Starting their first competition in program history, the Wilkes University Women’s Wrestling team wrestled at the East Stroudsburg Open at East Stroudsburg University on Nov. 2. 

The team had one top-five placer in the tournament with first year Gabriela Vasquez taking home fourth place at the 103-pound weight class. 

Then on Nov. 8, the girls wrestled their first dual match against Misericordia University and won 44-5. After the dual, the girls wrestled in two tournaments over the next two weeks and recorded a total of four top-four finishers. 

At the Wilkes Women’s Open on Nov. 16, first year Milly Hughes finished fourth place at the 133-pound weight class. 

Later on during the Cougar Classic at Misericordia University, first year Grace Riley took third place while first years Hughes and Alyssa McIntosh took fourth place in the meet.

Since then, the squad continued their duals with tough competition. They recorded their first loss on Dec. 5 against Cedar Crest College in a close match that ended with a score of 18-28. 

Later, in their final individual tournament before winter break, the Colonels competed at the Alvernia Golden Wolves Open where they took third place as a team and had six top-three finishers. 

First years McIntosh, Hughes, Vasquez, and Haylee Robinson all finished second place while first years Grace Riley and Kimberlee Heltcher finished in third place. After winter break, the Colonels returned to the dual circuit at the Ursinus Duals. 

The team recorded a record of 1-3 at the duals by beating New England College 25-12 and losing to Ursinus College 1-40, Lock Haven University 6-37, and Felician University 1-46. 

After this dual tournament, Wilkes headed back to Ursinus for the Will Abele Invitational on Jan. 17., where the team finished 12th place as a team and had one top-five finisher in Vasquez who took home fifth place. 

Then on Feb. 1, the girls traveled to Delaware to take on Delaware State University and McDaniel College where they lost both duals 5-41 and 15-34. Even though they hold a record of 2-6, the Colonels are doing well for their first season in program history. 

The hardest part of launching a brand new program for director of wrestling, Jon Laudenslager was the experience. “Having all freshmen on the team has the girls all relying on each other, with no path already paved for success,” Laudenslager said.

“It’s easy to follow the lead of the juniors and seniors, but without that experience these young ladies have done an outstanding job laying the foundation for the future.”

The Colonels return to the mat tomorrow, Feb. 5 against Kean University at the Marts Center at 5 p.m.