Russell leads RedStorm women at MoValley

Rio Grande Sports Information
     MARSHALL, Mo. – Three members of the University of Rio Grande women's wrestling team were among those competing in the Missouri Valley Open, which was hosted by Missouri Valley College, Friday and Saturday, at the Burns Athletic Complex.
     Paige Russell, a freshman from Kettering, Ohio, led the trio's efforts, picking up two wins in four matches at 160 pounds.
     Russell defeated Aubree Avery of Campbellsville University by fall at 1:37 of their opening round match before losing by fall at 34 seconds to Leolyn Karnowski - who was wrestling unattached – in the second round.
     Russell rebounded to pin Iowa Central Community College's Alexandra Grow at 2:30 in the second round of consolation bracket action, but then dropped a 12-2 technical fall decision to Belen Lopez of Simon Fraser University in her final match.
     At 103 pounds, freshman Alexandria Evans (Barboursville, WV) lost to Central Methodist University's Zoey Mzeru by fall at 4:18 and, after receiving a bye in the first round of the consolation bracket, she was beaten by Quincy's Abigail Mendoza in a 14-3 technical fall decision.
     Freshman Lyndyn Gibbs (Washington Court House, OH) was the RedStorm's third representative and, after getting a first-round bye at 117 pounds, dropped each of her next two matches by technical fall.
     The first setback came at the hands of Iowa's Harlee Hiller, 11-1, while the second was a 12-0 loss to Leiannah Landreth of Fort Hays State.
     Rio Grande is scheduled to return to action on Dec. 7 at the Trojan Duals in Mount Olive, N.C.