Women's Wrestling 1/5/2024 10:15:00 PM

Soaring Eagles Notch First Victory at NWCA National Dual Championships

CEDAR FALLS, IOWA – A victory via tiebreaker against No. 18 Gannon University gave the Elmira College women's wrestling program its first-ever dual victory at the NWCA National Dual Meet Championships on Friday.

The Soaring Eagles battled in their first dual of the day as EC dropped a 28-20 decision against No. 4 Colorado Mesa University. Following its victory against Gannon, the Soaring Eagles were matched against No. 6 Sacred Heart as the Pioneers would be victorious 33-14.

JUST THE BASICS:
SCORES: Elmira 24, No. 18 Gannon 24 | Elmira 20, No. 4 Colorado Mesa 28 | Elmira 14, No. 6 Sacred Heart 33
LOCATION: Cedar Falls, Iowa | UNI-Dome
TEAM DUAL RECORD: Elmira (5-7-1)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

A pair of EC wrestlers finished the day 3-0 on the mat as Abby Duke '26 and Skylah Chakouian '25 combined for four pins and one tech fall victory for the Purple & Gold. Tayana Labady '25, Gabby Bradigan '26, and Zoey Lints '27 both notched a 2-1 record for the Soaring Eagles.
In the dual against Gannon, Duke notched a tech fall victory at 116 pounds, while Bradigan pinned her opponent at 130 pounds. Lints and Chakouian followed with back-to-back pins at 143 pounds and 155 pounds, while Labady closed the dual with a victory via pin at 191 pounds.
Duke and Bradigan both notched victories via pin for the Soaring Eagles against Colorado Mesa, while Chakouian recorded a 12-8 victory via decision. Labady closed the dual for the Purple & Gold with a victory via injury forfeit.
In what would be the final dual of the day for the Soaring Eagles, Duke recorded EC's first victory against the Pioneers with a pin at 116 pounds. Lints later followed with a hard-fought 8-6 victory via decision at 143 pounds, while Chakouian delivered another pin at 155 pounds for Elmira.
The Soaring Eagles will battle in the 9-12 bracket on Saturday with the chance to finish as high as ninth place in their first appearance at the NWCA National Duals.