Warriors Claim Victory on Senior Night

FREMONT, Neb. – (RV) Midland University recognized its lone senior before defeating No. 17 Hastings College in a Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) dual on Friday night inside the Wikert Event Center. After both teams finished in a 23-23 tie, the Warriors secured the victory on the fifth tiebreaker criterion.

Midland opened the dual with a pair of victories. Kyra Gonzalez earned a win by forfeit at 103 pounds. At 110 pounds, Zoe Omura, ranked No. 17 in the NAIA at 103 pounds, wrestled up a weight class and defeated Rayleigh Guyer by a 10-1 decision. After two bouts, Midland led 8-1.

Hastings got on the board at 117 pounds when Ruby Guerrero picked up a win via forfeit. Midland's lone senior, Emily Paulino, ranked No. 10 at 124 pounds, responded with a victory by forfeit, extending the Warriors' lead to 15-6 after four bouts.

The Broncos earned a win at 131 pounds as 16th-ranked Larissa Kaz defeated Midland's Taylor Hood by technical fall, 10-0, at 1:30. At 138 pounds, Midland's Eny Bravo secured a win via forfeit, giving the Warriors an 18-10 advantage after six bouts.

In the 145-pound matchup, Midland's Maci Avila, ranked No. 12 at 138 pounds, wrestled up a weight class and defeated No. 19 Lisa Hoeflich by technical fall, 12-0, in just 47 seconds. Hastings answered at 160 pounds, where 17th-ranked Izzy Deeds earned a 6-2 decision over Midland's Makenna Schramm. With two bouts remaining, Midland led 23-13.

In the penultimate bout, 12th-ranked Marissa Patterson pinned Midland's Ja'Nya Banks at 1:07. The final bout went to Hastings' 16th-ranked Taylor Rickey by forfeit, bringing the dual to a 23-23 tie.

The tiebreaker process followed the NAIA criteria:

• Criterion #1: No red cards were issued.
• Criterion #2: Both teams recorded five wins.
• Criterion #3: Both teams had three forfeits/falls/disqualifications.
• Criterion #4: Each team had one technical fall.
• Criterion #5: Midland recorded more total technical points than Hastings, securing the victory.

"We improved from the first time we wrestled them," said Midland head coach Chelsea Dionisio. "There were a lot of opens tonight, but our wrestlers took a team-first mentality with a lot of weights getting moved around."

Before the dual, Midland honored its lone senior, Emily Paulino. "This was certainly special, not only for Emily and her family but for me as well," Dionisio said. "Emily was my first recruit here at Midland. It's been a great journey.

"I'm excited for another Warrior Open," Dionisio said. "With so many more entries this year compared to the past, it should be good competition. I'm looking forward to a good, quick, and efficient tournament."

Both Midland and Hastings will compete in the Midland Warrior Open on Saturday at the Wikert Event Center. Competition gets underway at 9 a.m. in Fremont.