JAMESTOWN, N.D. – The (RV) Corban University women's wrestling team sent six grapplers to North Dakota for the NAIA Women's Wrestling National Invitational this weekend, seeing strong efforts from the youthful squad at the biggest event of the season. Kendall Martin (116) shined brightest of all, earning NAIA Honorable Mention All-American plaudits with an eighth-place finish in the 116-pound bracket.

RESULTS

"I was proud of how our team wrestled with so much heart," said head coach Stryder Davis. "They truly honored God with their performances. It's fun to see their hard work and consistency pay off."

Martin showcased her resiliency on day one yesterday, falling to Providence's Ashley Gooman (12-2) in her opening match. She then rattled off four-straight victories to seal her spot in day two of the action, reserving her place in the top eight. On Saturday, Martin fell to No. 4 Camille Fournier (Texas Wesleyan) and No. 9 Carolina Johnson (Southern Oregon), landing her in eighth place overall, and becoming an NAIA Honorable Mention All-American.

"Kendall is the type of athlete that hasn't missed a practice or morning lift all season," Davis said of the grappler's exceptional work ethic. "I'm not surprised by her success."

On Friday, four of Corban's six competitors earned a triumph on day one of the national invitational.

In the 101-pound bracket, Brooke Burrows bounced back after a loss in her first match of the day to earn an 18-12 victory over Baker's Kylie Hernandez in her next bout. Unfortunately, Menlo College's No. 14 Tianna Fernandez ended Burrows' run in the 101-pound bracket by defeating her (14-4) after that.

At 116 pounds, Tess Barnett opened the tournament with a 10-0 defeat to Kali Christie (University of Saint Mary). Southern Oregon's Tara Othman (10-0) got the best of her in her next battle, and Martin defeated her teammate 13-4 in Barnett's final match of the weekend.

Gabrielle Tata-Rodrigues (155 pounds) was forced to the consolation side of the bracket after falling (10-0) to No. 2 Kenya Sloan (No. 1 Campbellsville) before blanking Priscilla Luevano of Lyon College (6-0). She then edged Central Methodist's Shianne Whited in a gritty decision (6-4) before No. 9-ranked Leilana Hernandez of Texas Wesleyan earned an 8-0 triumph to end the rookie's standout freshman campaign.

As the young Warrior women's wrestling program (1-3 dual record in 2021-22) continues to lay the foundation in its first years of existence, the 2021-22 season continued the squad's upward trajectory, and adds further excitement for the years to come.