KANSAS CITY, MO – The McMurry University Women's Wrestling program showcased its resilience on Sunday, battling through a competitive field at the Eagle Open hosted by Avila University. Freshman Kailyn Bridges and sophomore Alexis Schmotzer led the way for the War Hawks, navigating the consolation brackets to secure a pair of sixth-place finishes.
Rallying for the Podium

After sustaining an early setback at 110 pounds, Kailyn Bridges responded with dominance. The freshman capitalized on a bye in the first consolation round before rattling off two consecutive pins to guarantee a spot on the podium.

• Cons. Round 2: Won by Fall (1:56) over Audrie Felkins (Colby Community College).
• Cons. Round 3: Won by Fall (1:34) over Suzette Mendez (Avila University). Bridges concluded her tournament run in 6th Place.

At 138 pounds, Alexis Schmotzer displayed similar tenacity. Following a first-round defeat, she rallied to secure two straight falls, including a victory over a teammate, to advance deep into the medal rounds.

• Cons. Round 2: Defeated teammate Brandie Brown by Fall (2:51).
• Cons. Round 3: Won by Fall (2:44) over Ilee Basaldua (Graceland University). Schmotzer ultimately finished 6th after competing in the placement matches against tough regional opposition.

Pinfall and Perseverance
Adriana Azuara (145 lbs) earned a highlight-reel win for the War Hawks, needing just 60 seconds to pin Ottawa University's Jayden Baca in the consolation bracket (Fall 1:00).
Additionally, Skyler Espinoza (160 lbs) and Kayla Jose (131 lbs) contributed to the team effort, advancing in their respective brackets via injury defaults before concluding their tournament appearances.

Head Wrestling Coach Lance Brown praised the squad's fighting spirit: "Tournaments like the Eagle Open are vital for building toughness. Seeing Kailyn and Alexis fight back through the consolation side to get on the podium shows the grit we are looking for. We had some tough draws, but we picked up wins and gained experience that will help us as we head into the winter break."

Up Next
The War Hawks Women will take a short hiatus for the holidays before returning to the mat on Tuesday, December 30, at the Midland Championships in Evanston, Illinois. While the Men will see action in the New year on Saturday, January 3 at the Hawk Duals & on Sunday, January 4 at Hawk Open in Montgomery, Alabama.