RESULTS (PDF)

Park City, KS – The Patriots opened the 2021-22 campaign with five wrestlers earning top-three finishes at the Falcon Invite. There were no team scores recorded, but UC combined for a record of 41-30 across 20 wrestlers where they outscored their opponents in almost every statistical category including falls (22-21), tech falls (12-7) and match points (184-125).

Leading the way for Cumberlands was Chamira Cooper who tallied her first individual title. Up a weight class to 191 proved to be no problem for Cooper who is ranked third in her usual 170-weight class. She went 4-0 on the day with three falls and a tech fall. The Cerritos, CA native recorded her fastest fall at 40 seconds, just two seconds past her career best in the semifinals. In the finals Cooper had to face teammate Jesse Kirby, guaranteeing that the Patriots' would earn an individual champion.

Cooper defeated Kirby by a 10-0 tech fall in the second period, marking the longest match of the day for Cooper. Before losing to Cooper in the finals Kirby had two falls and one decision win. The second-place finish marks the highest finish for the Culpepper, VA native.

In her first tournament suiting up for the Patriots, Aliyah Yates also finished second for her weight class at 136. Yates had four wins and just one loss on the day including going 1-1 against top-5 wrestlers. Yates is ranked eighth herself and had to face fifth ranked Jordan Suarez from Wayland Baptist in the semifinals. Yates dominated the match scoring in the first 36 seconds and finishing Suarez off by 10-0 tech fall in the first period. On the day Yates outscored opponents 30-0 via three tech falls. Her other win came from a fall at 1:22. Her lone loss of the tournament came in the championship match against #4 Lexi Basham from Texas Wesleyan. Basham got out to a 4-0 lead early, but Yates battled back to bring it to 4-3 at one point, however Basham earned the fall win over Yates.

Ranked #24 in the 116-weight class Alexis Medina had a tough opening round matchup against #10 Katherine Heath from Baker University. Heath led Medina the majority of the match, but Medina remained calm and after earning a two-point takedown she pinned Heath just before time expired in the opening period to win. Medina lost in the semifinals knocking her to the consolation bracket where she battled back to earn a spot in the third-place match. Medina's opponent was up 4-3 in the last few seconds of the match, but Medina once again remained calm and earned a point from a push out as time expired to tie it up and then win based on criteria for her first career top finish as a Patriot. Last season she finished 1-2 for the year, but already has a 5-1 record from just the first tournament.

Also earning a top-three finish for the first time in her career was Ariana Pereira, notching third place in the 170-weight class. She went 2-0 with a pair of falls before losing to 16^th ranked Kaylynn Albrecht via 11-0 tech fall in the semifinals. Pereira then picked up two more wins in the consolation bracket to have a 4-1 record on the day. Daniela Hechavarria competed in her first tournament for UC and was also in the 170-weight class. She made it to the semifinals before losing via 11-0 tech fall to fifth ranked Brittyn Corbishley from Texas Wesleyan who ended up winning the tournament. Hechavarria made it all the way to the consolation semifinals but lost via fall to earn a 2-2 record from a tech fall and fall victories.

Jaine Stephens also made it to the consolation semifinals before bowing out of the tournament. She tallied a 3-2 record with two falls and a tech fall in the 109-weight class but lost both of her matches via fall.

Freshmen Ashley Courtney, Zoey Smith, Courtney Pittman, and Hannah Thompson all notched their first wins for UC. Courtney earned a 17-6 tech fall win while Smith and Thompson earned fall wins with times of 1:46 and 1:29 respectively. Pittman was the lone freshman to earn two wins, one from a 10-0 tech fall to open her career and she then followed it with a 3:00 fall.

The Patriots will return to the mats, this time going to Marshall, MO for the two-day Missouri Valley Open starting November 19. Both days are set to start at 9AM.

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