GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Emily Sullenger became the first women's wrestler in Linfield history to qualify for the national championship tournament on Sunday, finishing as runner-up in the nine-team National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championship Region V tournament hosted by Colorado Mesa University. Shortly thereafter, Ayana Medina became the second Wildcat to make nationals, coming from behind in a dramatic winner-take-all "true fourth place" match to claim her spot. 
 
The two Wildcats will represent Linfield at the NCWWC National Championships in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in two weeks. 
 
"I couldn't be more proud of Emily and Ayana," said Linfield assistant coach Alyssa Lampe, herself a three-time world medalist. "On the big stage when it mattered most, they stepped up and wrestled their hearts out." 
 
Women's wrestling is classified as an "emerging sport" by the NCAA, so all NCAA teams – Divisions I, II and III – compete together in the NCWWC championships. The Region V tournament included five Division II teams and four from Division III. 
 
Six wrestlers went to Colorado to wrestle for Linfield's first-year program. Sullenger placed second, Medina fourth, Brielle Brick sixth, Kami Hart seventh and Sara Sargent was eighth. 
 
Linfield's lone senior at the tournament, Elena Kroll, ended her season with a 12-12 record after going 0-2 in a deep bracket at 155 pounds. 
 
"This whole team, those who wrestled today and those who have been a part of the team this season, are trail blazers one and all," said Linfield head coach Chad Hanke. "They're the first women's wrestlers in Linfield history, and they created a strong foundation we'll be talking about for a long, long time." 

With 41.5 points, Linfield placed eighth in the team standings among the nine competing institutions.
 
NEXT
Sullenger and Medina will attend the National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championships at Alliant Energy Powerhouse Arena in Cedar Rapids, March 3-4.
  116: 
Ivy Threatful (Simon Fraser) won by tech fall over Sara Sargent (Linfield), 10-0 
Carisa Epling (Colorado Mesa) won by tech fall over Sara Sargent (Linfield), 10-0 
7th Place Match – Victoria Pena (University of the Ozarks) won by tech fall over Sara Sargent (Linfield), 10-0 
 
123: 
Emily Sullenger (Linfield) pinned Jazmin Gorder (Minot State), 0:41 
Emily Sullenger (Linfield) won by tech fall over Hania Halverson (Colorado Mesa), 10-0 
1^st-place match – Marissa Gallegos (Colorado Mesa) pinned Emily Sullenger (Linfield), 1:46 
 
136: 
Holly Beaudoin (Colorado Mesa) pinned Brielle Brick (Linfield), 1:28 
Brielle Brick (Linfield) won by decision over Ryleigh Dye (Chadron State), 4-2 
Ayana Medina (Linfield) won by decision over Brielle Brick (Linfield), 11-6 
5^th-place match – Kira Phillips (Texas Women's University) pinned Brielle Brick (Linfield), 4:53 
 
136: 
Ayana Medina (Linfield) won by tech fall over Ilee Basaldua (University of the Ozarks), 11-0 
Jade Trolland (Simon Fraser) won by tech fall over Ayana Medina (Linfield), 12-2 
Ayana Medina (Linfield) won by decision over Brielle Brick (Linfield), 11-6 
3^rd-place match – Brooke Zejada (Texas Women's University) won by tech fall over Ayana Medina (Linfield), 10-0
"True Fourth Place" national qualifier – Ayana Medina (Linfield) pinned Kira Phillips (Texas Women's University), 1:59 
 
155: 
Dalia Garibay (Colorado Mesa) won by tech fall over Elena Kroll (Linfield), 10-0 
Zanya Walker (Texas Women's University) won by tech fall over Elena Kroll (Linfield), 14-4 
 
170: 
Kami Hart (Linfield) pinned Symphanie Sampson (Schreiner), 0:43 
Aubrey Yauger (Texas Women's University) pinned Kami Hart (Linfield), 1:18 
Samantha Vasquez (Colorado Mesa) pinned Kami Hart (Linfield), 0:35 
7th Place Match – Kami Hart (Linfield) pinned Symphanie Sampson (Schreiner), 1:46