Lady Vikes Wrestling Shows Promise in Tough Tri-Dual Weekend

The Big Bend Lady Vikes Wrestling team hit the road this past weekend, traveling to San Francisco, CA, for a challenging Tri-Dual. On Friday, January 17th, the Lady Vikes squared off against Menlo College, a Division II powerhouse from Atherton, CA, and Snow College, the third-ranked NJCAA program in the nation, hailing from Ephraim, UT. The weekend concluded with a match-up against Evergreen State on Saturday as the team made their way up the coast.

After a four-week break from competition, the Lady Vikes showed both resilience and talent. Among the standout performances, Natalie Johnson shone brightly, taking first place at 103 lbs. Ihanna Perez wrestled her way to third at 180 lbs, while Elizabeth Kovacs and Kyah Miller placed sixth at 160 lbs and 124 lbs, respectively.

Reflecting on the weekend, Head Coach Desiree Zavala acknowledged the challenges the team faced:
"We were outwrestled in the duals. We had some matches where we cut it close, but unfortunately, we couldn't pull through on top. I think it was partially due to the long break in competition and losing some of our starters to grades from the fall quarter. The girls recovered well and wrestled tough. We had four placers out of five wrestlers."

Despite falling short in the duals, the Lady Vikes showcased their ability to compete against top-tier programs. As they head into the second half of their season, the team is determined to build on this experience and refine their skills.

Next up, the Lady Vikes will travel to Oklahoma to compete in the NJCAA National Duals this coming weekend. It's another opportunity to challenge themselves against the best and continue their growth on the national stage.