DENTON, Texas – Linfield's third season with an NCAA women's wrestling program came to an abrupt conclusion Saturday at the National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championships Region VIII tournament, hosted by Texas Woman's University. 
 
Linfield's roster had been decimated this season by injuries and unexpected bumps in the road. There are 12 women on the roster, but only two were left standing by the regional tournament, at the Kitty Magee Arena. 
 
Wildcats coach Frank Johnson said it had been "a perfect storm" of injuries and issues this year, but that the biggest challenge for Linfield's still-new NCAA program is building depth in the wrestling room. 
 
"We're still a young program, and we need to recruit more student-athletes and build a deeper lineup at all the weight classes," Johnson said. "Instead of 12 on the roster, we need to have 30 in the next year or two. So that will be our focus out on the recruiting trail." 
 
Linfield junior Emily Sullenger entered the regional tournament with a 13-5 record and was a previous qualifier for the national tournament. She took an early lead in her opening match against Chadron State's Regan Rosseter, then attempted a throw late in the first round. She landed awkwardly underneath Rosseter and injured her ribs, and had to withdraw from the tournament. 
 
"It's a tragedy for Emily," Johnson said. "She was having a good season and had a very real opportunity to qualify for the national tournament again. It's hard to see her season end that way." 
 
Tori Debold, a Linfield freshman from Dededo, Guam, was the final woman standing for the Wildcats. In her first regional tournament, Debold opened against the No. 2 seed and then, in the consolation side of the bracket, faced the No. 3 seed following an upset. 
 
"Tori had a very tough draw today, but she battled and she learned lessons that will help her next season and on down the road," Johnson said. "We're excited for her future." 
 
The National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championships regional included eight NCAA Division II teams and three others, like Linfield, from Division III. 
 
Participants included Adams State (DII, Colorado), Chadron State (DII, Nebraska), Colorado Mesa (DII), Fort Hays State (DII, Kansas), Linfield (DIII, Oregon), Minot State (DII, North Dakota), Pacific (DIII, Oregon), Schreiner (DIII, Texas), Simon Fraser (DII, British Columbia), Texas Woman's (DII), William Jewell (DII, Missouri). 
 
The NCWWC was created as a place for all NCAA institutions with women's wrestling to host a championship tournament. But the NCAA announced in January that it will add women's wrestling as an official sport next season, so this year's NCWWC tournament will be the final one. 
 
"When I was choosing a college only a decade ago, there were maybe 35 places in the country that had women's wrestling," said Linfield assistant coach and Team USA wrestler Alex Glaudé. "To see the sport I love grow to the point of being an official NCAA championship sport is surreal. We are witnessing history here. I couldn't be more excited for next season." 
 
As of this season, there are 103 NCAA schools with women's wrestling programs, along with 43 in the NAIA and 26 in the National Junior College Athletic Association. Dozens more colleges and universities have club programs. 
 
"Women's wrestling has made its mark as one of the fastest-growing sports in the country," Glaude said. "This is only the beginning. And the Linfield program is going to mirror that growth. It's only the beginning here, too." 
  103:
Jennesis Martinez (Colorado Mesa) pinned Tori Debold (Linfield), 1:09
Maddison Heinzer (Colorado Mesa) won by tech fall over Tori Debold (Linfield), 10-0
 
131:
Regan Rosseter (Chadron State) pinned Emily Sullenger (Linfield), 2:58
Zainab Ibrahim (Pacific) won by medical forfeit over Emily Sullenger (Linfield), MFF