Eagles Edge Owls to Kick Off Season Three of Women’s Wrestling

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – It ended up coming down to the wire, but Avila picked up a crucial win where it counted, the final bout of the night, leading the Eagles (1-0) to a 27-17 victory over William Woods (0-1) to kick off year three of Avila wrestling on Saturday night in Mabee Fieldhouse.

Zach Revier has been an integral part of the Avila wrestling program since its foundation ahead of the fall of 2021. He was the de facto head coach of the women's team last year, but is de facto no longer: now the first head women's coach in school history, Revier has doubled the size of his team's roster – it's now one of the largest squads in the entire NAIA at the start of year three – and put seven new Eagles on the mat Saturday as his team pulled out the first dual win of the season, his first as the team's head coach.

But it was far from easy. William Woods was competing in the first dual in program history Saturday and came into the night forfeiting five weights, giving the Eagles free points before anyone even hit the mat. Avila is certainly used to that situation after the past two seasons, but now in year three, the Eagles get to reap the rewards that come with being the better-stocked team.

They ended up needing all of those extra points in their first match of the year. Avila won 20 points off the five WWU forfeits (there was one double-forfeit which gives neither team a point) but the Owls actually won five of the six matches that were contested, giving William Woods a real chance to win their first ever match.

Consolation points in defeats for Jaclyn Riedinger (130) and Erma Williams (143) in their Avila debuts proved critical, and the Eagles' lead was only 22-17 heading into the final bout of the night – and that's when freshman Shannon Briggs stepped in and pinned Alyssa Washington in the first period at 191, giving the Eagles five massive team points, and sealing a 27-17 dual victory once and for all.

Joining Briggs in the win column were Asha Pearson, Mia Zaragoza, Ruby Scarborough and Kirsten Bruegel (forfeit wins) and Jada Meredith (exhibition win); Dav'Yona Beatty was the other Eagle to make her debut in an exhibition match.

With the first team victory officially in the books, the women of Avila wrestling will now move on to their first open event of the season, the massive Falcon Invite at Hartman Arena next Saturday, November 4. You can follow the event and every competition all season long on TrackWrestling; details on other ways to watch will be posted on our website, avilaathletics.com, when they become available.