ESKINA AND MCNACK HIGHLIGHT WOMEN’S WRESTLING’S KCAC/SAC DUAL
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – In the program's lone dual tournament of the season, Avila women's wrestling had a strong showing at the KCAC/SAC Duals on Sunday. Despite missing four regular starters, the Eagles went 2-3 on the day with one loss coming by just four points.
Avila lost 26-22 to No. 9 Texas Wesleyan. In the 180-pound division, Amitria McNack won with a fall in 2:33 over Pella LeFever.
The Eagles then took on Central Christian, winning 35-10 in dominating fashion.
Jennifer Lopez-Alvarado (Fall, 3:13) and Daijah Preston (Fall, 0:19) were the highlights against the Tigers.
Following the huge win over Central Christian, Avila faced No. 7 Wayland Baptist, falling 33-17.
Despite the team loss, the dual against Wayland Baptist had three huge individual performances.
All-American Alexis Hatfield continued her impressive week, winning via 11-0 tech fall. Four matches later, reigning national qualifier Jaclyn Riedinger won via fall in 4:20.
The biggest performance for the Eagles came in the 180-pound class as Louise Eskina took down NAIA No. 10 Payton Sholander in a 4:52 fall.
Avila gave up 10 points against the top-10 opponent in opens, lengthening the final scoreline and the 17 points tallied versus Wayland Baptist was the highest total of any WBU opponent on Sunday.
The Eagles went on to face the hosts, Oklahoma City, losing 30-18. Eskina got her second-straight win, coming out victorious in a 10-2 decision immediately after McNack picked up her second win on a fall in 72 seconds.
Wrapping up the day, Avila beat conference rival, Friends, 26-19.
McNack picked up win No. 3 on the day with another pin, in 1:38. McNack was joined by Kylee Whalen in the 103-pound class, who won on a fall in 4:15.
With the start of the final month of the regular season, Avila has two more weekends of competition before the conference championships. The Eagles will head to Des Moines on Saturday for the Grand View Open before wrapping up the regular season the following weekend at the Jimmy May Open in Baldwin City, Kan.
A full list of results from the KCAC/SAC Duals can be found here.
(photo credit: Jared Lainhart)
