Warriors Open Season on the Road

HASTINGS, Neb. – No. 19-ranked Midland University began its 2024-25 season with a dual against No. 11-ranked Hastings College on Sunday at Lynn Farrell Arena. Although the teams are Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) foes, the first meeting of two this season between the teams was a non-conference matchup that went to the Broncos, 26-21.

In the 103-pound weight class, Midland's Kyra Gonzalez won by forfeit, putting the Warriors ahead, 5-0. Zoe Omura, ranked No. 10 in the NAIA preseason rankings at 103 pounds, wrestled up at 110 pounds and defeated Rayleigh Guyer by technical fall, 10-0, at 2:24, extending Midland's lead to 9-0.

The Broncos earned their first team points at 117 pounds when Ruby Guerrero defeated Midland's Destiny Castillo by fall at 1:20, tightening the score to 9-5, still in Midland's favor. Hastings then took the lead at 124 pounds as Isabella Keesee won by forfeit, putting the Broncos ahead, 10-9.

In the 131-pound class, two ranked opponents faced off as No. 8 Larissa Kaz of Hastings defeated No. 19 Taylor Hood of Midland by fall in just 38 seconds, increasing Hastings' lead to 15-9 midway through the dual. Midland responded at 138 pounds when Emily Paulino, ranked No. 7 in the NAIA preseason rankings at 124 pounds, upset No. 4-ranked Reagan Gallaway in a 4-2 decision, bringing the score to 16-12 in favor of Hastings.

Another matchup of ranked wrestlers occurred at 145 pounds, where No. 17 Maci Avila of Midland defeated No. 16 Taylor Wood of Hastings by technical fall, 12-0, at 3:00, tying the dual at 16-16 with three bouts left. Hastings regained the lead at 160 pounds, as Brooke Schilke defeated Midland's Ja'Nya Banks by fall at 4:19, putting the Broncos up 21-16.

In the penultimate bout, Midland's Makena Schramm secured a fall at 5:12 in the 180-pound class against Chloe Harris of Hastings, leveling the score once more at 21-21. However, in the final 207-pound bout, Midland was open, allowing No. 14-ranked Taylor Rickley of Hastings to claim a win by forfeit, sealing a 26-21 victory for the Broncos.

The Warriors will return to action on Friday, November 1, at the Falcon Open in Park City, Kansas with competition getting underway at 9:00 a.m.