MARQUETTE, Mich. - The NMU women's wrestling team is set to host its first event in program history on Saturday, January 7 as they will dual Lakeland College in the Superior Dome at 2 p.m.

Fans attending the Wildcat Open will get in free of charge and will get to see a Wildcat team that is quickly climbing the ranks in just its second season of competition. The 15th-ranked Wildcats feature Diana Dzasezeva, the 5th-ranked wrestler in the 136 class, as well as several other notable wrestlers in their respective weight classes. 

In duals, each team will enter one wrestler per weight class, facing off against a competitor in the same class. Team scoring is the idea behind dual meets, and the winning wrestler from each weight class is awarded points depending on the nature of the victory. 


Last Time Out
The NMU women's wrestling team competed in one of the toughest tournaments of the year, finishing 10th of 20 teams at the North Central College Open on December 11. 

In a tournament including several of the nation's top competitors, the Wildcats accumulated 20 points to slot in at 10th, just a half point off of 9th place Quincy. Host North Central College won the meet with 156.5 points while King University wasn't far behind with 146. 

Noelle Gaffney led NMU, going 4-2 in the 155 class for 8 points. She picked up wins by decision over Mckenzie Cook (Eureka), by tech fall over Kahlea Jolly (Augsburg University), and by fall over Erin Riggle (Indiana Tech) and Julianna Moreno (Lindenwood University).

Elsewhere on the competition mat, Kristyleigh Massey scored 5.5 points in the 143 class, Bryn Sandhu earned 3 points in the 109 class, Sharon Leon added 2.5 points in the 130, and Trinity Valentin added another point in the 101. 

Victoria Benedetti also scored three points in the 155 and Marisa Roth added another 3.5 in the 143, but those points did not count toward the team total.