CHADRON, Neb. – A Senior Night victory marked the end of the regular season for the Chadron State College women’s wrestling team, as the Eagles defeated Fort Hays Tech NW 24-14 on . The match, held at Chadron State, saw seniors Brianna Vollendroff and Shania Wear each secure wins, with Wear earning two victories on the night.
Prior to the dual, Chadron State honored five graduating wrestlers – Hattie Baldwin, Alissa DuBois, Maddox Gehlhausen, Vollendroff, and Wear – recognizing their contributions to the program.
The matchup presented a unique dynamic. While Fort Hays Tech NW boasted two wrestlers ranked in the top five nationally at the junior college level – Lindsay Henggeler and Caroline Purcell – the team’s overall depth was limited, fielding only six student-athletes due to an interim head coach and a small roster. This resulted in three Fort Hays Tech NW wrestlers competing in exhibition matches after the official dual was decided.
Chadron State strategically prioritized giving its seniors mat time, with much of the Eagles’ starting lineup resting ahead of the NCAA regional tournament, scheduled for in Lindenwood, Missouri. This regional tournament will be the first women’s wrestling postseason run by the NCAA.
Vollendroff, the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) champion at 103 pounds, moved up to 110 pounds for her Senior Night bout, tech-falling Juliet Baca of Fort Hays Tech NW. The Eagles then benefitted from a forfeit at 117 pounds, extending their lead. Wear, a three-time Summit Award winner for academic excellence in the RMAC, quickly secured a pin at 124 pounds in just 28 seconds.
Fort Hays Tech NW responded with wins at 131, 138, and 180 pounds. Gehlhausen fell by fall at 131, while nationally ranked Henggeler and Purcell defeated Chadron State’s Nevaeh Leonard and Cosette Desrosiers, respectively.
Baldwin earned a forfeit win at 145 pounds before also competing in an exhibition match, where she was defeated by Henggeler, who wrestled twice on the night. Esther Peters, ranked ninth in the NCAA at 207 pounds, closed out the official dual with a swift pin in 41 seconds.
Chadron State also found success in exhibition matches. True freshman Isabella Crown, a dual-sport athlete also competing in softball, made her dual debut, earning an 8-2 decision. Wear then returned to the mat for a second Senior Night pin, finishing her opponent in 1:59.
Full Dual Results:
- 103: Double forfeit, no points
- 110: Brianna Vollendroff (CSC) def. Juliet Baca, TF
- 117: Trona Bates (CSC) wins by forfeit
- 124: Shania Wear (CSC) def. Faith Torres, Fall 0:28
- 131: Hadassah Waak (FHNW) def. Maddox Gehlhausen, Fall 0:45
- 138: Lindsay Henggeler (FHNW) def. Nevaeh Leonard, TF
- 145: Hattie Baldwin (CSC) wins by forfeit
- 160: Double forfeit, no points
- 180: Caroline Purcell (FHNW) def. Cosette Desrosiers, Fall 2:43
- 207: Esther Peters (CSC) def. Lydia Rigby, Fall 0:41
