ALEXIS HATFIELD BECOMES FIRST ALL-AMERICAN IN PROGRAM HISTORY

PARK CITY, Kan. – Wrapping up one of the best seasons in any sport in Avila's recent history, women's wrestler Alexis Hatfield earned All-American status this weekend at the NAIA Women's National Championships, finishing in fifth place.

Hatfield is the first All-American in the brief history of Avila women's wrestling, but head coach Sara Hilliard continues to grow the program in her first year at the helm and Hatfield's accomplishment is proof.

On Friday's Day One, Hatfield finished 4-1 to officially lock up a top-eight finish and All-American status. The junior, coming out of a two-year retirement, earned two of her four victories against top-10 seeds.

In her first match, she defeated Nayeli Flores Roque of Eastern Oregon in a 7-0 decision, lost to No. 1-seeded Erin Hikiji in her second match before recovering to record three-straight victories.

Against Morgan Repasky, Hatfield notched a fall in 2:24 before facing eighth-seeded Devyn Moore of Grand View, picking up a win with a 5-0 decision.

Hatfield would then face No. 6-seeded Dutchess King of Cumberlands, earning an 8-5 win via decision.

Having already secured her name in the Avila and NAIA record books, Hatfield returned to Park City Arena on Saturday to finalize her positioning among the top-eight wrestlers in the 103-pound class in the country.

She started her day off with a 1:59 pin against Sofia Abramson of Oklahoma City before losing to five-seeded Judy Sandoval from Grand View. Hatfield ended her season with a medical forfeit victory in her final match to earn fifth-place standings at the end of the weekend.

"She wrestled lights-out," said Hilliard. "She did not back down from some very tough opponents and stayed offensive non-stop, creating every opportunity to put points on the board. She showed so much maturity from the first whistle."

Avila's other national qualifiers, Nicole Redmond and Jaclyn Riedinger saw their seasons end on Friday, both going 0-2 to extremely tough competition.

With three national qualifiers for the first time in program history in addition to the first All-American, Avila women's wrestling has a major upward trajectory as Hilliard puts her stamp on the program.