Big Bend Women’s Wrestling Battles Hard but Falls Short
The Big Bend Community College Women's Wrestling team hit the road on Friday, December 6th, traveling to Pullman, WA, to take on the Washington State University Cougars. Despite dealing with early adversity, including forfeited weight classes due to unforeseen circumstances, the Lady Vikes showcased resilience and grit.
Several standout performances highlighted the dual. Natalie Johnson (103 lbs), Elizabeth Kovacs (160 lbs), Ihanna Perez (180 lbs), and Morgan Howard (207 lbs) each secured victories by fall, demonstrating their technical skill and determination.
However, the team faced challenges in other matches. Jara Rodriguez (110 lbs) lost by technical superiority (11-1), as did Zoey Olson (117 lbs). Michelle Acevedo (131 lbs) fought to a draw but lost on criteria (2-2), while Leslie Sanchez (145 lbs) fell by technical superiority (17-4). With three weight classes forfeited, the dual ended with WSU edging out Big Bend by a score of 35-29.
Head Coach Desiree Zavala addressed the team's performance, saying, "We faced a couple of challenges this dual. We had to forfeit three weight classes due to family emergencies and eligibility problems. We wrestled well but made mistakes that we shouldn't be making, and it cost us." Zavala further reflected, "As far as technical skills go, as a group we struggled in front-head offense and defense. We are lacking the sense of urgency that we need to score in those positions, and that hurt us in this dual."
Following a tough outing against Washington State University, the Big Bend Community College wrestling team bounced back with a determined performance at the Mountaineer Open hosted by Eastern Oregon University. Despite facing significant challenges heading into the competition, the Lady Vikes demonstrated resilience and skill, securing multiple podium finishes.
The Vikings made their mark across several weight classes, Michelle Acevedo battled her way to a third-place finish at 131 pounds, showcasing grit and technical precision. Elizabeth Kovacs displayed toughness to earn fifth place at 160 pounds. At 207 pounds, Morgan Howald fought hard to secure another fifth-place finish for BBCC. Aynslee Heister continued her strong season with a third-place result at 145 pounds. Natalie Johnson rounded out the medalists with a third-place finish at 103 pounds, capping an impressive outing for the Lady Vikes.
With a break in the schedule, the Lady Vikes have valuable time to recover, refine their techniques, and prepare for their biggest challenge of the season: the NJCAA Nationals in January. The team's performance at the Mountaineer Open underscores their potential to make a strong showing on the national stage.
Stay tuned as BBCC gears up for the NJCAA Nationals, where the Lady Vikes will look to build on their success and compete against the best in the country!