Women's Wrestling 1/12/2025 5:27:00 PM

Golden Bears Dominate At Utica Duals, Sweep Pioneers, Alfred State & Maine Maritime Academy

UTICA, N.Y. (January 12, 2025) – The Western New England women's wrestling team put forth a dominating effort on Sunday afternoon at the Utica University duals with Alfred State University and Maine Maritime Academy, dropping just two of the 30 matches on the afternoon to go a perfect 3-0 at the dual and improving to 13-3 in dual action on the season.

How it Happened (vs. Utica University):
Two forfeits would open the afternoon for the Golden Bears as Gianna Hernandez and Victoria Orender came away with quick wins for Western New England. A pinfall at 117 for Janieliz Cotto would add an extra five points to Western New England's total as the Golden Bears would continue to cruise over Utica. Linda Holeman would take an 8-0 lead in the 124 lb. weight class and would go on to pin Utica's Rebekah May to come away with another win for WNE. Utica picked up their lone win over WNE at 131, though the Golden Bears would quickly bounce back with a win at 138 after Tanya Teneva would earn the pinfall victory. Noelle Alexander continued her dominance on the mat this season, picking up a pinfall win of her own at 145 to claim Western New England five more points on the afternoon. Forfeits from Utica at 160, 180, and 207 would give the Golden Bears victories for Atiyana Williams, Mikayla Maloy, and Samantha Rabkin, which would earn WNE a 45-5 victory over the Pioneers.

Results:
103 – Gianna Hernandez (WNE) over Utica University  - Forfeit
110 – Victoria Orender (WNE) over Utica University – Forfeit
117 – Janieliz Cotto (WNE) over Lauren Palmer (Utica) – Fall, 4-2
124 – Linda Holeman (WNE) over Rebekah May (Utica) – Fall 8-0
131 – Jazmene Molina (Utica) over Abigail Alicandro (WNE) – Fall, 10-1
138 – Tanya Teneva (WNE) over Gillian Mills (Utica) – Fall, 4-0
145 – Noelle Alexander (WNE) over Olivia LaPoint (Utica) – Fall, 10-1
160 – Atiyana Williams (WNE) over Utica University - Forfeit
180 – Mikayla Maloy (WNE) over Utica University - Forfeit
207 – Samantha Rabkin (WNE) over Utica University – Forfeit
Extra: 124 – Ariel Casella (WNE) over Rebekah May (Utica) – Fall, 6-0
Extra: 131 – Tanya Teneva (WNE) over Jazmene Molina (Utica) – Dec, 9-3
Extra: 138 – Baylin Jones (Utica) over Rebecca Kilday (WNE) – Fall, 3-2

How it Happened: vs. Alfred State University
Nine of ten weight classes would fall Western New England's way as the Golden Bears continued to dominate the afternoon. Like Utica, Alfred State would forfeit the 103 lb. and 110 lb. weight classes, giving Western New England a quick 10-0 lead. The 117 lb. weight class would go Alfred's way, their only win of the afternoon over WNE. Linda Holeman picked up WNE in their next match of the day, winning the 124 lb. weight class on a fall. The Golden Bears would get four straight pins as Abigail Alicandro would earn the victory at 131, Tanya Teneva at 138, and Noelle Alexander would follow at 145, putting the Golden Bears up big in the match. After another Alfred State forfeit at 160, the final two matches would go WNE's way as Mikayla Maloy would defeat Allison Strausbaugh at 180 and Samantha Rabkin would grab a fall victory over Hannah Grawn, giving Western New England a 45-5 victory.

Results:
103 – Gianna Hernandez (WNE) over Alfred State College  - Forfeit
110 – Victoria Orender (WNE) over Alfred State College – Forfeit
117 – Dianna Pineda (Alfred State) over Hailey Laabs (WNE) – Fall, 6-0
124 – Linda Holeman (WNE) over Evelissa Zayas (Alfred State) – Fall 6-0
131 – Abigail Alicandro (WNE) over Anna Sheahan (Alfred State) – Fall, 4-0
138 – Tanya Teneva (WNE) over Ethe Hemphill (Alfred State) – Fall, 8-0
145 – Noelle Alexander (WNE) over Emily Brown (Alfred State) – Fall, 8-0
160 – Atiyana Williams (WNE) over Alfred State College - Forfeit
180 – Mikayla Maloy (WNE) over Allison Strausbaugh (Alfred State) – Fall, 4-0
207 – Samantha Rabkin (WNE) over Hannah Grawn (Alfred State) – Fall, 4-0
Extra: 131 – Amara Santulli (WNE) over Ethe Hemphill (Alfred State) – Fall, 2-0
Extra: 145 – Kendall Branchaud (WNE) over Brooke Walsh (Alfred State)) – Fall, 8-0

How it Happened (vs. Maine Maritime Academy)
The Golden Bears would receive victories via forfeits in eight of their ten matches over Maine Maritime Academy to quickly come away with a win. Linda Holeman would go 3-0 on the afternoon after winning her final match of the afternoon over Maine Maritime's Bethany Ives on a fall, grabbing the 4-0 win. At 160, Atiyana Williams would collect the pinfall win, her first match victory of the afternoon after taking two forfeit wins earlier in the afternoon. Western New England would sweep MMA 50-0 overall, coming away with a 3-0 record on the day.

Results:
103 – Gianna Hernandez (WNE) over Maine Maritime Academy  - Forfeit
110 – Victoria Orender (WNE) over Maine Maritime Academy – Forfeit
117 – Janieliz Cotto (WNE) over Maine Maritime Academy  - Forfeit
124 – Linda Holeman (WNE) over Bethany Ives  (MMA) – Fall, 4-0
131 – Abigail Alicandro (WNE) over Maine Maritime Academy  - Forfeit
138 – Tanya Teneva (WNE) over Maine Maritime Academy  - Forfeit
145 – Kendall Branchaud (WNE) over Maine Maritime Academy  - Forfeit
160 – Atiyana Williams (WNE) over Isa Thesing (MMA) – Fall, 8-0
180 – Mikayla Maloy (WNE) over Maine Maritime Academy  - Forfeit
207 – Samantha Rabkin (WNE) over Maine Maritime Academy  - Forfeit
Extra: 138 – Rebecca Kilday (WNE) over Cecilla Edwards (MMA) – Fall, 6-0

Coaches Corner:
When asked about their dominating performance this afternoon, head coach Tyler Keane praised his teams effort both on and off the mat. "Our team had a blast competing today! The energy was high, and it was incredible to see everyone getting up for every match. We're proud of the effort and attitude we showed on and off the mat. Now, we're looking forward to getting back to work and preparing for our next competition on Saturday."

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