LAS VEGAS, Nevada – Emily Sullenger has so far been Linfield's most consistent wrestler of the season, and entered this weekend's Desert Duals with a 9-3 record. So she was looking forward to getting a chance to square off with returning All-American Hailey Chapman of Colorado Mesa University. 
 
Chapman went 26-8 and placed sixth at the national championships as a freshman, before missing last season with injury. In Linfield's dual with sixth-ranked Colorado Mesa, the two were locked in a scoreless match late in the first round. Sullenger took a deep shot on Chapman, who responded with a whizzer defense and the two ended up side-by-side battling for control for an agonizing 12 seconds before Chapman forced Sullenger over for a pin. 
 
"Emily really, really wrestled well here," said Linfield coach Frank Johnson. "She ended up getting put on her back in a 50-50 situation that looked like she was going to win. That match could easily have gone either way." 
 
That outcome notwithstanding, Sullenger went 4-0 against the rest of the field in Las Vegas, all with bonus points. 
 
Wildcats teammate Klaira Flatt won a pair of matches at the tournament, including a gutsy 4-4 win on criteria over Kayla Begay of Ottawa University (Arizona). 
 
Ayana Medina was sidelined from competition despite traveling to Las Vegas and making weight. Linfield also competed without several other Wildcats, each out with assorted injuries. 
 
"The key is getting matches for our wrestlers who are healthy," Johnson said. "We did that all weekend, and saw some promising things. Like with Emily, we lost some 50-50 positions that ended up in scores that looked one-sided, but were really competitive matches." 
 
NEXT
Linfield hosts the Mat 'Cat Open on Sunday, January 5, starting at 9 a.m. inside the Ad and Joan Rutschman Fieldhouse.
   
Adams State (Colo.) 40, Linfield 6
103: Double forfeit
110: Katelyn Faczak (Adams State) won by tech fall over Tori Debold (Linfield), 11-0
117: Austria Holland (Adams State) pinned Kelsie Rush (Linfield), 0:49
124: Bella Devoto (Adams State) won by forfeit
131 - Emily Sullenger (Linfield) pinned Brisa Salas (Adams State), 4:56
138: Double forfeit
145: Corrie Williams (Adams State) pinned Klaira Flatt (Linfield), 2:01
160: Abby Smith (Adams State) won by injury default over Ayana Medina (Linfield)  
180: Paige Faler (Adams State) pinned Abisua Perez Diaz (Linfield), 2:32
207: Brook Newton (Adams State) won by forfeit
 
UNLV 40, Linfield 12
103: Crystal Corona (UNLV) pinned Tori Debold (Linfield), 0:35
110: Karla Baeza (UNLV) won by forfeit 
117: Jasi Oleson (UNLV) won by tech fall over Kelsie Rush (Linfield), 10-0
124: Mia Shepard (UNLV) won by forfeit 
131: Emily Sullenger (Linfield) won by forfeit 
138: Maysa Brown (UNLV) won by forfeit 
145: Klaira Flatt (Linfield) won by forfeit  
160: Cassandra Freundlich (UNLV) pinned Abisua Perez Diaz (Linfield), 1:58
180: Double forfeit
207: Renaeh Ureste (UNLV) won by forfeit
 
Colorado Mesa 54, Linfield 0
103: Maddison Heinzer (Colorado Mesa) won by tech fall over Tori Debold (Linfield), 10-0
110: Isabella Cruz (Colorado Mesa) won by forfeit 
117: Marjorie McDaniel (Colorado Mesa) won by tech fall over Kelsie Rush (Linfield), 10-0
124: Thalia Vogelsang (Colorado Mesa) won by forfeit 
131: Hailey Chapman (Colorado Mesa) pinned Emily Sullenger (Linfield), 2:32
138: Keyla Ajoleza (Colorado Mesa) won by forfeit 
145: Erica Schroeder (Colorado Mesa) won by tech fall over Klaira Flatt (Linfield), 10-0
160: Celina Cooke (Colorado Mesa) won by injury default over Ayana Medina (Linfield) 
180: Kimberly Carlin (Colorado Mesa) pinned Abisua Perez Diaz (Linfield), 1:07
207: Isabeau Shalack (Colorado Mesa) won by forfeit 
 
Snow College (Utah) 52, Linfield 4
103: Kinlee Brandley (Snow) won by tech fall over Tori Debold (Linfield), 12-0
110: Rachel Jones (Snow) won by forfeit  
117: Kaylee Young (Snow) pinned Kelsie Rush (Linfield), 2:01
124: Emily Pasillas (Snow) won by forfeit  
131: Emily Sullenger (Linfield) won by tech fall over Hallie Carter (Snow), 14-3
138: Valery Ethington (Snow) won by forfeit  
145: Isabelle Morgan (Snow) pinned Klaira Flatt (Linfield), 2:10
160: Ashlea Larson (Snow) pinned Abisua Perez Diaz (Linfield), 0:21
180: Maeli Howard (Snow) won by forfeit  
207: Chloe Colvin (Snow) won by forfeit 
 
Ottawa University (Arizona) 42, Linfield 15
103: Liliana Voakes (Ottawa) pinned Tori Debold (Linfield), 1:47
110: Eliza Armendariz (Ottawa) won by forfeit  
117: Kelsie Rush (Linfield) won by forfeit  
124: Marely Castaneda (Ottawa) won by forfeit  
131: Emily Sullenger (Linfield) pinned Kayla Begay (Ottawa), 0:48
138: Anja Hansen (Ottawa) won by forfeit  
145: Klaira Flatt (Linfield) won by decision over Ebony Cortez (Ottawa), 4-4
160: Maya Duncan (Ottawa) pinned Abisua Perez Diaz (Linfield), 0:59
180: Quetzali Zararias (Ottawa) won by forfeit 
207: Lourdes Duran (Ottawa) won by forfeit