GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The No. 5 Colorado Mesa women's wrestling team extended their home winning streak to 16 as they defeated both the University of Providence and Vanguard University in this year's version of the Fall Brawl on Saturday (Nov. 15) evening in Brownson Arena.
 
#5 (NCAA) Colorado Mesa 25, #4 (NAIA) Providence 18
 
The streak was in serious doubt heading into the matchup with perennial NAIA power Providence as the Argos won five of the first seven bouts to build an 18-12 lead with three matches to go. The Mavericks got three straight wins including pins by Kimberly Carlin and Jayleen Sekona in a 25-18 win for Colorado Mesa.
 
Celina Preston ended a streak of three straight Argo victories with a 3-0 decision victory at 160 pounds. Preston scored all three of her points in the early going and held on late against Hailey Sutton of Providence for the win.
 
At 180 pounds, Kimberly Carlin trailed 3-0 at the end of the first period but came out, scored a takedown and earned a pin at the 4:02 mark of the bout for the win. Carlin's match was pivotal in the dual score as a loss would have put the dual out of reach for the Mavericks.
 
Redshirt senior Jayleen Sekona secured the win with a hard-fought pin at 207 pounds. Sekona led 2-0 at the break and came out and threw a headlock to earn four points and eventually the pin at 3:51 over Mckenzie Mills of Providence.
 
One of the biggest wins of the dual came in the second bout. Redshirt sophomore Adriana Gomez trailed top-ranked Paige Morales 7-1 after the first period ended but mounted her comeback early in the second period. Gomez scored a takedown and an exposure to get back to 8-5 but then scored four straight, two-point scores and wound up earning the pin of Morales at the 5:10 mark of the match for the upset victory.
 
Bout-by-Bout Results
103: Erin Hikiji (UP) tech falls Kinlee Brandley, 12-0 (1:35)
110: Adriana Gomez (CMU) pins Paige Morales, 5:10
117: Joely Slyter (UP) dec Morgan Johnson, 8-3
124: Lorianna Piestewa (CMU) tech falls Alyssa Randles, 10-0 (4:45)
131: Waipuilani Estrella Beauchamp (UP) pins Thalia Vogelsang, 0:23
138: Esther Han (UP) dec Keyla Ajoleza, 8-3
145: Elise Twait (UP) dec Gretchen Donally, 10-7
160: Celina Preston (CMU) dec Hailey Sutton, 3-0
180: Kimberly Carlin (CMU) pins Kacey Lee Pua, 4:02
207: Jayleen Sekona (CMU) pins Mckenzie Mills, 3:51
EXH: Joely Slyter (UP) pins Jojo McDaniel, 1:54
 
#5 Colorado Mesa 45, Vanguard 4
 
First-year NCAA program Vanguard came into the bout with some injuries and wound up forfeiting four weights. Colorado Mesa took advantage of that and won six of the seven bouts contested in a 45-4 win to close out this year's Fall Brawl.
 
After dropping the first bout of the dual, the Mavericks won each of the next ten bouts (including the exhibition match) with five pins and a technical fall.
 
Brooke McCurley (124), Hania Halverson (131), Taylor Colangelo (160) and Maggie Smith (180) all earned wins by pin.
 
Gretchen Donally (145) picked up her win by technical fall 14-4 over Lion Piper Hall.
 
Bout-by-Bout Results
103: Lexi Garza (VU) dec Alissa Perez, 8-3
110: Adriana Gomez (CMU) wins by forfeit
117: Sophia Cornish (CMU) wins by forfeit
124: Brooke McCurley (CMU) pins Elena Ramirez, 1:30
131: Hania Halverson (CMU) pins Lilly Avalos, 2:09
138: Mollie Dare (CMU) wins by forfeit
145: Gretchen Donally (CMU) tech falls Piper Hall, 14-4 (2:30)
160: Taylor Colangelo (CMU) pins Charlie Jewell, 2:39
180: Maggie Smith (CMU) pins Mariz Soliman, 2:57
207: Jayleen Sekona (CMU) wins by forfeit
EXH: Gianna Falise (CMU) pins Marina Hernandez, 3:28
 
Colorado Mesa will be back in action next weekend as they travel to the Missouri Valley Open in Marshall, Mo. The Open has been dubbed one of the biggest collegiate women's wrestling tournaments in the United States. With some of the top teams in the country, regardless of classification, in attendance, it is one of the biggest measuring sticks for coaches and wrestlers each year.