PATRIOTS SH IN INGMOMENTS
WRESTLING
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BRIDGETTEDUTY NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPION 26
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SPRING 2021
Five All-American women’s wrestlers made the podium at the NAIA Championships: Bridgette Duty, ’21, who won the National Champion title for the 130-weight class; Chamira Cooper, ’23, who placed fifth in the 170-weight class; MaQuoia Bernabe, ’24, who placed fifth in the 191-weight class; Ashley Inker, ’21, who placed seventh in the 143-weight class; and Angenlina Castaneda, ’24, for whom the NAIA Championship was her first tournament of the season, who placed eighth in the 101-weight class. The team received the Sportsmanship Award over the other 30 teams at the Championship, as voted on by the coaches. A trio of All-Americans on the men’s wrestling team made the podium at the NAIA Championship: Aaron Johnson, ’22, placed third in the heavyweight class; Bryce Nickel, ’23, who placed seventh in the 141-weight class; and Gage Hudson, ’24, who placed eighth in the 125-weight class. Bridgette Duty, ’21, was named the Mid-South Conference Wrestler of the Year and claimed the title NAIA Women’s Wrestling Champion. She is the first NAIA champion in program history. The victory earned her First Team All-American status. Bridgette wrestled the 136-weight class in season, the 130-weight class in the NAIA Championship. Her opponent in the final match was a familiar foe, Agela Vitiritti from Campbellsville University. Using patience and her signature leg laces, Bridgette won the match 12-2. Her record on the season was 28 – 1, and the NAIA Champion title qualified her for Olympic Trials.
