Des Moines, IA – The University of the Cumberlands women's wrestling team traveled to Des Moines, Iowa to compete in the Grand View Open, turning in multiple strong performances across both the gold and silver brackets. The Patriots were led by a runner-up finish, a bracket title, and several podium-adjacent performances against deep national competition. 

In the 160-pound gold bracket, #19 Sierra Mefford secured a second-place finish after posting a 3–1 record. Mefford opened her tournament with a comeback victory by fall in 3:55 over Kami Senlycki (Grand View). After surrendering an early two-point takedown, Mefford responded with her own two-point takedown before securing the pin. She continued her strong start with a dominant 10–2 decision over Josie Houk (Fort Hays State), scoring four two-point takedowns. In her third match, Mefford defeated top-12 ranked Mohagany Casel (Wayland Baptist) by a 9–1 decision, highlighting the bout with a four-point takedown and a two-point takedown. Mefford's run concluded with a forfeit loss in the final, earning her a second-place finish in a competitive gold bracket. 

At 124 pounds in the silver bracket, Genesis Egli claimed a first-place finish, going a perfect 4–0 on the day. Egli opened the tournament with a 10–0 tech fall over Callee Shearer (Morningside), scoring one four-point takedown and three two-point takedowns. She followed with a fall in 1:16 against Chelsey Robinson after registering two two-point takedowns. Egli continued her momentum with a lightning-fast fall in just 0:23 over Lily Powell (North Iowa Area CC), again scoring two two-point takedowns before the pin. In the championship match, Egli secured the silver bracket title with a hard-fought 10–7 decision over Audrey Scherer (Grand View). 

In the 160-pound silver bracket, Giselle Mendez earned a fourth-place finish with a 3–2 record. Mendez opened the day with a fall in 1:19 over Rachel Berger (Sioux Falls) after putting together seven points with a four-point, two-point, and one-point takedown. She followed with another quick pin, defeating Olivia Stean (Indian Hills CC) in 0:46 after building a 5–2 advantage. Mendez suffered her first loss in the third round, falling by pin to Lillian Baynes (Quincy) in 1:23 after the match was tied at four points apiece. She rebounded with a fall in 1:32 against Naomi Templeman (William Penn), scoring three two-point takedowns, before concluding the tournament with a loss to Mya Willis (Missouri Valley) in 1:22. 

Competing in the 235-pound gold bracket, Karla Padilla-Zepeda placed fifth with a 3–2 record, narrowly missing a podium spot. Padilla-Zepeda dropped her opening match in a close 7–5 decision to Kennedi Washington (Indian Hills CC). She responded with a fall in 3:34 over Brooklyn Robinson (Iowa Lakes CC), scoring 10 points with three two-point takedowns and one four-point takedown. Padilla-Zepeda followed with another pin in 1:33 against Ayanna Jayne Achola Omollo (North Iowa Area CC) after scoring two two-point takedowns. She suffered a loss by fall to Hannah Francis (Indian Hills CC) before closing her tournament with a decisive fall in just 0:48 against Brenda Valenzuela (Iowa Lakes CC). 

Cumberlands will return to action on Wednesday, February 11, as the Patriots travel to Columbia, Kentucky for a Mid-South Conference matchup against Lindsey Wilson University. 

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