ADRIAN, Mich. – The #20 Campbellsville University women's wrestling team opened its 2025-26 season on Saturday, testing its best against top competition in the "A" brackets (the highest competition tier) of the highly competitive Adrian College Invite. The Lady Tigers finished the day with five total placers, led by a pair of 8th-place finishes from their nationally-ranked veterans.
- Nationally-ranked sisters #18 Addison Messerly (124 A) and #9 Olivia Messerly (131 A) both battled to 8th-place finishes in the tournament's top-tier "A" brackets.
- Adding to the team's solid showing, freshman Desi Lee (180 A) made a strong debut in a championship bracket, going 3-2 with all three of her victories coming by fall.
- Ranked starters #11 Cameron Ortiz (131 A) and #10 Kylee Tait (160 A) both started their days 2-0 with bonus-point wins before being knocked from their respective brackets.
- Freshman Aubree Avery (second, 160 C) secured the team's highest finish of the day, scoring three straight pins to take 2nd place in her bracket.
- The strong freshman presence continued as Jayli Ring (fifth, 131 C) and Lacey Gilbert (seventh, 124 B) also fought their way to the podium, giving Campbellsville five total placers to open the season.
Competing in the 124 A bracket, #18
Addison Messerly secured her 8th-place finish. After dropping her first bout, Messerly reeled off three consecutive victories by fall in the consolation rounds, including a 46-second pin over teammate
Syriana Berrios.
Her sister, #9
Olivia Messerly, matched the 8th-place finish in the 131 A bracket. She opened her day with a blistering 36-second, 10-0 technical fall and later added a 12-2 tech fall in the consolations to secure her spot on the podium.
Among performers just shy of the podium, perhaps the strongest "A" bracket performance from a non-placer came from freshman
Desi Lee at 180 pounds. In her first collegiate tournament, Lee went 3-2 in the championship bracket, with all three of her victories coming by pin.
The team's other ranked starters also showed early promise against the elite field. #10
Kylee Tait started 2-0 at 160 A, winning both matches by fall, while #11
Cameron Ortiz began her day 2-0 at 131 A, scoring a fall and a tech fall.
While the veterans battled in the "A" brackets, the freshman class secured the team's highest placements in the B and C brackets.
Showcasing this depth,
Aubree Avery emerged as the team's top finisher, claiming second place in the 160 C bracket. Avery was dominant, scoring three straight pins to reach the finals.
Jayli Ring took fifth place in the 131 C bracket. She finished her 4-2 day with a 44-second pin in her placement match.
Adding to the team's list of placers,
Lacey Gilbert rounded out the group by taking seventh in the 124 B bracket. Gilbert (5-2) won four straight consolation matches to earn her spot on the podium.
The Lady Tigers will now prepare for their home opener and first dual of the season. They host a major Mid-South Conference showdown against #4 University of the Cumberlands on Friday, November 14th, at 6:30 p.m. ET in the Wrestling Facility.
