First-year student-athletes Ayana Medina and Emily Sullenger will represent Linfield University at this week's National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championships.
 
The national championship meet is slated to take place Friday and Saturday, March 3-4, at Alliant Energy Powerhouse Arena in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The top 20 NCAA wrestlers in the country are competing for one of eight All-American spots in each weight class. 
 
As the first women wrestlers from Linfield to compete in a national tournament, Medina and Sullenger are pioneers of their sport. The two Wildcats were among six women from Linfield to compete in the Region V qualifying tournament two weeks ago. Sullenger, a resident of Cascade Locks, finished as the runner-up in the 123-pound weight class. Medina, a Hillsboro native, captured fourth place at 136 pounds.
 
In the opening draw, Sullenger will square off against seventh-ranked Melanie Mendoza of King University, a Division II school in Bristol, Tenn. Ayana begins the tournament against a Division I opponent, fifth-ranked Paige Wehrmeister of Presbyterian College, located in Clinton, S.C. Wehrmeister is a freshman and a former high school national champion. She and Medina may end up meeting regularly in the next few years, as two of the most decorated recruits in their high school class nationally.
 
Sullenger and Medina must win at least two matches in order to advance the All-America portion of the bracket. 
 
Women's wrestling has been designated an "emerging sport" by the NCAA. Until it is granted full status, all NCAA programs (Division I, Division II and Division III) must compete together at this week's NCWWC tournament.