th-ranked Kassidy Ramirez of Lyon.

Information from this release was provided by the NWCA and Jason Bryant.

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Players Mentioned

McKayla Campbell: Sophomore; Wauseon, Ohio

Sophia Carson: Junior; Maxfield, Maine

Alexia Foca: Sophomore; Hackensack, N.J.

Andribeth Rivera: Junior; Carolina, Puerto Rico

Koral Sugiyama: Senior; Pocatello, Idaho

Katelin Barnett: Freshman; Maryville, Tenn.

Lilly Binion-Ferrell: Freshman; Dublin, Ohio

Alexandra Castillo: Freshman; Arleta, Calif.

Mia Rodriguez: Freshman; Belvidere, Ill.

Kenya Sloan: Freshman; Knoxville, Tenn.

Players Mentioned

McKayla Campbell
: Sophomore; Wauseon, Ohio

Sophia Carson
: Junior; Maxfield, Maine

Alexia Foca
: Sophomore; Hackensack, N.J.

Andribeth Rivera
: Junior; Carolina, Puerto Rico

Koral Sugiyama
: Senior; Pocatello, Idaho

Katelin Barnett
: Freshman; Maryville, Tenn.

Lilly Binion-Ferrell
: Freshman; Dublin, Ohio

Alexandra Castillo
: Freshman; Arleta, Calif.

Mia Rodriguez
: Freshman; Belvidere, Ill.

Kenya Sloan
: Freshman; Knoxville, Tenn.