COLLEGEVILLE, PA. (January 18, 2025) – The Golden Bears were in Pennsylvania for their first invitational of 2025. The team had another successful day, with Linda Holeman and Tanya Teneva earning first-place finishes and the team placing eleven wrestlers in the top six of their respective brackets. The team picked up a second place finish overall in the event.
How it Happened:
WNE did not have a wrestler in the 103 lb. weight class for today's invitational but did have Victoria Orender in the 110 lb. weight class bracket. Orender would win the first match by VPO1 8-8 but would drop match two by VPO1 8-6. Orender won the next three matches by VFA 4-0, VFA 10-2, and VFA 2-0 to go 4-1 on the day and earn fifth place in the 110 lb. weight class. The 117 lb. weight class saw Janieliz Cotto and Nayeilli Vargas compete. Cotto would get a bye to the round of 16 but would drop that match via VPO1 9-4. Cotto would get a bye to the consolation bracket of 8 #1 and would win via VFA 4-0 before losing in the bracket of 8 #2 via VPO 6-0. Vargas earned a bye to the round of 16 but lost via VFA 6-0. Then, Vargas earned a no-contest win in the consolation bracket before losing via VFA 6-2. The 124 lb. weight class saw WNE get one of their two bracket wins of the day. Linda Holeman would go 3-0 on the day to be crowned champions of the 124 lb. weight class. Holeman had a bye, a win via VFA 6-0, a 17-9 VPO1 victory, and a finals win via VPO1 8-1. Ariel Casella also competed in the 124 lb. weight class. Casella dropped the first match via VSU1 12-1. Casella would have a bye to the consolation bracket of eight #2. Casella won via VSU 10-0, then won 6-0 via VFA, and won the fifth-place match via VFA 8-0. Casella finished the day 3-1.
The 131 lb. weight class saw three WNE wrestlers compete. Abigail Alicandro would go 5-1 on the day with wins in the first two rounds of the championship bracket via VFA 4-0 and VFA 5-0. Alicandro lost via VSU 12-0 to the top seed before winning three matches in a row, with the first via VIN, the second via VSU 10-0, and the fifth place match via VSU1 14-4. Jaden Coppins also placed in the top six in the 131 lb. weight class. Coppins earned a first-round bye, won the second round via VFA 8-0, then lost to the third seed via VSU 10-0. Coppins won the next two matches via VSU 10-0 for both. Then, lost to fellow teammate Abigail Alicandro via VSU1 14-4 to finish the day 3-2. Amara Santulli would advance via a bye in the first round, lose via VSU 10-0, win via VFA 6-0 in the consolation bracket of 16 #2, win via VFA 6-2 in the consolation bracket of 8 #1, and lost via VFA 12-4 in the consolation bracket of 8 #2 to conclude the day with a 2-2 record. Two WNE wrestlers competed in the 138 lb. weight class bracket. Tanya Teneva was the second WNE champion on the day. Teneva went 4-0 in the bracket to be crowned champion. Teneva had a bye in the first round. Then, won via VSU 11-0, via VSU 10-0, via VPO1 9-4, and via VFA 3-2 to win the 138 lb. weight class bracket. Rebecca Kilday would drop the first match via VFA 4-0. Then, would get a bye and then lose via VSU 10-0 in the next round of the consolation bracket.
Noelle Alexander would place in the top six for the 145 lb. weight class bracket. Alexander earned a bye in the first round, won via VSU 10-0, won via VPO1 9-7, and then lost via VFA 10-1 in the semi-finals of the championship bracket. Alexander then would lose via VFA 8-8 to earn fourth place and go 2-2 on the day. Kendall Branchaud would earn a bye in the first round and won the round of 16 match via VPO1 13-8. Branchaud would lose via VSU 10-0 in the quarter-finals, win in the consolation bracket of 8 #2 via VFA 4-2, and then lose via VSU 10-0 to finish the day 2-2. The Golden Bears saw Atiyana Williams earn fourth place in the 160 lb. weight class today. Williams won the first two matches via VFA 3-2 and via VFA 6-0. Williams then lost via VFA 10-2 in the semi-finals and via VPO1 7-2 to claim fourth place. Nora LoCicero would compete in the 160 lb. weight class and would lose via VFA 7-0 to the top seed in the bracket. Then, LoCicero would win via VFA 4-6 in the consolation bracket before losing via VFA 10-4.
The 180 lb. weight class saw Shalom Feliz Lopez and Mikayla Maloy place third and fourth, respectively. Maloy would win the first-round match via VFA 2-0 and then lose in the semi-finals via VFA 2-0. Feliz Lopez would win via VPO1 5-4 in the first round and then lose via VFA 4-2 in the semi-finals. That set up a third-place match between the two Golden Bears. Feliz Lopez would win this match via VFA 2-1 to earn third place, with Maloy earning fourth place. The 207 lb. weight class saw Samantha Rabkin earn a VFA 6-0 win in the first round and then a VSU 10-0 loss in the semi-finals. Rabkin rebounded with a VPO 6-0 win to earn third place in the 207 lb. weight class bracket. WNE earned second place overall at the Will Abele Invitational.
Coach's Corner:
Coaches Tyler Keane and Jennah Brennan were asked for a quote on what went right and what went wrong for the team today. "We had an incredible day on the mats, competing with heart and grit to secure 11 overall place winners! Tanya and Linda made program history as our first-ever champions at this tournament, both defeating nationally ranked opponents and coming from behind in hard-fought matches. It was an inspiring and gritty performance from everyone, showcasing the resilience and determination of our team," they mentioned. They added, "Our team was ecstatic to see Jenn Kollins, our Athletic Director, in the building rooting us on. We're truly grateful to have her support! While we're proud of today's accomplishments, we know there's still work to be done. We're excited to get back in the room, keep improving, and prepare for our next competition."
The two tournament champions were asked what they thought about the team's performance as well as their own performances today. "Today, I felt proud of myself and my teammates' wrestling. I stayed focused, and this competition was a test and preparation for what we still need to work on, as well as a reflection of the good work we've done so far. As a team, I think we performed incredibly well. Everyone showed determination, and we fought until the very last second. I'm so proud to be a part of this team and thankful to my coaches! It was a great day for all of us!" Teneva stated.
"Thank you so much! I'm really proud of how I performed today. Those two hard-fought matches really tested my mentality and determination, but I stayed focused and pushed through. As a team, placing 2nd out of 18 teams is a huge accomplishment, and I'm so proud of everyone for stepping up and delivering. We had multiple wrestlers place, which really shows the depth of talent and hard work on our team. It's amazing to see all of our effort paying off!" Holeman replied.
Up Next on the Schedule:
The Golden Bears are back on the mat at home on Sunday, January 26, 2025, at noon as they host Centenary University, New England College, and New Jersey City University for a quad meet.
