OSKALOOSA, Iowa - William Woods Women's Wrestling competed at the Heart of America Conference Championship over the weekend. In a pool of 10 teams, the Owls finished with a final score of 52.5, earning a 7th place finish, one spot higher than their initial rank.

The Woods wrestled eight women in Oskaloosa: Teani Medeiros-Maielua, Gretchen Marriott (138), Skylon Boone, Alexis Dunwiddie (145), Erika Brokovich, Addy Pasley (160), Abby Piper (180), and Brooklyn Jackman (207).

Juniors Medeiros-Maielua and Marriott were the first of three pairs of Owls wrestlers to compete in the same bracket, the 138 class in this instance. Both were granted a bye out of the initial round, but each faced differing results in their first contest. Medeiros-Maielua had a task of endurance, grappling with her opponent early into the third round. She was eventually able to find an opening, though, pinning the other wrestler at 5:35 and moving on to a chance at the 1st place bout. Marriott also went deep into her first contest, but was bested by fall at 4:35. Medeiros-Maielua was unable to make it to the championship, losing her next match by tech fall, 10-0. Both on the opposite side of the bracket now and with 3rd place set in their sights, Marriott was able to win her first bout of the weekend in a grueling 4-2 win by decision. As odds would have it, the wrestling duo were now set to face each other with a chance at a placement bout. The result was in favor of Medeiros-Maielua, who won by tech fall, 10-0. Unfortunately, that victory was her last. Medeiros-Maielua was defeated by fall at 1:02. Medeiros-Maielua finished the weekend in 4th place and Marriott close behind in 6th.

Skylon Boone and Alexis Dunwiddie competed for William Woods in the 145-pound weight class. Boone faced difficulty early, being pinned in the opening round. As she moved to the other side of the bracket, she was unable to find success, dropping her second contest by tech fall, 12-1, and ending her weekend. Dunwiddie initially advanced due to a bye before losing her first bout by tech fall, 10-0. Dunwiddie was able to earn a victory against the grappler that ended the day for her teammate, pinning her at 4:48. She was bested by tech fall, 10-0, in her contest to appear in the 3rd place bout. Instead, she wrestled for 5th place, winning by fall early into the match at 1:17.

Erika Brokovich and Addy Pasley appeared as the final pair of Owls in the same weight class, each wrestling at 160. Brokovich earned a bye in round one, while Pasley faced competition, dropping her opening match by tech fall, 10-0. Brokovich faced a similar fate in her first bout, joining Pasley on the other side of the bracket. Pasley's weekend was ended in disappointing fashion after a gritty loss by decision, 6-2. Brokovich's path led her to the same opponent, and she was also bested, in this case by fall at 2:29. Yet, Brokovich was able to win her final match due to injury, placing her 7th in the 160-pound class.

Abby Piper was the representative of the 180-pound class in green and white. She advanced through round one via a bye before being met immediately with a challenge. Piper wrestled all three rounds, falling just shy in a loss by decision, 7-2.The junior did find success in her following contest, pinning her opponent in an exceptional 34 seconds. She was then pinned herself, granting her a shot at 7th place. In this contest, Piper was defeated by fall at 1:04, ending her weekend in Iowa with an 8th place finish.

Brooklyn Jackman was the sole wrestler for William Wooods at 207. The freshman was given her first taste at Heart conference competition immediately, facing the eventual 207-pound championship in her first contest. She was bested in this match by fall in the first round. In her next bout, Jackman was bested by tech fall, 11-0. She finished 5th place overall, a mark she can look to exceed in years to come.

William Woods Women's Wrestling surpassed their initial ranking, eighth overall, in the Heart at the conference championship, displaying both growth and success for the wrestlers. The team will look to continue this growth and find even more success moving forward. Follow any wrestlers that qualified for NAIA Nationals Mar. 6th and 7th, with times to be determined.