Warriors Take to the Mats at Falcon Open

PARK CITY, Kan. – No. 19 Midland University faced tough competition at the Falcon Open in Park City Arena on Friday. Emily Paulino led the Warriors, securing a second-place finish in the 131-pound weight class.

Kyra Gonzalez represented Midland in the 103-pound division. After receiving a first-round bye, she lost to Doane's Kimberly Navarette by technical fall, 10-0. Gonzalez then received a second-round bye in the consolation bracket before being pinned by Malarie Dominguez of Wayland Baptist in 54 seconds.

At 117 pounds, Destiny Castillo went 1-2 for the day. She lost her opening match to Shae Salinas of Ottawa University, 11-4, but bounced back in the first consolation round with a pin over Sadie Aldestein of Oklahoma State at 1:32. In the second consolation round, Castillo was defeated by Anissa Robinson of Friends, who won by technical fall, 10-0.

Keira Nartatez had a full day of matches at 124 pounds. After a first-round bye, she fell to Hannah Lopez of OWRTC, 13-5. Nartatez then received a bye in the second consolation round and went on to pin Danyl Pippin of Wayland Baptist in 1:24. In the fourth consolation round, she won a close 5-4 match against Naomie Sylvestre of Friends before losing by technical fall to unattached wrestler Dru Turner, 13-2, in the fifth consolation round.

Paulino, ranked No. 7 at 124 pounds, competed up a weight class at 131. Following a first-round bye, she pinned Ottawa University's Camryn Mather in 1:40. In the quarterfinals, she pinned Brooke Cox of Doane, also in 1:40. Paulino advanced to the championship bout by defeating Oklahoma City's No. 14 Bryce White by technical fall, 11-0, in the semifinals. In the title match, she was defeated by Samara Markwardt of Carl Albert by technical fall, 10-0.

Also competing at 131 pounds, Eny Bravo represented Midland. After an opening bye, Bravo lost by fall to unattached wrestler Aaliah Guebara at 2:01. In the second consolation round, Bravo was defeated by Maci Pearson of the University of Saint Mary by technical fall, 10-0.

Midland had two competitors in the 145-pound weight class. Andrea Frisque received an opening bye and then pinned Ottawa University's Ingrid Beltran-Gonzaga in 2:35 in the second round. In the quarterfinals, Frisque lost by fall to Avery Shinkle of Wayland Baptist at 4:18. In the fourth consolation round, she defeated teammate Abigale Holtz by fall at 2:57. Her tournament concluded in the fifth consolation round with a loss by fall to Kaydence Bonewell of Ottawa University at 2:37.

Holtz also received a first-round bye and lost by fall to Clover Williams of OWRTC at 2:38 in the second round. After a second-round bye in the consolation bracket, Holtz won 13-5 over Mia Salas of Jarvis Christian before being pinned by teammate Frisque in the fourth round.

Norma Alejandro, ranked No. 7 at 207 pounds, made her season debut. Following an opening bye, Alejandro pinned Faith Spicer of Ottawa University in 1:12. In the quarterfinals, she lost to Leilani Sanchez of Wayland Baptist by fall in 48 seconds. Alejandro's day ended in the fourth consolation round with a loss by fall to Folashade Akinola of York University in 37 seconds.

The Warriors will return to action on Saturday, November 9, at the Waldorf Open in Forest City, Iowa. Competition inside Hansen Fieldhouse begins at 9:00 a.m.