NAIA Coaches' Poll - 5

Kansas City, MO – Cumberlands Patriots rise to #7 in the latest NAIA Coaches' Poll, announced by the national office on Thursday. in the last poll UC ranked at #8 with 92 points, but now has picked up 105 points to move up one spot.

Eight total wrestlers for UC rank in the top-20 of their weight class, including six in the top-ten. Of the eight, two jumped into the rankings after missing out in the last poll back on January 27.

Holding her #1 ranking is Aliyah Yates in the 136-weight class. She has earned six wins on the season and just two losses, giving her a pair of top-two finishes on the year.

For the first time this season, Dymond Guilford is ranked, coming in at #2 in the 170-weight class. She opened up her campaign in a UC uniform against Brewton-Parker on Wednesday where she pinned her opponent in 10 seconds, for the third fastest fall in UC women's wrestling history. Also ranked in the 170-weight class is Chamira Cooper who stays at #7. Cooper has just three losses on the season while racking up 24 wins.

After defeating Gabrielle Hamilton from Life who at the time was #2, Jesse Kirby moves up to the #4 spot in the 191-weight class. Kirby has a 27-4 record on the season, marking her most wins in a single season as a Patriot. Re-entering the rankings is MaQuoia Bernabe at 15^th in the 191-weight class. The 2021 All-American has a 3-2 record this season including a fall win over #17 Brianna Staebler.

Moving up a place is Alexis Medina to eighth in the 116-weight class. She has compiled a 16-7 record this season with nine of those wins coming in duals. Joining her in the #8 ranking is Elizabeth Dosado in the 101-weight class. She has a 13-13 season record, but just in the 101-weight class she has a 5-3 record, where she has won her last two matches.

Staying in the top-20 is Jaine Stephens at #18 for the 109-weight class. She is closing in on her season record last year of 15-7 with her 2021-22 record of 12-7. Half of her wins have came via fall with her fastest at 1:04.

Life and Campbellsville lead the way for the Mid-South teams ranked in the NAIA at #3 and #4 respectively. UC is at #7 with Indiana Tech at #13 and Brewton Parker rounding it out at #18.

UC has concluded their regular season and looks ahead to the Mid-South Conference Championship in Bowling Green, KY on February 20.

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