RedStorm drops Gray Wolves in home debut

Rio Grande Sports Information
     RIO GRANDE, Ohio - While the home debut of the University of Rio Grande's first-year women's wrestling program didn't go as planned, the RedStorm did get their first-ever win and made HERstory in the process.
     Head coach Alexia Wagner's squad, which had previously wrestled in a pair of road events, posted a 35-15 triumph over Lourdes University in non-conference action, Thursday night, at the Newt Oliver Arena.
     The dual was limited to just three actual matches, with the Gray Wolves making the four-hour trek with only five wrestlers - two of which were in weight classes where the RedStorm didn't have a participant.
     Of the three bouts actually taking place on the mat, Rio Grande collected a pair of wins by fall. Freshman Annalis Ortez-Pierce (Portland, OR) defeated Ryleigh Mercer at 131 pounds, while freshman Jaydyn McKinney (Manchester, OH) did the same against Phylicia Sudario in the 138-pound division.
     The RedStorm also earned forfeit wins by freshman Haley Williams (Mason, OH) at 110 pounds; redshirt freshman Dulce Lopez (Postville, IA) at 117 pounds; freshman Gabriella Flores-Bonilla (Indianapolis, IN) at 124 pounds; sophomore Kara Bebout (Mechanicsburg, OH) at 145 pounds; and by freshman Claudia Mendez (Henderson, KY) at 160 pounds.
     Lourdes' forfeit wins went to Shelby Moore at 103 pounds and Anessa Morgan at 180 pounds.
     The Gray Wolves other victory came in the final match of the night when Allie Phillips won by fall over Rio freshman Jessica Edwards (Harrison, OH).
     The RedStorm return to action on Sunday at the John Carroll University Quad Duals in University Heights, Ohio.
     Rio will face Mount Union (Ohio) at approximately 11:30 a.m. in its first match, before dealing with D'Youville (N.Y.) University, Hiram College and Otterbein University in its subsequent matchups.