Bowling Green, KY – The fifth-ranked Patriots women's wrestling team recorded 159.0 points to finish runner-up at the Mid-South Conference Tournament Friday. Katie Gomez captured a conference title, while UC had four other wrestlers earn All-Conference honors on the day.

In addition to winning a conference title Gomez was named the Mid-South Conference Freshman of the Year, while Patriots coach Jesse Kirby garnered MSC Assistant Coach of the Year honors.
Gomez was dominant in the 124-class posting a 4-0 record with four tech falls to finish atop the podium.  The freshman opened with back-to-back 10-0 tech falls over Alicia Coleman (Siena Heights) and Emma Rinehart (Lourdes) to advance to the semifinals.  There she faced ninth-ranked Kamilah Brooks (Lindsey Wilson) and earned an 11-0 first period tech fall.  In the finals, Gomez squared off with fifth-ranked Rose Kaplan (Indiana Tech) and notched a 10-0 tech fall for the win.  She outscored her opponents 41-0 over the tournament and improved to 14-0 overall on the season.  Gomez becomes the Patriots first MSC Freshman of the Year in program history.

Coach Kirby was named the MSC Assistant Coach of the Year after helping lead the Patriots to a top-five ranking in the NAIA Coaches' Poll all season.  Kirby has been an instrumental part of the Cumberlands coaching staff over the past two years after she finished her Patriot wrestling career. Coach Kirby is the second Patriot joining Head Coach Sarah Allen, who garnered the honor in 2022.

Micah Fisher and Dutchess King both earned runner-up finishes in their respective classes.  Fisher opened the tournament needing just 30 seconds to earn a fall over Laney Rhodes (Saint Andrews).  The junior followed that up with a 6-0 decision over #15 Kylee Tait (Campbellsville) in the semifinals.  In that match, Fisher notched a two point takedown in the first period and added a pair of two-point takedowns in the second period to advance before finishing runner-up.

King earned a bye to open the day before earning a first period fall over Shelby Moore (Lourdes). Against #9 Makayla Young (IT) King notched a five-point take down and a four-point takedown in the 11-0 tech fall.  The junior fell to third ranked Katherine Hernandez (Life) in the championship match and heads into nationals with a 18-7 record.

Shammilka Miranda garnered third team all-conference honors after posting a 3-1 record on the day.  Miranda earned a 10-0 tech fall over Minnie Locklear (SA) to open her day.  After falling to the consolation bracket, the junior notched a fall over #16 Jamesa Robinson (BPC).  Miranda notched a four-point takedown and turned it into a fall in the first period.  Miranda notched a four-point takedown to jump to a 6-2 lead after the first period against #13 Callie Payton (LWC).  She notched a trio of two-point takedowns for the 12-4 decision.

Saiheron Preciado-Meza also earned a third-place finish for Cumberlands.  Preciado-Meza opened with back-to-back falls over Audrey Gribble (MC) and #15 Grace Doering (IT) to reach to reach the semifinals.  After dropping to the consolation bracket, Preciado-Meza earned a 54 second fall over #17 Catherine McNulty (IT).  Preciado-Meza earned the bronze medal after a medical forfeit. 

Cumberlands also had a pair of wrestlers earn fourth place finishes in their respective class.  Angelina Castaneda notched a 2-2 record in the 103 bout.  The senior tallied a 10-0 tech fall over Alyssa Archer (LWC) and a 12-0 tech fall over Morgan Repasky (MC).  Alivia Ming notched a 2-2 record in the 145 class.  The freshman opened her day with a 10-0 tech fall over Emma Pendell (SH) and also notched an 11-0 tech fall over Kara Bebout. 

A pair of Patriots competed in the 131 class and the duo both notched top six finishes.  Mary Jane Porter closed out with a 3-2 record, while Annabelle Suto notched a 3-3 record on the day.  Porter tallied a pair of tech falls, including a 16-5 tech fall over #7 Andrea Hernandez (IT) to reach the semifinals.  Suto posted a pair of falls to set up Porter for Suto in the fifth place match that was ultimately won by Porter in a 3-1 decision.

Maquoia Bernabe compiled a 2-2 record to place fifth, while Naomi Duenas earned a seventh-place finish in the 207 class. Presley Anderson notched a seventh place finish in the 124 class after posting a 2-2 mark on the day.
 
NAIA qualifiers are expected to be announced next week, while the NAIA National Championship is slated for March 14-15 in Wichita, KS.
 
For the latest and most up-to-date information on University of the Cumberlands Athletics. Please visit www.cumberlandspatriots.com. Follow us on Twitter- @UC_Patriots and @UCPatsGameday, Instagram- @UCPatriots, TikTok- @ucpatriots, YouTube- Cumberlands Patriots, and Facebook by searching University of the Cumberlands Athletics.